Intelligent Packaging Technology and Its Development

3] Counterfeit Packaging (COUNTERFEIT-PROOF PACKAGING)

Fake and shoddy products can be said to be a cancer on the market. It not only drastically reduces the direct economic benefits of counterfeit companies, but also jeopardizes the immediate interests of consumers. With the development of science and technology, the superiority and extensiveness of counterfeit technology have put forward new requirements for anti-counterfeiting technology. Considering that anti-counterfeit packaging has high technical content and expansion of traditional packaging functions, it can be classified as "intelligent. package".

The so-called "anti-counterfeiting packaging technology" is: The main object is a product, which is not only part of the anti-counterfeiting part, but also an integral part of the packaging technology. Therefore, the anti-counterfeit packaging has the general functional features of the anti-counterfeit technology, and at the same time has its own characteristics suitable for the packaging of the goods.

At present, there are many anti-counterfeit packaging methods, and there are more than 100 types of anti-counterfeiting labels. However, from the overall analysis, the anti-counterfeit packaging technology focuses on the following aspects: anti-counterfeiting labels; special material processes; printing processes; packaging structures and other methods . The following types of technology are dominant.

(1) Laser holographic image

The use of holographic printing technology to make anti-counterfeiting labels attached to the surface of packages is currently the most popular anti-counterfeiting means. Holographic images have high technological content due to the integration of lasers, precision mechanics and physical chemistry. For most small batch counterfeiters, the mastering of a full set of manufacturing techniques and the acquisition of manufacturing equipment are difficult to accomplish. Therefore, the effect of this technique is significant.

However, the embossed holographic anti-counterfeiting labels have not fully achieved their proper functions, and even appear to have forged signs.

Followed by the laser holographic technology with anti-counterfeiting features of new packaging materials and higher technology levels of holographic image identification technology. Holographic image technologies with better anti-counterfeit functions include: high-quality full-color true three-dimensional holography; complex dynamic hologram technology; encryption holography; digital holography; special hologram carrier technologies (such as hologram special imprint materials).

(2) Laser anti-counterfeit packaging materials

The laser-treated material has the functions of anti-counterfeiting and decoration. It has changed the local anti-counterfeiting method marked by a small piece of laser hologram to achieve the overall anti-counterfeiting effect. The entire packaging has been laser-treated, plus the manufacturer's name, trademark, etc., is a large area of ​​the subject of anti-counterfeiting, counterfeiters can not start. In addition, the laser packaging material can display colorful colors under the illumination of light, and print patterns, so that the appearance of bright, strange optical effects add a new packaging, strange, beautiful feeling.

There are four major categories of laser-treated packaging materials: (1) Flexible packaging bags: Laser films are produced using high-tech technology, then compounded with ordinary plastic films, and printed to form laser material flexible packaging bags (called laser flexible packaging bags). 2 hard box: one is to use a high-tech laser film, and then combined with cardboard, plus printing to form a hard box. The other method is to print on a general cardboard box and then compound it with a laser-treated glazing film to form a light-type hard box. 3 Laser Paper: Laser paper is made directly on paper. Laser paper production process is more difficult and costly. But its advantages are: easy to print, easy to handle, no environmental problems; some products must be packed in paper (such as cigarette), particularly suitable, such as cigarette cases, bottle stickers, labels, tax articles, calendars, gift packages and so on. In order to increase the anti-counterfeiting effect, manufacturers can use the special holographic pattern logo as the base pattern of the paper, plus the product graphics, make a unique special packaging paper. 4 There is also a laser-treated hot stamping foil - high-grade anodized aluminum products. With its special logo, it can be displayed in a multi-dimensional stereoscopic display. A dynamic screen can be designed by computer, and "light spot" encryption can also be reserved, and the main pattern can display different patterns at different viewing angles. This hot stamping foil is integrated with the packaging surface and integrated with the packaging to achieve the double effect of security and beauty.

(3) Invisible Marking System

BioCode has successfully developed a brand new stealth identification system that uses antibodies as new materials for the manufacture of anti-counterfeiting labels.

This system consists of two objects: a marker compound added to the product and an antibody used to identify the presence or absence of a marker, if necessary, for quantitative analysis. Marking compounds are available for daily use chemicals, but must be durable, inert, and easy to mix with the product and comply with hygiene and regulatory requirements. These marks are usually mixed in a few percent of the product in trace amounts. Antibodies are specific biorecognition molecules, each of which recognizes or binds only one specific compound. There are two types of marker identification operations: field tests and laboratory tests. Both the presence and the absence of a precise amount of the marker can be tested, and any product that has been replaced or diluted can be measured.

The surface invisible technology has the following advantages: the specific graphics and locations are suitable for specific users; it is truly invisible; 3 can use both printed labels with labels and a customized inkjet system; highly secure (because there is no specific In the case of antibodies, the marker is invisible and the specific antibody is strictly regulated; the identification image can be erased and can be displayed again.

The product's external stealth identification technology has been widely used in medicine, cosmetics and other aspects. Invisible trademarks that use antibodies range from jeans to car fuel. Food additives containing antibodies have been approved by the U.S. FDA. Because the antibody is non-toxic and odorless, it can be added directly to whisky to prevent falsification.

Compared with hologram logos, invisible anti-counterfeiting trademarks are more vital.

(4) Laser coding

Laser coding is mainly used for the production date of packaging and the printing of product lot numbers. Anti-counterfeiting is not its primary function. Due to the high cost of laser encoders, they can only be used in areas where mass production or other printing methods cannot be achieved, making it useful in anti-counterfeiting packaging.

Laser code sealing technology is a better container anti-counterfeiting technology. After the product has been filled and capped, a laser printing is performed at the seam between the cap and the container so that the upper half of the letter is printed on the cap and the lower half is printed on the container.

The anti-counterfeiting effect of this technology is that the packaging containers cannot be reused. It is difficult to align the correspondence between the new cap and the old container; the laser is expensive and the code is printed on the production line. General counterfeiters are difficult to invest heavily in the purchase of this equipment; manufacturers can arbitrarily change the printing template, different dates with different templates, replacement details only a few people know, outsiders are more difficult to crack.

From the perspective of anti-counterfeiting effect, laser coding technology is not inferior to laser holographic image technology. The laser holographic logo is printed by the printing factory, and the manufacturer using the logo cannot ensure that the master logo does not flow out or be copied illegally from the printing link. Laser encoders are expensive and must be used online, and the hidden nature of the replacement variants of the font templates make it difficult for decentralized small and medium-sized factories to counterfeit.

(5) Gravure printing security

Gravure printing carries ink in pits carved in accordance with the original text. The thickness of the lines and the density of the ink can be controlled during engraving. It is difficult to be imitated and forged, especially the depth of ink pits. Realistic carving in the style of imprinted images may be very small. Therefore, banknotes, stamps, securities, and precious works of art are generally printed in gravure. Because of the anti-counterfeit effect, gravure printing has been increasingly promoted to corporate trademarks, packaging, decoration, and printing.

The anti-counterfeiting advantage of gravure printing lies in: The hand-engraved gravure can implement the secret anti-counterfeiting method. For small prints, it is particularly effective to allow hand-engraving plates for substrates with high plate-making costs. The counterfeiters who pursue short-term interests may not be willing to risk this investment; the plate-making and printing are carried out in different places. Separate as much as possible the two work processes of platemaking and printing, so that the fewer people who know the core content of the entire trademark (or securities) printing work, the better. Of course, it is also necessary to take care to prevent the theft of printing plates and printed materials; it can be combined with anti-counterfeiting ink technology, using a unique special ink, starting from the composition, particle fineness, additives are confidential to the outside world. Even if the printed matter has a unique effect, it can achieve the secret anti-counterfeiting function.

(6) Special Processes and Materials

Some products can occupy the market for a long time, that is, rely on their own products and special processes. This is an effective secret anti-counterfeiting tool. The more products with unique production technologies, the less easily forged. The use of company-specific materials in the packaging is also a common anti-counterfeiting method. A typical example is the use of special paper for banknotes and the addition of security threads.

(7) Special packaging structure

Disposable packaging containers, once opened, are scrapped and cannot be reused. This can prevent pilferage or forgery in "old bottles of new wine".

TAMPER-EVIDENT PACKAGING, which is widely used in food and beverages, also has a certain anti-counterfeiting function to prevent products from being stolen and adulterated. Certain containers can be designed to be hard to counterfeit - add the technical know-how of your company in terms of structure or manufacturing process.

2. Active Packaging (AP)

Active packaging is mainly used in food packaging. Compared with the past that used physical methods to block gas, water vapor and light, it plays an active and proactive role in extending the shelf life of foods, and can provide better protection. Therefore, active packaging is being widely used as an intelligent technology.

In order to control the specific gas in the package, a chemical substance that can absorb or release a specific gas is used. Its functional system includes the use of bactericides, deoxidants, odor absorbers or release agents, light barriers, anti-fogging agents, anti-sticking agents, stabilizers, and enzyme inhibitors.

(1) Absorb oxygen system

The presence of oxygen in food packaging can accelerate the spoilage and deterioration of many foods. Oxygen can cause many foods to produce odors, color changes and loss of nutritional value, and can accelerate bacterial growth. Deoxidizers are the most studied and patented areas of all active packaging technologies. A separate pouch containing a deoxidizer has been put into the package for commercial use. The deoxidizer in the pouch is usually finely ground iron oxide.

The deoxidizer can also be designed to combine directly with the packaging material. However, this deoxidizer consists of ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons and a transition metal catalyst. Its components are specially designed to overcome the disadvantage of slow oxygen absorption at low temperatures.

Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd. solves one of the serious drawbacks of most known oxygen absorbers: their oxygen absorption reactions do not proceed smoothly in the absence of water. This deoxidizer system is composed of multiple unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). With some carrier oil (soybean oil, sesame oil, non-oleic acid in cotton seed oil, linoleic acid or linolenic acid, etc.) or PUFA mixed with a transition metal catalyst and an alkaline substance (calcium carbonate) to cure into a deoxidizer.
Deoxygenation of enzyme-catalyzed oxidation systems has also been successfully explored.

(2) Carbon dioxide scavenger and generator

High levels of carbon dioxide are required in certain food packaging because they inhibit the proliferation of bacteria on the surface of foods and reduce the respiration rate of fresh crops such as fruits and vegetables. In conditioning atmosphere packaging, various concentrations of carbon dioxide need to be produced to suit specific food requirements. However, since most plastic films have a greater permeability for carbon dioxide than oxygen, in some packages it is necessary to step up production of carbon dioxide to maintain the necessary gas composition. In contrast, certain foods (such as coffee) emit carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide must be absorbed to prevent food from spoiling or bursting through the package.

The carbon dioxide absorption system or generation system that has been completed has only a few commercial applications, so it is still an important research topic.

(3) Ethylene scavenger

Ethylene can act as a hormone and curing initiator for certain fresh and under-ripe fruits and vegetables. It can accelerate aging and reduce their shelf life. Ethylene absorption systems can irreversibly absorb ethylene produced by fruits or vegetables and require only a small amount of scavenger. A special scavenging system (CSIRO in Australia), when reacted with ethylene, appears pink and can be used to show the extent of the reaction and the presence of ethylene scavenger.

There are also some of the more common ones that have similar effects: The loading facilitates ethylene penetration.