This year's INTERPHEX show, held April 24–26 at the Javits Center in New York, provided an opportunity to see new packaging
materials, containers, and machines firsthand. In addition to the usual wide range of anticounterfeiting and quality-control
solutions, this year's show emphasized barrier packaging and child resistance. On the machinery side, the theme was line efficiency.
Counterfeit prevention
Hallie Forcinio
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A multitude of overt and covert tools help authenticate products and prevent counterfeits from reaching consumers. New tools
include ink technology that allows color to reappear when rubbed or scratched. ("Secur" labels, Ad Tape & Label, Menomonee Falls, WI).
A compact 49 × 23 × 24-in. system based on energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction technology and material-recognition software
confirms product authenticity by reading its molecular fingerprint. The material-identification system handles 0.5 × 3-in.,
1 × 3-in., and 2 × 3-in. container sizes and stores 5000 sample records. The operator simply places the container in the chamber,
presses the start button, and views the results on the display screen about 15 min later. Potential applications include checking
finished goods at pharmacies, wholesaler or distributor warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. A manufacturer also could
use the system as part of its raw materials and in-process quality-control effort ("XT250" material-identification system,
Xstream Systems, Vero Beach, FL).
"Perlalux-Identity" film uses holographic stripes on the tablet side of the blister package to support brand identity and
discourage counterfeiting.
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Another technology with anticounterfeiting potential is radio-frequency identification (RFID). RFID tags can help authenticate
products and support data collection for pedigree records. Equipment that encodes and prints tag-equipped labels verifies
the tag before and after encoding. If a nonviable tag is detected before encoding, the label is marked with a checkerboard
pattern and ejected. Good labels are encoded and rechecked. If tags read properly, labels are printed and their bar codes
are verified. If the bar code doesn't scan correctly, the unit pulls the label back in, imprints it with a checkerboard pattern,
ejects it, and encodes and prints a new label ("Smartline SL4M RFID" printer, Printronix Inc., Irvine, CA). For automated applications, an encode, print, and apply unit is available. It performs all the checks of the
RFID printer and applies the labels at a maximum rate of 100/min ("Smartline SLPA8000" label printer applicator, Printronix).
At least one label converter can incorporate ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) or high-frequency (HF) RFID inlays in multipanel labels
to support product security, inventory control, and track-and-trace functions ("InfoPac label," Tursso Companies, St. Paul, MN).
RFID tags also can be built into injection-molded high-density polyethylene containers, providing visibility to bright or
unlabeled stock and eliminating the need to encode and apply fragile smart labels. Embedded tags are tamper-evident and tamper-resistant
and rely on a difficult-to-duplicate manufacturing process. Positioning in the base of the container eliminates tag-to-tag
contact and ensures consistent orientation. Tag-equipped containers can be supplied encoded or be encoded on-line during the
filling process. Pretesting ensures the UHF or HF tag inside the container is viable at a Six Sigma quality level.
