Authentication by a Single Breath Guarantees Genuine Products. SNOWLEOPARD®, developed by The SABREEN Group, is the next generation of anti-counterfeiting and brand protection technology, that requires only a single breath (warm vapor mist) to authenticate hidden indelible covert codes. Invisible inscription and authentication methods are highly engineered to prevent counterfeit products from entering the supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- Counterfeiters cannot replicate what they cannot detect — that is the operating principle.
- No consumables at all: no inks, labels, printers or lasers in the marking step.
- No instruments for verification, so authentication works at any point in the supply chain.
- Codes are inscribed submicron and indelibly onto plastics, thin polymer films and composites.
SNOWLEOPARD® does not require any consumable inks, labels, printers, or lasers, and no special instruments or lights are required for verification. Counterfeiters cannot replicate what they are unable to detect.
Experts agree that one of the most difficult challenges in combating counterfeit goods is staying ahead of counterfeiters by deploying new and sophisticated technologies. SNOWLEOPARD® is a disruptive covert optical security anti-counterfeiting and brand protection technology in which invisible codes are indelibly inscribed sub-micron directly onto the product or packaging materials. Authentication by a single breath guarantees genuine products. SNOWLEOPARD® is more secure than QR codes, holograms, or inks.
The Process – SNOWLEOPARD® is a highly engineered technology that criminals cannot replicate. There are no consumable inks, labels, printers, or lasers, nor are there any special instruments or lights needed for verification. Covert security codes are indelibly inscribed sub-micron on substrates such as plastics, thin-polymer films, composites and glass of any color, transparency, translucent, or opaque. Alphanumerics, graphics and logos can all be included in codes. The process is typically the final operation in which the code is inscribed on the outermost surface.
Authentication – is quickly performed via “a single exhaled breath.” Invisible codes appear briefly when warm vapor mist is applied to the product surface, then vanishes as moisture evaporates. The quick appearance/disappearance of codes is a deterrent to replicate. Immediate authentication at the point of sale is simple for customers and eliminates the problems associated with cellular phones, especially in locations where consumers do not own smartphones or have Internet access. Small, inexpensive steam misters can also be used. This simple yet intricate phenomenon guarantees genuine products.
The Best Defense to Protect Against Counterfeit Goods is often multi-layered:
- Combine Overt and Covert methods
- Verification at point of sale
- Consumer engagement
- Easily changeable features without consumable costs or re-engineering
Protect your brand with SNOWLEOPARD®. For more information, visit SNOWLEOPARD Anti-Counterfeiting Technology and watch our videos.
Scott R. Sabreen is the founder and president of The Sabreen Group, Inc., which is an engineering company specializing in secondary plastics manufacturing processes – surface pretreatments, bonding decorating and finishing, laser marking, and product security. He has been developing new technologies and solving manufacturing problems for over 30 years. Sabreen can be contacted at 972.820.6777 or by visiting www.sabreen.com or www.adhesionbonding.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging need covert authentication?
Because these are among the most counterfeited product categories, and the consequences reach patient safety rather than only revenue. Serialization requirements address the supply chain, but a covert feature is what allows a specific unit to be authenticated directly.
What makes this technology hard to counterfeit?
The codes are invisible under normal conditions and inscribed submicron directly into the substrate. Counterfeiters cannot replicate what they are unable to detect, and there is no applied layer to reverse-engineer or copy.
What consumables does the process require?
None. There are no consumable inks, labels, printers or lasers in the marking process, and no special instruments or lights are required for verification — which removes both ongoing cost and a whole category of supply chain dependency.
How does it compare with QR codes and holograms?
It is more secure than either. QR codes can be overlaid with a criminal’s own code, and holograms can be imitated well enough to pass casual inspection. A covert feature that cannot be detected without knowing it exists resists both attacks.
Which substrates can be marked?
Plastics, thin polymer films and composites, among others, in any colour and any level of transparency. That breadth is what allows the same approach to cover both the product and its packaging.
