Emmingen, Germany – Pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturers have a powerful weapon against counterfeiters and pirate products thanks to Atlantic Zeiser Group, a leading supplier of technology, modules and system solutions for industrial digital printing. In what will be a world first, the company will present at Emballage 2010 its Track & Trace Module, which integrates easily into a new or existing print packaging production line.

Visitors to the Atlantic Zeiser stand can see the Track & Trace Module demonstrated in a variety of applications for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics markets. The event takes place in Paris November 22 to 25. Atlantic Zeiser can be found in Hall 4 at Stand D 086.

The global counterfeiting problem
A 2009 study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated that pirate products worldwide cost companies EUR184 billion – a 53 per cent rise on 2007's figure.

Pirate products pose a particularly high risk in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. This is because they often use ineffective filling agents instead of genuine, more expensive medical substances; and cheap ingredients instead of high-quality cosmetic agents.

Striking back with innovative Atlantic Zeiser technology
With the Track & Trace Module, users can include all standard product tracking codes on the packaging. The codes include GS1, all types of numeric codes, and 1-D and 2-D barcodes, which are used to check the legitimacy of the packaging and product online.

Track & Trace also includes an optical checking system. In just one fast step cameras automatically read and verify the selected layout and check the digits.

The solution affords users maximum flexibility when it comes to late-stage customisation. If the check code does not match the reference data, the module rejects the packaging following the check. The assigned Track & Trace code can then be added to the packaging in a subsequent print run.

Ralf Hipp, Vice President Digital Printing and Coding Solutions Atlantic Zeiser, comments: "Pharmaceutical and cosmetics brand owners incur huge losses because of pirate products. The Track & Trace Module provides manufacturers with seamless product tracking, allowing them to fight back against the counterfeiters and protect their revenue and hard-earned brand reputations."

Other Atlantic Zeiser systems showcased at Emballage 2010:
DIGILINE Web Series – enables brand owners and packaging producers to handle with ease late-stage packaging foil label customization. The system deliver offset-like quality and production speed, and are ideal for variable data and printing on problematic substrates.

Visitors to the Atlantic Zeiser booth can see a demonstration of DIGILINE Web being used for foil label printing with demanding materials.

OMEGA family –high-resolution digital UV inkjet and coding solutions, perfect for printing and personalization in the packaging, labeling and card markets, as well as the commercial and product printing sectors.

GAMMA 70 Series – a common fixture in the ID card market. Smooth tone graphics, fine detail, sharp text and barcodes make them ideal for narrow printing applications, such as packaging, labeling, commercial print, in-plant printing of consumer goods, security print and card printing.

VERICAM – simple-to-use plug-in makes data verification and print quality control easier than ever. The solution helps users increase productivity by minimizing operator intervention and ensuring a fast job change-over.

SMARTCURE – environmentally friendly LED UV drying and curing. The systems boost companies' green credentials thanks to their low energy consumption, absence of ozone emission, reduced need for ventilation and cooling. Plus their operating life outlasts lamp-based systems by a factor of ten.