The global market for counterfeit products is worth thousands of crores of rupees and accounts for around 2 percent of total global trade.
Fake products cause huge financial losses to both companies and consumers. At the same time, counterfeiters are becoming more advanced, making it harder to identify fake goods.
To tackle this problem, companies currently use expensive authentication systems that often require special scanners or proprietary hardware.
However, researchers have now developed a new solution that could make product verification much easier. They believe counterfeit products can soon be identified using only a smartphone.
New Printing System Makes Product Verification Easier
Researchers have created a new printing system that produces responsive anti-counterfeit labels. These labels are stronger, easier to manufacture in large quantities, and can be scanned using a smartphone.
The entire process is simple and cost-effective. Since the labels do not require expensive equipment, they can be used by more companies and consumers.
Customers and retailers will also find it easier to verify whether a product is genuine simply by using their phones.
Three Advanced Technologies Combined in One Label
The new label is not an ordinary security label. It combines three different technologies to improve protection against counterfeiting.
Researchers have developed temperature- and light-responsive microcapsules and combined them with UV ink that supports high-speed printing. They have also created a portable smartphone-based detection system to verify the authenticity of the label.
The microcapsules contain special functional materials that react to light and temperature. Every time they respond, they create a unique optical signature that cannot be copied using other printing methods.
Researchers have also focused on making the labels highly durable. A nanotechnology-based linker polymer strengthens the microcapsules, helping the labels remain stable even in hot and humid conditions.
The ink does not contain organic solvents and can be easily printed using both screen printing and inkjet printing. During testing, the labels did not lose their color, showing they can withstand the challenges of the supply chain.
The third technology is the verification system. A portable detector observes how the label reacts to light.
A machine learning model then analyzes the collected data to determine whether the product is genuine or counterfeit.
In testing, the system achieved more than 97 percent accuracy in distinguishing real labels from fake ones.
Smartphone Verification Could Replace Expensive Systems
At present, many companies depend on holograms, QR codes, and RFID-based security features to protect their products from being copied.
These methods increase costs and often require special hardware for verification.
The new system removes this need by allowing the entire verification process to be completed with a smartphone. This will benefit both companies
and consumers, as anyone will be able to check whether a product is genuine or fake from the comfort of their home using their phone.
Researchers say this technology can be used across different packaging industries. They also confirmed that the system is ready for deployment, and companies can integrate it into their existing production lines.
