By Cameron Chai
Nanotech Security, which specialises in providing applications for security
and law enforcement, has announced that it has developed a master shim on which
it is possible to develop nanoholes cost-effectively and rapidly in a range of
materials including banknotes.
The nano-scale structures developed by the shim is almost the same as that
observed in Morpho butterflies. The shim is aimed at banknote manufacturers who
require secure features in banknotes to prevent counterfeiting. Nanotech
Security has used its QuickShift technology to customise the shims according to
the requirement of the customer. The company can also change the colours based
on the angle at which the shim is viewed. It has copied the images of the master
shim on to materials such as acetates, polyethylene and polypropylene which are
used in banknotes. The master shim can be developed in sizes ranging from
microns to centimetres.
Counterfeiting is believed to be one of the major causes of losses in
businesses. As per the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition which is a
non-profit organisation in the US, counterfeiting causes losses of up to $600
billion to global businesses and up to $250 billion losses to US based
companies. Various third party companies have approached Nanotech Security to
produce the master shims for commercial purposes on trial basis. The company has
also hired three more scientists to meet its widening customer portfolio. The
new technology is considered to be safer than other methods such as watermark or
holograms as these can be easily reproduced on paper through appropriate
printing equipment.
Source: http://www.nanosecurity.ca