Did you know brand owners may be held liable for counterfeit products if they are unable to prove certain products are authentic or counterfeit? Learn how to protect your brand from counterfeit products damaging your reputation in this video perspective.
Author: Kathryn Olivier
Online Brand Protection Case Study Video: Counterfeit Medicinal Cream
|Authentix Online Brand Protection busts Asia-wide racket of counterfeit medicinal cream. See how our Online Brand Protection team was able to reduce counterfeit products for this pharmaceutical brand by over 95% in this video case study.
COO Kristi Browne Named in “Top 10 Empowering Women Leaders, 2023” by CIO Views Magazine
|
August 2, 2023 – Authentix Chief Operating Officer, Kristi Browne, was selected as one of the “Top 10 Empowering Women Leaders, 2023” by CIO Views Magazine, a news publication focused on business insights, technology, and innovations, along with informative reads from inspiring and successful business leaders.
Browne was featured as the July 2023 cover story and shares her background, experiences, and unorthodox 21-year journey with Authentix. Browne was appointed as COO for Authentix in 2021, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Global Services. Browne is responsible for logistics and production, management of the commercial brand protection business, and heads Authentix’s digital transformation initiatives.
Kevin McKenna, Chief Executive Officer, stated “This recognition is well deserved. Kristi’s detailed understanding of our business has put her in a unique leadership position because of the many years she has successfully led different areas of the organization. She understands the science, the customer base, and is one of our best problem solvers.”
Read the full story here.
Authentix® Completes Development of the Banknote Industry’s First CDI2 Compliant Detector
|ADDISON, Texas, May 12, 2023 — Authentix, the authority in authentication and information services, announced that it is in commercial production of the world’s first CDI2 compliant banknote detectors including GemVision™ , a CDI2 compliant fitness solution for the determination of banknote quality. The Common Detector Interface 2 (CDI2) is a banknote sorting machine and detector standard jointly established by the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank. The new CDI2 banknote sorting machine and detectors platform will provide unprecedented accuracy and speed for feature detection and fitness assessment of banknotes. Suspect banknotes and those not meeting fitness standards will be sorted for additional inspection or destruction, respectively.
In 2018, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, on behalf of what is now Federal Reserve Financial Services, contracted with Authentix to design, develop, and manufacture CDI2 compliant detectors, including a Camera System and Fitness solution, some of which have now moved into commercial manufacturing. Authentix, along with its primary development partner, Boulder Imaging, Inc., a Colorado based company specializing in machine vision and inspection solutions, has delivered the project on schedule and is looking forward to deployment of the GemVision™ technology in all of the Fed’s cash processing centers throughout the United States.
This new CDI2 banknote detector standard provides unprecedented access to banknote data and images acquired during high-speed banknote processing. This is significant to Federal Reserve Financial Services as it will help to reduce the number of notes taken out of circulation prematurely. More intelligent banknote processing simultaneously reduces the cost of cash as well as its carbon footprint. The CDI2 standard also makes it easier for Central Banks to optimize processing environments by selecting their detectors from multiple suppliers. The new standard is further projected to be adopted industry wide by most Central Banks over the next several years and will provide far greater control for the processing of banknotes and make it easier to select best in breed detection platforms in the future. Additional capabilities of the CDI2 compliant detectors from Authentix will increase the efficiency of banknote processing and extend the life of notes in circulation by making more intelligent sorting decisions regarding banknote authenticity and fitness.
About Authentix
As the authority in authentication solutions, Authentix brings enhanced visibility and traceability to today’s complex global supply chains. For over 25 years, Authentix has provided clients with physical and software-enabled solutions to detect, mitigate, and prevent counterfeiting and other illicit trading activity for currency, excise taxable goods, and branded consumer products. Through a proven partnership model and sector expertise, clients experience custom solution design, rapid implementation, consumer engagement, and complete program management to ensure product safety, revenue protection, and consumer trust for the best-known global brands on the market. Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in the North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® is a registered trademark of Authentix, Inc.
About Boulder Imaging
Formed in 1995 with the launch of its proprietary HPDVR technology Quazar, Boulder Imaging later released its Vision Inspector suite of machine vision software. Vision Inspector is now utilized 24/7 in a multitude of industries and environments to provide machine vision inspection solutions for precision applications. Boulder Imaging offers a growing suite of integrated systems and software by leveraging machine vision technologies perfected for the defense, aerospace and industrial products industries. Boulder Imaging’s inspection technology provides revealing visual data for a multitude of clients, from the manufacturing lines of flooring and ceiling tile producers, the precision printing of banknotes, and rugged wind farm environments.
CONTACT: Kent Mansfield, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, kent.mansfield@authentix.com
A link to the press release can be found here: Authentix® Completes Development of the Banknote Industry’s First CDI2 Compliant Detector
Tax Stamp & Traceability News Interviews CTO Tim Driscoll
|May 9, 2023 – Authentix Chief Technology Officer Tim Driscoll was featured in the April 2023 issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News. In the interview, Driscoll shares his experiences, current and future predictions for change, and the role Authentix plays in within the tax stamp industry.
Read the full article here.
Authentix Named 2023 Top 10 Multi-Factor Authentication Solutions Provider
|
April 27, 2023 – Authentix, the authority in authentication and information services, has been named a Top 10 Multi-Factor Authentication Solutions Provider for 2023 by GRC Outlook Magazine. Kevin McKenna, CEO of Authentix, is featured in the article.
According to GRC Outlook Magazine, multifactor authentication (MFA) has become an essential tool for protecting sensitive information in today’s digital age with organizations continuously looking for new ways to enhance security protocols. Authentix is a unique contributor in this category because its multi-layered and multifactor authentication solutions tie together the credentialing of physical items, user credentials, and item movement tracking. In this instance, by building a database of relational transaction events that see each subsequent transaction in relation to the characteristics of multiple preceding logged events, Authentix’ machine learning algorithms can detect suspect events that need escalation and review by product owners for potential counterfeit or diverted products.
Authentix was also highlighted for its capabilities to bring the physical and digital world together, using both covert and overt security features to allow unique discoveries of product compromise issues only detectable by its clients using proprietary systems. These technologies working together can close the loop, bring visibility to supply chain blind spots, and provide rapid, multilayered authentication detection to connect the consumer, the product brand owner, and third-party suppliers. The technology can also enable product journey tracking and direct interaction between manufacturers and consumers for unique marketing experiences and detection of purchasing trends.
Read the full article from the April issue of GRC Outlook Magazine here.
The Industry View Magazine names Authentix a Top 10 Anti Counterfeit Packaging Solutions Provider for 2023
|April 26, 2023 – Authentix, the authority in authentication solutions and information services, has been named as a 2023 Top 10 Anti Counterfeit Packaging Solutions Provider by The Industry View Magazine, a leading Manufacturing and Engineering magazine providing recognition to industries and people achieving the highest standard in their area of expertise.
In this special edition, Authentix is highlighted regarding its advanced security features for packaging technologies to address the growing problem of product counterfeiting and diversion. In the article, Kent Mansfield – Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, also provides his unique insights and perspective about Authentix.
Read the full article here.
Authentix® Completes Acquisition of Royal Joh. Enschedé Further Expanding Its Capabilities in Security Printing
|ADDISON, Texas, April 17, 2023 /CNW/ — Authentix, the authority in authentication and information services, announced that it has acquired Netherlands based Royal Joh. Enschedé, a leading specialty printing and security solutions provider from investment firm Nimbus.
Founded in 1703, Koninklijke (Royal) Joh. Enschedé progressed from a small book printer to become a worldclass security printing organization long associated with the highest quality security documents, postage stamps, banknotes, and brand protection solutions. Known worldwide for its design capabilities and unprecedented high-quality printworks, Royal Joh. Enschedé also produces the world’s most innovative banknotes and stamps and provides additional products to an impressive client list including financial transactions, cash equivalents, certificates, visas, diplomas, and multiple solutions for brand protection. Based in Haarlem, Netherlands with a branch in Yokohama, Japan, the company has been a frontrunner in the digital-physical cross-over technological transition, having introduced many product firsts during its rich and longstanding heritage.
Authentix acquires the Joh. Enschedé shares from hands-on investment firm Nimbus, who have been the majority shareholder of RJE since 2014. In that period Nimbus and the management prepared the company for the future, rationalizing the operation and investing in distinctive technologies and solutions.
“This strategic acquisition expands our portfolio and capabilities in high security printing technologies to support Authentix’s ongoing growth in programs for governments, central banks, and commercial brand owners,” stated Kevin McKenna, CEO of Authentix, adding that “the combination of experience, craftmanship, design innovation and production techniques that Joh. Enschedé brings to Authentix fits perfectly with our current strategic growth strategy.”
Gelmer Leibbrandt, CEO for Joh. Enschedé, added, “We are extremely excited to become part of the highly talented and experienced team at Authentix. We feel the combination of the two companies’ approach to quality and innovation enables ample opportunities to provide our customers with the most advanced security print solutions in the industry.”
Jannes Snel, Investment Manager for Nimbus stated “When Nimbus acquired Joh. Enschedé in 2014 we knew the challenge was to identify new growth opportunities. We are proud that we have been able to find these and worked intensely to prepare the company for its next phase of development. We are very pleased with Authentix as the new home for Joh. Enschedé, and are confident that under their wings, Joh. Enschedé will continue its growth path.”
Royal Joh. Enschedé will remain a standalone operating entity retaining its respective brands and integrate within the Authentix group of companies to further grow its market share and collective set of strategic offerings leveraging the larger Authentix sales platform.
About Joh. Enschedé
Royal Joh. Enschedé, founded in 1703, is known worldwide for its attractive banknotes and stamps. With attention to detail, technical expertise and quality, Royal Joh. Enschedé is the specialist for custom, secured and extremely reliable printing and security solutions. Royal Joh. Enschedé creates and prints products for financial transactions, cash equivalents and certification products, such as postage stamps, passports, visas, tax stamps, diplomas, certificates and products to protect high value branded products (brand protection). Based on craftsmanship and expertise, the company provides security printing solutions against fraud and counterfeiting worldwide.
About Authentix
As the authority in authentication solutions, Authentix brings enhanced visibility and traceability to today’s complex global supply chains. For over 25 years, Authentix has provided clients with physical and software-enabled solutions to detect, mitigate, and prevent counterfeiting and other illicit trading activity for currency, excise taxable goods, and branded consumer products. Through a proven partnership model and sector expertise, clients experience custom solution design, rapid implementation, consumer engagement, and complete program management to ensure product safety, revenue protection, and consumer trust for the best-known global brands on the market. Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in the North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® is a registered trademark of Authentix, Inc.
CONTACT: Kent Mansfield, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, kent.mansfield@authentix.com
A link to the press release can be found here: Authentix® Completes Acquisition of Royal Joh. Enschedé
Online Brand Protection Case Study: Counterfeit Medicinal Cream
|Authentix Online Brand Protection busts Asia-wide counterfeit racket of counterfeit medicinal cream.
THE SITUATION
According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, the global counterfeit trade in pharmaceutical products is valued at over USD 4 billion. The harmful and often fatal effects of ingestible and injectable fake medicines, especially lifesaving medicines, dominates the media. While the most frequently counterfeited medicines typically comprise antibiotics, painkillers and anti-malarial drugs, significant health hazards may also be caused by counterfeits of nonessential medications, such as dermatological creams and lotions. As these products can usually be bought over the counter without a prescription, rogue manufacturers may find an opportunity to sell dubious lookalikes on online marketplaces at deeply discounted prices.
THE CHALLENGE
Our client asked Authentix to use online brand protection strategies to help alleviate counterfeiting risks with one of its most successful and recognizable products: a patented, clinically proven dermatological cream that can reduce and soften visible scarring. Our client’s product is instantly recognizable by its distinctive packaging design and logo, which counterfeiters attempt to imitate and deceive unsuspecting consumers. The increased global popularity of the product has attracted the interest of rogue traders attempting to sell counterfeits on various e-commerce platforms, especially in Asia.
THE SOLUTION
Authentix’s Online Brand Protection (OBP) solution encompassed an in-depth investigation of online marketplaces, a targeted test purchase plan from high-risk sellers, online and offline investigations, and takedown notices. Authentix OBP scanned over 500 popular e-commerce and social media platforms, focusing particular attention to those with a presence in China.
THE OUTCOME
Through a combination of automated, proprietary software and manual monitoring, Authentix OBP discovered and ultimately removed over 22,000 suspicious listings from over 8,000 sellers in a 12 month period, representing an estimated stock value of USD 12.8 million. Unlike many instances of counterfeiting where fake products tend to cost much less than the original products, the prices of several suspected counterfeits detected by Authentix OBP matched those of the brand owner’s retail price. Authentix OBP filed an estimated 2,000 monthly complaints and maintained a 97% success rate across platforms. Further, based on intelligence from Authentix OBP’s investigations, 35 successful raids were conducted in China, leading to the seizure of illicit product valued at over USD 950,000.
Authentix OBP also monitored and targeted grey market activity and within the same 12 month period, helped the client reduce not only counterfeit activity by 95%, but also reduce grey market activity by 65%. Conducting raids was a complex exercise and was preceded by hours of online investigation, evidence-gathering, and site visits. It was also important to work in conjunction with law enforcement and plan each raid with an element of surprise. For example, a raid in one Chinese Province, which yielded 380 fake products worth nearly USD 120,000, required close cooperation with Chinese authorities. Authentix OBP was able to investigate the rogue manufacturer identify the principals behind it, gain insights into their modus operandi. Authentix OBP relied on witness statements, chats on the popular Chinese social media app WeChat, and invoices and shipping documents.
Today, while attempts to counterfeit the client’s product have greatly decreased, the popularity and strong consumer demand for the product makes it essential for Authentix OBP to be vigilant and continue monitoring both online and physical marketplaces for suspected illicit activity.
ONLINE BRAND PROTECTION SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR INDUSTRY
If you’re curious how Authentix Online Brand Protection can help protect your brand from illicit online activity, schedule a consultation with our brand protection experts today. We combine cutting edge technological tools with expert analysis to protect your brand in online marketplaces with strategies unique to your industry.
Ready to protect your corporate brand from counterfeiters?
ABOUT
As the authority in authentication solutions, Authentix brings enhanced visibility and traceability to today’s complex global supply chains. For over 25 years, Authentix has provided our clients with physical and software-enabled solutions to detect, mitigate, and prevent counterfeiting and other illicit trading activity for currency, excise taxable goods, and branded consumer products. Through our proven client partnership model and sector expertise, we offer custom solution design, rapid implementation, consumer engagement, and complete program management to ensure product safety, protect revenue, and maintain consumer trust and loyalty for the best global brands on the market. Contact us today to learn more about online brand protection services or our complete brand protection solutions.
Authentix Hosts Webinar On Best Practices in Currency Level 3 Feature Selection and Use
|March 10, 2023 – Of all the detection technologies used to determine the authenticity of a banknote, Level 3 features are the most secure and reliable and serve as the cornerstone of the most successful counterfeit detection programs.
Authentix is collaborating with The International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) on a webinar open to IACA members to further discuss key factors to consider when selecting, implementing and supporting Level 3 security features. Tim Driscoll, CTO of Authentix, will be hosting the webinar, held on Wednesday March 29th at 8:00 AM CST. He will be joined by panelists including Gregorio Sanchez, Deputy Manager of Industrial Engineering at Banco de Mexico, Alan Newman, Currency Product Director at De La Rue, and Richard Wall, Chair of IACA and former Head of Currency at the Bank of Canada.
Visit here for more information and to register for this informative event.