A Grease Builtfor Speed

China’s AddcosGet Traction

J U N E 2 0 1 4 V O L . 2 0 I S S U E 6

“All of us in this room are los-ing money,” Bill Paddisondeclared to the PetroleumPackaging Council, duringits March meeting in Tampa,Fla. The growing dilemmafor many lubricant pack-agers, he added: loss ofprofit due to counterfeiting.

The national account man-ager for Batavia, Ohio-basedlabeling company Multi-Color Corp. kicked off theconference’s “Innovations inPackaging” session, but wasnot the only one to air thisissue. The conference wasabuzz with talk of potentialsolutions, innovations and

workarounds for the prob-lems packagers face in keep-ing their products tamper-resistant and inimitable inthe industry’s increasinglyglobal supply chains.

While many anti-counter-feiting tactics mentioned atthe conference’s trade showand technical sessionsfocused on packaging mate-rials such as lids and seals,Paddison professed thatlabels could employ securityfeatures.

Some of Multi-Color’ssecurity solutions are visible,

32 JUNE 2014

SharpenYourWitsAgainstCounterfeits

“ABY JOE BEETON

developed by the Swiss digi-tal product-authenticationand counterfeit protectionfirm Alpvision.

Cryptoglyph is a digitalidentification system com-posed of invisible microdotsprinted directly on a prod-uct’s label with ink or var-nish, using normal offsetprinting processes. It canalso be applied usingrotogravure and flexographyprinting. Unlike other securi-ty measures, Paddison

noted, Cryptoglyph is oneof the only systems thatdoes not require highly spe-cialized detection equip-ment. The microdots aregenerated in a pseudo-ran-dom pattern, and can beidentified locally or remote-ly using an office scanner orsmartphone.

Most lubricants packages,however, have limited spaceon labels for marketing andbranding graphics, let alonesecurity features. With anincreasing need for informa-tion in multiple languages,

hazard communication man-dates such as OSHA’s GlobalHarmonization System pro-tocols and other regulatorycertifications, many pack-agers say they are runningout of real estate on theirlabels. That’s why Multi-Color’s Extended Content— a cut-and-stack, glue-applied label — goes hand-in-hand with Cryptoglyph,Paddison pointed out.

Allowing labels to be two-ply, three-ply or four-ply, thissystem adds extra space forinformational copy andgraphics, Paddison said as hedemonstrated the concept at

33LUBES’N’GREASES

Paddison said, mentioningdifficult-to-replicate featuressuch as thermo-chromicinks, effect pigments, holo-grams and diffractions, aswell as more traditionalmeans, such as barcodes.However, the company isalso focusing on providingcovert applications, such asnearly invisible micro-textalong with taggant technolo-gies for tracking products.

Paddison also highlightedCryptoglyph, a concept

To frustrate counterfeiters, the

spout on this pail lid is mold-

ed in, not crimped on later,

and has a breakaway seal on

its pull-ring. (Photo: Letica)

would require breaking orcutting the seal. Therewould be clear evidence oftampering.”

Now with internationalpatents and a U.S. patentpending, the APC-7 insert-molding closure was initiallydeveloped in 2008 for a U.S.-based pail manufacturer

who wanted to automate thelid production process. “Byusing robots to feed closuresto pail cover molds, theyprojected factory labor sav-ings,” Sturk explained. “Theyalso anticipated qualityimprovements by replacingmetal crimp- or press-fit clo-sures (which can leak) with

the PPC’s exhibition. Thetop layer(s) can peel up andthen be smoothly reapplied,thanks to a coating of liquidadhesive.

Tom Bishop, of containermanufacturer Letica Corp.,Rochester Hills, Mich., alsofocused on anti-counterfeit-ing measures during theInnovations in Packagingsession. Unlike a label, how-ever, the solutions he pre-sented rely primarily onhardware to provide evi-dence of tampering.Through its partnership withAPC Products Ltd., Leticaoffers an injection-moldedplastic pouring spout for itsplastic pail lids.

Rather than employing aspout that is inserted orcrimped on, the APC-7technology allows the spoutto be added as the lid is inthe mold. “By insert-mold-ing the pail closure into thecover during the cover’s

injection-molding process,the pail cover and closurebody become a single unit,”APC’s president, Ron Sturk,told Lubes’n’Greases. “Theclosure body is further pro-tected with a pull-ring sealin the neck. Exchangingpail contents through aninsert-molded closure

a plastic-to-plastic bond.”APC anticipated the benefit

of reducing tampering as keyto developing closure salesin offshore markets, Sturksaid, and that spurred thecompany to begin research-ing, developing and integrat-ing APC-7 into its portfolio ofsolutions for its petroleumproducts customers.

“Another competing tech-nology employed to bond aplastic closure to a plasticpail cover is ultrasonicwelding, which is effectivein providing tamper evi-dence,” Sturk pointed out.“The welding process, how-ever, is limited by its slowercycle and higher laborrequirement.

“Using insert-moldingtechnology to install plasticpail closures, in my opinion,improves the performanceand security of the packagethrough filler and distribu-tion to the end user,” Sturk

continued. “Years later, I cansay the high research anddevelopment costs havebeen worth the investment.The APC-7 closure is ourfastest growing product insales, and has received verypositive customer feedback.”

R&D costs do play a factorin making your product

packaging copy-proof, con-curred Christian Musiol,sales director of closuremanufacturer Bericap.However, he stressed, “youneed to get transparency onthe costs of ‘not acting.’

“Individualization and pro-tection will add costs to yourpackaging,” said Musiol, whois based in Budenheim,Germany. “You need to bal-ance the costs of implement-ing technology with thecosts of not adding the tech-nology, and running therisks of being counterfeited,”he continued. “There is no100 percent protection[against tampering], but bet-ter-protected packages areless affected by counterfeit-ing and can be easier identi-fied [versus] counterfeits.”

The petroleum packagingindustry is relying toomuch on standard packag-ing components and manu-facturing technologies,Musiol cautioned, despitethe growing need for indi-vidualization. Beyondadding decorative elementsand elaborate colors toclearly identify your brand,it’s imperative to incorpo-rate technical hurdles intoyour packaging, he said.

Such hurdles come withchallenges as well as advan-tages, he added, demon-strating the pros and cons ofsome of the innovations hehighlighted.

For example, adding a sidesecurity label to the closure— a simple tab which easilybreaks or is bonded with aspecial adhesive — is a greatway to add a technical disci-pline to the manufacturingprocess, ensure copy pro-tection and manipulationprotection, and add space

34 JUNE 2014

Continued on page 36

An Extended Content label

has stacked, self-adhering lay-

ers that provide more space

for information and graphics.

(Photo: Multi-Color)

Side markings on closures can be difficult to fake, especially if they conform to the structures or run

across the tamper-evident band. (Photo: Bericap)

for printing marketing mate-rial, he said. However, if theclosure isn’t completelycylindrical, then it wouldneed to be redesigned. Italso requires an additionalmanufacturing step and isprone to physical stress andaging risks.

Another option is to use atool to emboss or print onthe side of the closure.Side-embossing requiresstress deformingof the closurefrom the mold,which adds botha technical and aquality hurdle tothe design,Musiol said, allwhile adding amarketing fea-ture. However,there needs to beenough vertical space onthe side of the closureand/or its tamper-evidentband, in order to fit the toolinsert-imprinted lettering.

Side laser marking, mean-while, uses laser technologyfor contact-free markingwhich can be applied evento closures with knurls andstructures. The marking canbe branding material or abarcode, or both, since it isdone in high resolution.While laser marking is atechnical discipline that ishard to replicate, he said,the technology and machineinvestment also add variablecosts to the manufacturingprocess. Laser marking,however, can be applied atthe closure manufacturer’splant, imparting no addition-al burdens to the customer,he added.

Laser marking can also beapplied to the tops of thecaps. “Advantages of top

printing with individuallaser marking include acombination of visible andhidden protections and anice appeal of marketingfeatures,” he continued.Laser marking the top ofthe closure adds the possi-bility of including hiddenultraviolet printing and veri-fication codes, along withcustomizable brandingopportunities. This technol-ogy adds costs to the clo-

sure, however. Itrequires feedbacklogistics for theverification, forexample, and itshould be com-bined with anindividual codingon the bottle,Musiol added.

Digital printingis a more versa-

tile solution. With contact-free application using digi-tal ink-jet printing, thisnewer method allows fordecoration to run acrossstructures and over knurls,even on HDPE. “In con-trast, older technologies failon adhesion and struc-tures.” It’s also a great mar-keting feature, Musioladded. “Digital printingallows for individual deco-ration of each closure withtext and pictures — andoffers excellent copy pro-tection.”

Counterfeiting is a globalproblem, with some regionsbeing “strongly affected bymanipulations and copies,”Musiol concluded. “You needto get transparency on thecosts of ‘not acting’ — inorder to set the right priori-ties — and define your maxi-mum willingness to pay forthe individualization and pro-tection of your packaging.” ❚

36 JUNE 2014

Continued from page 34

Christian Musiol

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