PragmatIC, De La Rue Demonstrate Wireless-Powered Security Labels

PragmatIC Printing Ltd., a pioneer in imprinted logic circuits, and De La Rue plc, the world’s largest integrated commercial security printer and papermaker, announced their progress in prototyping printed electronic security products.

Codenamed project “RAIL” (Remotely Activated Interactive Labels), the £600,000 development is supported by a grant from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board.

PragmatIC and De La Rue have completed prototypes of a range of concepts applicable to security printing markets, following the broad premise of a visual feature (a light or logo) that is triggered by consumer interaction. No battery is required; power is harvested wirelessly from a standard RFID or NFC (near field communications) reader. Such readers are quickly becoming widespread, for example in contactless retail payment
systems or integrated into latest generation mobile phones.

This means the labels can be extremely flexible and thin (around 50 microns), and are also compatible with conventional hot lamination processes.

“PragmatIC’s unique imprint-based approach to printed electronics is not only able to deliver potentially exciting new security features, but is also a natural complement to other security printing technologies such as holographic embossing,” said Philip Cooper, head of ideas at De La Rue.

“Working closely with De La Rue has allowed us to focus on the key functional and form factor requirements for the security printing market,” said Scott White, CEO of PragmatIC Printing Ltd. “We look forward to helping drive these concepts towards commercial reality.”

PragmatIC demonstrated the prototypes and present further details at the Tax Stamp Forum in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 12-14, 2011.