| Placard News |
| 17/05/05 A new approach to card security from Placard |
In the modern world proof and protection of our identity has become as important as securing our homes and property. With the advent of digital technology, identity theft, forgery and fraud are no longer the domain of sophisticated criminal organisations- individual operators are now able to alter or replicate many common personal identification mediums and in particular identity cards. In addressing these concerns a new generation of security identification cards, using state of the art technology, systems and equipment has been developed in Australia as a result of a Research and Development project between Placard Pty Ltd, a high security Australian plastic card manufacturer and Securency Pty Ltd (a joint venture company of the Reserve Bank of Australia and supplier of the Guardian® polymer substrate used for Australian and many overseas banknotes) As a consequence of the success of polymer banknotes in combating counterfeiting in many countries, Placard and Securency sought to combine their technical and production capabilities to enhance the security of plastic identity cards and address the key issues of card forgery and fraud. After two years of development, a new plastic identity card has been perfected containing many of the security features found in polymer banknotes around the globe. Derived from the succesful Guardian® polymer banknote substrate, SENTRII® substrate has been formulated to enable polymer’s introduction into plastic card production for Government only applications. The new SENTRII® card substrate presents a greater challenge to the forger and more “detection features” for the authorities and public relying on the integrity of the card. Replacing the standard white PVC core substrate traditionally used in ID card production, the new SENTRII® card substrate features a Securency polymer core substrate with a window and engraved shadow effect and can also contain many of the more complex security features found in our banknotes. The potential of clear windows is fully recognised, and they become an even greater challenge for the counterfeiter, if the complexity of the design within and around the window is increased, or if another security device is incorporated within it. For example, OVDs, which are very effective security devices, have the added advantage with polymer of being able to be seen from both sides of the clear window. This has significant deterrent advantage over other traditional “anti-forgery” devices, such as foil holograms, which have now proven to be easily replicated. A significant benefit of the polymer substrate is in the ability to vary its opacity. Being able to see “through” the card enables a customised engraved shadow image (similar in effect to a watermark) to be incorporated into the substrate during the manufacturing process. The newest development with the SENTRII® card substrate is a DOE™ (Diffractive Optical Element) Feature. This is a transparent hologram diffraction structure designed for use in transmission mode, and is therefore ideally suited for use in the window. The DOE™ feature is based in the window and, when held up and viewed to a point light source, such as a torch, spotlight, headlight, or even a candle, a specific easily recognisable pattern is projected and the card can be authenticated. The DOE feature has been succesfully incorporated into high security banknotes in four countries. The DOE is located inside the card structure and cannot be tampered with. This provides a unique ‘self authenticating’ feature which can be used by both authorities and the public to determine the authenticity of the Identity Card they are examining in real time, providing great confidence in its integrity. The new card technology is entirely compatible with all current identity card photo printing and personalisation methods. For further details on this new development contact:
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