Spectral Taggant Inks for Multi-Layered Product Authentication
Spectral Taggant™ technology combines proprietary chemistry with paired detection systems to create secure, covert authentication signatures that are virtually impossible to replicate.
Formulated as a custom ink, Microtrace Spectral Taggant can be applied to labels, transfers, or directly onto product packaging. Validation is performed using advanced handheld detectors and the Microtrace Summit Authentication Platform™, ensuring confident, on-the-spot verification with global consistency.
How It Works
Spectral Taggants™ are light-responsive materials engineered at the molecular level. Incorporated into custom security inks, they create unique optical signatures, invisible to the human eye yet precisely detectable, like covert fingerprints.
These taggants:
- Are tuned for specific detection wavelengths and instrument profiles
- Can be applied to a wide range of substrates and packaging formats
- Remain stable under typical environmental and production conditions
Whether applied via label, transfer, or direct print, Spectral Taggants provide a covert, secure identifier that integrates seamlessly into packaging and production processes.
Why Implementation Matters
Spectral Taggants™ only deliver true security when every stage of formulation and application is tightly controlled. Even minor changes in ink chemistry, printing processes, or substrates can compromise the integrity of the spectral signature. Improper execution creates the risk of false reads or potential replication.
Microtrace approaches Spectral Taggant security with the mindset of a counterfeiter:
- Anticipating reverse-engineering attempts and engineering resilience against them
- Managing the full chain of custody from taggant formulation to print execution and detection
- Designing detection systems to prevent programming or detection alterations, eliminating tampering risk
What Sets Microtrace Apart
Microtrace ensures that every component of your system reinforces security, not just the taggant itself.
- Proprietary Spectral Taggant
Chemistries developed in-house - Custom ink formulations
Aligned with your application needs - Print specifications
Best practices tailored to your printer’s equipment and production variables
- Collaboration with your printer
Maintain optical signature fidelity across press type, speed, and substrate - Secure hardware detectors
Pre-programmed acceptance zones - Optional mobile app
Integration for real-time validation and data capture
Because every component is engineered and validated together, your solution cannot be mimicked with off-the-shelf inks, generic readers, or approximated signatures.
Advanced Detection
Our Summit Authentication Platform™ delivers precision validation of Spectral Taggants in the field. The system includes:
- Handheld or integrated spectrometers with small detection windows and wide optical range
- Patented AI algorithms that reject even sophisticated counterfeits
- Pre-set acceptance zones with ultra-tight tolerances
- Optional mobile app integration for verification and data management
Together, the detector and app provide high-confidence, real-time validation whether at manufacturing, distribution, or retail.
Applications
- Secure product packaging
- Authentication labels and transfers
- Multi-layer brand protection systems
- IoT-enabled smart product authentication
Flexible Integration
Need detection embedded into your device?
Microtrace can integrate Spectral Taggant™ detection and analytics, powered by the Summit Authentication Platform™, directly into your hardware or IoT product. From standalone detectors to inline and IoT-enabled systems, we tailor deployment models that fit your workflow without compromising security.
