An international trade body to represent authentication, anti-counterfeiting and automation optical security technologies has a new name. The International Optical Technologies Association (formerly the International Hologram Manufacturers Association) comes as holography – once the cornerstone of anti-counterfeiting solutions – has evolved and now features within a broader spectrum of optical security technologies, available to global law enforcement agencies, central governments and brand owners, the IOTA says.
Technologies continue to advance beyond holography and in the face of expanding market applications, security sector mergers, and acquisitions and consolidation among product firms. The increased demand for physical solutions is also being felt with customers and end-users requiring sustainable solutions, the IOTA adds. Its membership embraces developers and suppliers of security features based on technologies that in addition to holography, include micro-lens arrays, micro-mirrors, plasmonics, nano-gratings, colour change, caustics, polarisation, photonic crystals, special print-generated effects, or a combination. Some members produce optical security features beyond holography, such as SPARK Orbital by De La Rue, also known for printing banknotes; RollingStar micro-mirrors and colour shift features by Louisenthal, plasmonic features by Authentix and SURYS, and KINEGRAM features by KURZ.
IOTA chair Dr Mark Deakes, pictured, said: “I am honoured to be part of this transformative moment, building on our legacy while embracing a modern identity. Change is never easy, but it is essential for growth. IOTA is more than a rebrand; it’s a movement to lead the optical security industry into a brighter, more innovative future, and we want industry stakeholders to join us.
“IOTA will spearhead a new era of authentication, anti-counterfeiting, and automation, always pushing the boundaries of possibility. We will continue to evolve in line with the exciting technologies we represent to ensure the interests of members and manufacturers are to the fore and their voices heard.”
Building on the IHMA’s legacy and global work in highlighting the role played by commercial holography, IOTA aims to create separate chapters or sections and focus its activities on document security, brand protection, packaging, art, and industrial.
A series of user-focused webinars are planned this year that will target optical security sectors while presentations at several industry conferences will showcase the association’s work and ambitions. Visit https://iot-association.org/.
