Security pigments can also be used to track and test materials and products along the production line and the entire value chain. The UV and IR active pigments, which are invisible to the naked eye, ensure that the operator is not distracted during the production process and that the consumer can be offered the full design experience without disturbing markings.

 

For example, stable markings that are added to the raw material are the first building block for seamless tracking from the first production step to the recycling of the material as a waste product. But more complex components and products can also be marked invisibly and recognized using suitable detectors. Special spectral properties of these markings give each material a unique fingerprint in a simple way.

 

 

The second component of product tracking is detection and analysis technology tailored to the respective application. Special measurement configurations in combination with highly sensitive signal analysis can not only determine the origin of a material, but also detect mixtures or dilutions. The digital signature read from the security pigment, in conjunction with mobile or stationary testing devices and systematic data analysis, becomes a complete, reliable record of the authenticity, condition, quantity and location of the primary marked components.