Security Layer
IN ORDER TO CHECK, ONE NEEDS TO TRUST THE DEVICES
The new devices developed by the Scientific Research Institute of Goznak help to verify the products of Goznak quickly and reliably
The appearance of a device to control this or that security feature is always accompanied by the eternal question “What appeared first, the hen or the egg”. On the one hand, it is logical that in the state there first appears money with a certain security feature, and afterwards – a device for its control. “On the other hand, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the feature to the customer, who makes the decision to include the feature into the security complex of the product, we need to show the way it works,” says Alexey Salunin, Manager of the Field of Authentication Devices of the Security Technology Directorate of Goznak. “And for that we need to create a special detector or a visualizer able to demonstrate all the abilities of the new security feature”.
Thus the egg appears before the hen. Or sometimes they are born simultaneously.
“Patch of light” is appraised
The work name of one of such devices is “Blik” (“patch of light”). With the launch of the commercial lot, the name will change to “Davis-05”. The device was developed in partnership with the engineers of “KBSP” under the guidance of the Department of Polygraphic Kinds of Security of the Scientific Research Institute of Goznak. Therefore these devices will be sold under the brand of Goznak. The development of the “Blik” device took two years, and now there exist two modifications allowing to visualize two different kinds of dynamic luminescent features.
In particular, the devices help identifying a new security feature being patented by Goznak at the moment — the so-called “flash luminescence mark”…
The essence of the effect observed is that the feature is not merely seen under the influence of a special light source — it also flashes and changes color.
This feature is printed with transparent ink on the secure printed product. The ink looks like transparent varnish when viewed closely. The special luminescent composition is added to this ink; and it opalesces very beautifully under the influence of the “Blik” device. Its brightness and, one may even say, staginess during the feature authentication make it “smash-hit”, i. e. designed for the population and cashiers.
The feature and the device are destined for usage at the cashdesks in case that the operator handles quite a huge amount of cash. Thus the device should be widely spread, and the feature may be subsumed to the visual group, because a human eye is necessary for its authentication, the same as in the case of usual UV luminescence. But, according to Alexey Salunin, additional elements may be implied easily and smoothly into the feature, which will make it an expert feature as well, and then besides cashiers and bank specialists, functional specialists, e. g. expert and criminalistic services will be able to work with it.
The specialists do not describe the device principle in detail, but schematically it represents optical excitation of luminescence in various spectral ranges.
“Blik” has been commercialized recently; the enterprises of Goznak are equipped with it first of all.
During the experimental works the modifications of the devices were carried out, and now the second, more advanced modification — “Blik-2” — is used. In particular, it is oriented at authentication of two dynamic effects — the flash luminescence mark and the pulsating color-shifting mark.
If one compares the visual security complex of the two promotional banknotes issued by Goznak in 2007 — “Dante” and “Korolev”, with the help of “Blik-2” it is possible to see that different marks are applied on these notes. One of the marks — on “Dante” banknote — is phosphorescent (i. e. it does not fade immediately after the UV lamp is off), and under the influence of the “Blik” device it pulsates and changes its color from blue to red. The other mark — on “Korolev” banknote — when observed with the help of the “Blik” device gives an orange flash, which transfers to green luminescence afterwards. The first modification of the “Blik” device worked only with the flash luminescence mark (“Korolev”), but the second modification already visualizes both the dynamic marks. The “Blik-2” device will most likely be launched into the mass production when it is started.
Moreover, according to Alexey Salunin, the phosphorescent luminescent mark on “Dante” promotional banknote does not necessarily require the “Blik” device for its authentication. It is viewed quite distinctly under the influence of an ordinary UV-lamp. But it is in combination with the “Blik” device that the security feature acquires a new characteristic.
At the moment the new security feature is offered to the potential clients. But one should bear in mind the fact that the product price is important for the feature application, therefore it is unprofitable to use the new feature in the cheap postage stamps security, for example. But the feature will not greatly affect the price of such high-security products as banknotes or passports, and therefore it may be demanded actively at the security product market. The “Blik” device is not expensive either in its development or production.
The specialists created it adaptable to the streamlined production — they developed a new module on the basis of the devices of previous modifications.
Look for a mark
— At the Conference in Suzdal we showed a portable device of the new generation “M&T”, which we had promised both to our manufacturers and controlling authorities long ago, — says Alexey Salunin.
The “M&T” device controls the presence of features of the series “M” and “T”. These are special elements applied to banknotes, federal special and excise stamps, documents of the Traffic Safety Department and other documents.
The so-called special mark “M1” was applied to many products of Goznak for a long time. It was one of the famous “flashing” marks (a similar kind of security was used in the production of the US dollars), controlled with the help of both special detectors and some of IR-visualizing devices in the “flashing” mode.
Due to the fact that due to the technological limitations of the web presses the traditional for such products security intaglio printing is not applied, the security complex of these stamps was shifted towards the increase of machine-readable and chemical security features. And the new “M2” feature succeeded the outdated “M1” feature.
Since 2005 and up till now not a single attempt of the “M2” feature imitation has been registered. Possibly, the time for that has not come yet — usually it takes 3 or 4 years to “break” such features (that is to imitate them with an agent possessing characteristics similar enough to deceive the detector — but not the specialist!) During the years of the “M1” feature existence there were attempts to select imitations reproducing the mark of Goznak to some extent; but the “M2” feature is based on a unique chemical combination, which will take the criminals years to imitate.
Therefore at present the existence of the “M2” feature on the stamp practically guarantees its authenticity, and operative identification of the feature (especially “in the field”) is extremely important.
— If we take the “M&T” device and place its detector to this new stamp, it will show the type of the feature — “M2” on its LCD, — Alexey Salunin is demonstrating the device. — Certainly, “M2” will appear on the display only in case this feature is on the stamp, and only if the device is located at a certain area of the stamp. This is a device of the new generation, and comparing it to the previous analogue devices, one may call it intellectual. It “understands” and measures not only the features existing today, but also the features that will be applied in the future. A possibility of reprogramming is provided in the device for this case. Today the device already detects a few different features of the “M” and “T” series, a part of which is not put to mass production yet, and a part is at the implementation phase or is applied in a small range of security printed products.
A pilot lot of such devices in the quantity of about 20 pieces is already produced and located at the enterprises of Goznak. The development of the detector of the new generation is carried out by the Scientific Research Institute of Goznak in partnership with “KBSP”.
The device turned out so successful that there is no need to change its optical scheme or hardware; after its processor is re-programmed, “M&T” is easily turned into a relevantly cheap operative manual detector for the controlling authorities.
Detectors based on the “M&T” device, which will be called “Davis-04M”, will be produced in the nearest future. This device version will have a different shape and the housing dimensions — it will be not “planar” (convenient for work with flat products on the table), but frontal, for it is easy and convenient to authenticate the stamps glued to bottles with the device with the frontal housing. It is also convenient to carry such a device in the pocket.
The “M&T” device shows special information about the feature and its type important to specialists and technologists controlling the security product manufacture quality; the device for the distribution sphere (for the millionaires) is less functional, it shows only the presence of the feature without its parameters, but this device is cheaper and more ergonomic.
With the help of the device it is certainly possible to authenticate not only the excise or federal special stamp, but any other product as well, if its security complex contains the feature the device is programmed to authenticate. In particular, it is possible to authenticate banknotes this way in case they contain the corresponding marks.
Beside these devices, we presented a new visualizing device for the documents of the Traffic Safety Department at the exhibition, and a number of other devices which our customers have known well for a long time.
In particular, a compact multifunctional visualizing device “Davis 03” designed for the operative control of the security complex of the documents of the Traffic Safety Department of the last generation was introduced at the exhibition.
The specialists managed to create a device with the expert control abilities, which is easily held in hand and does not require connection to third devices for its operation, because it has autonomous power supply and a color display.
Elena Fyodorova
