SubscribeClosing the ‘loop’ of manufacturing and issuing of licence plates.
Many countries have now adopted the use of holograms or Optically Variable Devices (OVD’s) on Licence plates to increase security and reduce counterfeiting and ‘cloning’.
But with the majority of these being produced in large bulk quantities there is a danger of theft and unauthorised over-production of ‘blank’ plates. The pre-securitised stolen ‘blanks’ can be used by criminals to create ‘clone’ plates to assist in the proliferation of crime.
Whilst existing ‘blank’ materials maybe batch traceable; in most cases there are no physical controls to prevent over-production or duplicates. Issuing paperwork for materials are often open to unauthorised alteration or duplication. In some countries, plate manufacturers have been found to operate under ‘fake’ licences from their issuing authority, producing plates that are outside the issuing system and not traceable.
Closing the security loop between the issuing authority and the plate manufacturers is seen as essential if we are going to impact on criminal activity using fake licence plates.
Licence Plate Security - The Solution
Security Foiling Limited in conjunction with their South African distributor Integri-Sec cc. has now launched a secure authentication system for licence plates using their MicroPOISE OVD/Hologram applicator.
By utilising the ‘Point of Issue’ concept it is possible for licence plate issuers to apply an OVD/Hologram directly onto the plate when it is issued rather than using already pre-securitised ‘blanks’.
- Licence plates without the OVD/Hologram are not valid and cannot be issued to the end user until the Issuing authority grants permission via the OVD/Hologram applicator security system.
- When combined with additional security checks to the licence plate issuing paperwork the plate manufacturer is made responsible for the legality of the plate
Security Foiling Limited also offers additional security solutions for protecting the Licence plate issuing paperwork against unauthorised alteration and duplication. We offer a complete system to protect the Issuing and manufacturing system, not just the licence plate itself.
Optically Variable Devices / Hologram Application System
The desktop OVD/hologram applicator has in-built access control both on a physical and firmware level.
- Physically by using keypad and key control
- At firmware level by use of the SENTRY control system which is built into the OVD/Hologram applicator.
- SENTRY enables the issuing authority to issue codes that control when the machine can be used and how many plates may be produced.
- The desktop OVD/hologram applicator deactivates once the SENTRY activation code has been used – this ensures that over-production or unauthorised plate duplication cannot occur.
Each desktop OVD/Hologram applicator has a unique printing plate to ensure that any licence plates produced by that machine are traceable to the plate issuing company.
Security OVD’s and Holograms
- OVDs and Holograms are supplied from a controlled source and are customised to the end-customer.
- Only specially developed, approved and tested OVD’s and Holograms are used to ensure durability of the security image.
- These special security features are very difficult to replicate.
- Various options exist for additional image security features. These include covert features that are read using a cost-effective inspection device to identify authentic licence plates from counterfeit.
The OVD/Hologram application security system allows the issuing authority to control the plate manufacturing and issuing companies as well as fully audit and investigate any licence plates found to be counterfeit.
Security Foiling Limited offers a fully customisable system to suit each customer via its staff of Project & Software engineers. Local distributors provide first level consultancy and support for all installations whilst Security Foiling Limited can also offer additional remote support via its head office in the United Kingdom.
