Innovation Leads to Development – ZSST

In this occasional series of company profiles of members of the International Hologram Manufactures Association (IHMA), we take a look at Zhongchao Special Security Technology Co Ltd (ZSST) and the technologies it has to offer.

ZSST, a subsidiary of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, was established in 2003, and mainly undertakes research, development and manufacture of optical and machine- readable anti-counterfeiting technologies and products for the Chinese currency (RMB). Through nearly 20 years of innovation and development, ZSST has established sophisticated optical, machine- readable and material technical systems.

In recent years, ZSST has released a series of security products, including a dual- colour dynamic colour-shifting security thread (Dual MoveColor®), a dynamic colour-shifting demetallised security thread (MoveColor®Nicety®), ColorDance® security thread, ColorLeaps® security thread, a zero-tolerance demetallised security stripe (LiveColor®) and magnetic security threads such as Mag A-Code.

The following paragraphs set out in more detail the technical specification for each of these six product types.

Dual MoveColor security thread 

Dual MoveColor security thread integrates multiple micro-optic technologies based on the principles of optical reflection and surface plasmonic resonance, achieving dual colours and dynamic effects. The background and image elements of the thread show different colours.

The security thread of the 24th Winter Olympics commemorative banknote (Macao) shown in Figure 1 is a Dual MoveColor security magnetic thread. The background shows golden when viewed head on and shifts to green when the note is tilted. The motif ‘ ’ presents a red relief effect. Dual MoveColor can also be integrated with ColorLeaps technology to provide symbols with three-dimensional and dynamic effects.

Fig 1. The 24th Winter Olympics commemorative

banknote (Macao) security thread.

 

MoveColor® Nicety® security thread 

MoveColor Nicety security thread, on the one hand, achieves precise control of reflected light based on the principle of reflection, creating various features such as dynamic, relief, and three-dimensional effects. On the other hand, it achieves the precise and zero-tolerance demetallised effect by a unique demetallisation process.

The security thread of the 70th anniversary commemorative note of the issuance of RMB shown in Figure 2 is a MoveColor Nicety security thread. The background shows golden in a straight view and shifts to green when the note is tilted. As the observation angle changes, the dynamic contour exhibits a zoom-in and zoom-out effect. Furthermore, the elements of the Chinese ancient coin and denomination are precise and zero-tolerance demetallised.

Fig 2. The 70th anniversary commemorative note of

the issuance of RMB security thread.

 

ColorDance® security thread 

ColorDance security thread adopts surface micro-optic technologies to achieve the interference, diffraction, and diffusion of visible light, creating dynamic and three- dimensional features with stable colours.

The security thread of the Bank of China Hong Kong centennial commemorative note shown in Figure 3 is a ColorDance security thread, in which the background shows as golden in straight view, and shifts to green when the note is tilted, and the figure ‘100’ moves to different horizontal or vertical directions with the change of observation angles.

Fig 3. The Bank of China Hong Kong centennial

commemorative note security thread.

 

ColorLeaps® security thread

By adopting novel micro-optic technology, ColorLeaps security thread enables the combination of three-dimensional and floating effects. The ColorLeaps technology was applied to the security thread for 24th Winter Olympics opening ceremony tickets. As shown in Figure 4, the ‘snowflake’ shows three-dimensional depth below the surface and a dynamic effect of moving when the observation angle changes.

Fig 4. The 24th Winter Olympics opening ceremony

tickets security thread.

 

LiveColor® security stripe

The LiveColor security stripe released by ZSST has more specific and stable colours (such as red and green), more prominent dynamic lines and three-dimensional images. The stripe can be applied for both paper-based and polymer-based banknotes. The technologies such as ColorTrace, ColorDance, ColorLeaps Nicety used for the LiveColor security stripe are fully integrated, improving the anti-counterfeiting ability of banknotes. These micro-optic technologies independently developed by ZSST are also easy for the public to recognise.

The 24th Winter Olympics commemorative banknote security stripes shown in Figure 5 are LiveColor security stripes. As the viewing angle changes, the stripes present specific colour, rainbow holography, relief and zero-tolerance demetallisation features.The stripes perfectly combine anti-counterfeiting ability and artistic design.

 

Straight view

 

Tilt view

Fig 5. The 24th Winter Olympics commemorative banknote stripe.

 

 

Magnetic Security Thread

ZSST has developed several innovative magnetic technologies, such as TwinCode®, AlienCode® and Mag A-Code, which can provide reliable machine- readable performance for both paper and polymer banknotes.

The TwinCode magnetic threads are encoded with two different magnetic materials which have special coercivity values, providing superior magnetic concealment and machine reading performance of magnetics and conductivities. It can be used as a fully embedded thread with demetallised characteristics and can also be integrated into windowed security threads. The TwinCode has been applied in the fifth series of RMB (2015).

The AlienCode magnetic threads possess unique asymmetric waveforms, which can produce innovative machine- readable features in phase, amplitude and waveform. It can be applied to fully embedded threads or integrated into windowed threads.

The magnetic security threads with Mag A-code have both characteristic visibility and unique machine-readable feature, integrating level 1 public and level 2 machine-readable features and being easy to sort and identify. Mag A-code is especially suitable for polymer banknotes, and is also suitable for windowed threads for paper banknotes. It has been successfully applied on the 24th Winter Olympics commemorative banknote.