THCO to Address Security, Standards, Sustainability and Excellence in Holography

The programme has now been published for the Holography Conference 2023, taking place 21-22 November, the only global conference for the commercial holography industry, tracking every new development in holography since 1990.

Organised by Reconnaissance International, publishers of Holography News™, in association with the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), and held in a virtual format since 2020, the conference provides the perfect platform to bring together the industry to hear about and discuss the latest developments in holography across a broad spectrum of markets and applications – security and authentication, brand enhancement and packaging.

THCO will comprise four sessions, with up to four papers in each, spread over two days, along with panel discussions, debates, and the presentation of the IHMA (International Hologram Manufacturers Association) Excellence in Holography 2023 Awards.

A new dawn

The secure hologram journey began in the 1980s with Level 1, or overt, security features continuously evolving in all aspects of security printing – from banknotes, coins, tax stamps and ID documents to brand protection and packaging. As holograms/OVDs have become a source from which new technologies such as micro-mirrors, micro- lenses, and nanostructures are being developed, the question arises: what next?

The first session will provide the answer, beginning with regional insights from two leading industry associations – ASPA from India and the Secure Identification Union from China. Both India and China are amongst the two most prominent users of holography in brand protection and packaging.

Along with these, the IHMA will provide unveil the new Security Image Register – the successor to the Hologram Image Register which sees it opened up to all optically variable images, and the only system of its kind for the authentication community. At the same time, ID & Secure Document News™, sister publication to Holography News, will address the role of holograms in identity in new developments such as the digitisation of the Schengen visa sticker DOVID.

Standards and sustainability

The second session will follow with Standards and Sustainability charting the next pathway in the industry.

While Intergraf will talk about standards in secure printing and holography, and ISRA Vision will update how manufacturers can plug the quality gap in hologram production.

The session will further examine how Hazen Paper and other holographic packaging companies are continuing sustainable development for a brighter hologram future, while Reconnaissance will talk about where the industry should be focusing its sustainability efforts.

Keeping one step ahead

The second day will begin with a session on keeping one step ahead of the counterfeits, and will include a presentation from Dr Alan Hodgson on how smartphone technology – including light sources and display screen attributes – play a role in hologram authentication. The presentation is based on Reconnaissance’s latest report – Smartphones for Authentication. For more info, visit https://authenticationbrandnews.com/news/2023/mar/27/one-kind-report/.

Counterfeit specialist Kerrency will question whether holograms aren’t just bling, whilst there will be presentations from Interpol and the Counterfeit Intelligence Bureau.

Security and beyond

The final session will shed light on the development of emerging new technologies in hologram origination and its integration with design, digital technologies and sustainability drives. It includes presentations from Combustion Ingenerios on microlithography origination, SURYS on controlled multi-scale patterning and related colour functions, ZSST on dynamic optical security features based on light field shaping, and from Louisenthal on where design integration meets sustainability.

At the end of each session, there will be an opportunity for the audience to put their questions to all of the speakers from that session in a Q&A.

Holography Awards 2023

The conference will conclude with the presentation of the IHMA Excellence in Holography Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements in holographic products or techniques introduced over the previous year.

Through the support of the IHMA, members of the association can register for free, as can representatives from government organisations (including, for example, central banks, revenue agencies, passport issuing authorities or law enforcement).

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