INDUSTRY FOCUS AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY CHAIN DEALING WITH THE SHARP RISE IN COUNTERFEITING


Tim Congdon, European business development manager at CCL Design UK, discusses the best ways in which the UK’s automotive industry can tackle the growing problem of counterfeit components


C


ounterfeiting is growing worldwide at a rapid rate – with the Motor &


Equipment Manufacturers Association reporting that the global automotive industry loses $12bn annually to counterfeiting. In particular, counterfeiting of automotive products can harm or kill, and at the same time, inflict serious damage on the brand names and bottom lines of major manufacturers. This problem has been around for some


time and it is only getting worse. For instance, back in 2012 the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer safety advisory to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit airbags. The NHTSA seized nearly 1,600 counterfeit airbags that looked nearly identical to certified original parts, with leading manufacturers’ branding marks.


BRAND PROTECTION AND AUTHENTICATION Fortunately, the automotive industry in general has started to recognise the importance of protecting customers, intellectual property and brands. One way in which counterfeiting can be reduced is by using brand protection and authentication and this is leading to a significant demand. For instance, the global smart label market was valued at $5.68 billion in 2017, and this market is expected to double in size, to reach a value of $11.34 billion by 2023. Alongside an investment in brand


protection and authentication products, there are other things that automotive manufacturers can do to limit their exposure. For instance, for those that are exporting out of the UK, you can consider working with Customs and Border Protection to register your Intellectual property rights. It is also worth providing guidelines to customers on how to detect counterfeit products. These guidelines could include a list of authorised automotive parts resellers, and details around the security aspects of the product. You could also supply some examples to customers of ways in which counterfeit products can be discovered. For instance, this can include misspellings on the product or its


packaging, codes that don’t match, and finally part-specific requirements such as humidity may be missing on a counterfeit item.


THE IMPACT OF COUNTERFEITS It is also important to analyse the impact of counterfeits within your own business (or within sub-contractors) as it is inevitable that one will make its way to a test, inspection, or assembly station. Having reliable and comprehensive design and process data will allow for a thorough analysis of how the fake got there, and how it should have been prevented sooner. In short, why has this happened, and how can we stop it from happening again?


Decorative brand labels can also double as both identifiers and functional anti-counterfeit solutions


copy. Some examples of these products include ‘Videomark’ and security labels (overt/covert).


Fortunately, the automotive industry


in general has started to recognise the importance of protecting customers, intellectual property and brands"


As mentioned, one of the ways to


reduce counterfeiting is to use brand protection and authentication. Automotive manufacturers can work with specialists to develop innovative ways to design labels, ranging from tamper evident box seals, to highly complex multi-layer authentication labels. Decorative brand labels can also double as both identifiers and functional anti- counterfeit solutions – by including both overt and covert security features built into the design. Essentially, products must remain easy to authenticate, but almost impossible to


ANTI-COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS Videomark is a highly overt security feature that has several covert layers built in. To achieve this unique overt feature a photopolymer film is utilised during the bespoke manufacturing process, which allows us to create 3D images and depth that cannot be achieved with traditional Holographic techniques. As such there has been no successful attempts at copying the Videomark product by counterfeiters. Security labels (overt/covert) range


from a box seal to a label with up to 20 different overt and covert security features. We use customised manufacturing equipment to produce complex products in volume.


SOLUTION PROVIDERS When searching for a manufacturer to provide an anti-counterfeiting solution you need to ensure that all their products are designed, developed, and manufactured within a secure facility, ensuring all materials are closely controlled. The actions we have taken to comply to this level of security has ensured that there have been no successful attempts at copying our more advanced products on the black market.


CCL Design www.ccldesignelectronics.com E: CCLDesignelectronics@cclind.com


CCL recently acquired Fascia Graphics, the market- leading UK company for the production of membrane keypads and graphic overlays. For further information on CCL Design’s brand protection and security technology, contact the company using the details above.


/AUTOMATION AUTOMATION | JUNE 2018 11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60