Integrated Authentication

Driven by a growing problem with counterfeit and diverted pharmaceutical products and the subsequent interest by US and European governments in securing the supply chain with electronic pedigrees, many pharmaceutical companies are looking at unit level serialisation to uniquely identify products. They are studying how either barcodes or RFID (or both) can be used on packaging to convey unique identifiers that can be used in electronic tracking programmes.

But are electronic pedigrees or track and trace all you need for securing the supply chain?

A consortium of UK based companies believe not. They argue that track and trace needs combining with authentication technologies to ensure that it is the product that is authenticated not just a number.

And so the vision of SecureTrace was born

What makes SecureTrace different?

Acknowledgement that Traceability is NOT Authentication

Combination of Serialisation and Authentication technologies to secure the products provenance

Multiple partners allowing best in breed and cutting edge technology to be explored and employed

Partnership approach allowing the minimisation of production interface issues

Sharing of best practice between research, operational and technology partners

The SecureTrace pilot is hosted on a high-speed packaging line at Reckitt Benckiser, Hull. Fully integrated into the production process by AND Automation, the line packs blister-packed tablets into boxes which are then bundled in cellophane, packed into cases and transferred to pallets for shipment via Reckitts centralised robotic palletiser.

The SecureTrace project allows for the printing of 2D datamatrix barcodes (Domino) onto the packs which in turn are aggregated into barcoded bundles and RFID tagged (GIS) cartons and finally onto pallets.

All barcodes are printed and scanned (Imsol) and uploaded to a line database (AND Automation) which in turn communicates with the manufacturers database (Pera)to record supply chain movement and allow web based enquiry from product inspectors using hand held scanners (Camdata) in the wholesale or retail/dispensing environment.

Up to this point this point SecureTrace follows the now familiar 'book end' approach to track and trace. However, the goal of combining true product authentication and serialisation provides the driver for the key technical differentiators for the project:

Use of Laser Surface Authentication (Ingienia) in combination with 2D barcodes

Use of forensic signature inks to print barcodes and enable authentication (Authentix)

Use of both 2D barcode (Domino) and RFID (GIS) at appropriate level

High speed reading of multiple barcodes (Imsol and Loughborough University)

Authentication of product via serial code and covert technology at multiple points in the supply chain (Authentix)