A well-packaged product can withstand harsh conditions of the supply chain and also catch the attention of end consumers. Packaging plays an indispensable role in the sale of products and creates a brand’s image. Of late, packaging experts have introduced different kinds of innovations that have revolutionized the world of packaging on to the next level.

Packaging films with different properties are being used to package products and make a variety of other flexible packaging products like pouches, mono-cartons, labels, etc.

Holostik provides holographic packaging films made with PET and BOPP materials. Holographic wide web or packaging films are used widely in the packaging industry. These packaging films are crafted and manufactured using premium quality raw materials, master origination, and sophisticated printing technology. Holostik offers an extensive range of holographic packaging films available in different specifications as per the demand of the clients.

Types of wide web/packaging films from Holostik

Non-seamless films: Standard holographic films with holography and aesthetics.
Seamless films (UV embossed films): Premium holographic films without any vertical/horizontal shim lines.

Holostik utilizes cutting-edge master origination technology, high-quality raw materials and state of the art equipment to develop supreme holographic wide web or packaging films.

The raw materials used for developing high-quality packaging films include PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) and CPP (Cast polypropylene).

Our supreme quality holographic wide films are used in gift wrapping, lamination, labels, mono cartons, etc. in industries like FMCG, automotive, tobacco, electrical and others.

One of the biggest advantages of flexible packaging films or wide web films is that they considerably reduce the costs of packaging. With holography, these films also help in the prevention of counterfeiting. The amount of time, energy and material utilized for manufacturing flexible packaging films is much lower than traditional glass, plastic and tin jars.

To know more about our world-class packaging films and solutions call us on +91–785-785-7000 or mail us at connect@holostik.com

Product packaging with unique aesthetics and high security instantly grabs the attention of the end-consumer. No wonder, one of the prime objectives of packaging is to lure the consumers and make the product more saleable.

Taking a cue from this, packaging experts at Holostik came up with the idea of using UV embossed films for making highly attractive mono cartons and labels.

Packaging products affixed with UV embossed films have the potential to increase sales and leverage brand value.

UV embossed films-explained

UV embossed films are mainly polymer films coated with UV curable resin, which is later cured by high power UV light at the time of embossing. The UV embossing technology helps to produce high-quality holographic properties and effects as compared to hard and soft embossing processes.

UV embossing is a roll to roll manufacturing process consisting of 3 steps:

The coating process: A flexible substrate film such as polyester is unwound from a reel and then a liquid UV curable resin is coated on the top side of the film. The film is dried to remove the solvent from the resin.
Curing process: When the film is being embossed a high source UV light cures the resin.
Rewound: In the final stage the completely cured embossed film is rewound on the reel.

UV embossed films from Holostik

Holostik’s UV-embossed films are used for making enticing and highly secure mono cartons. The innovative packaging solutions not only provide security to the product but also enhance the point of sale visibility. These films are available in generic and customized forms.

Customers who have used our UV-embossed films have reported a visible reduction in counterfeiting of their products and an increase in sales.

Technical specifications of UV embossed films

Thickness: 23 microns for carton PET and 50 microns/36 microns for label PET
Available as metallised PET / transparent PET
Can incorporate different effects like 20 generic effects, texture, Images and pillar of light

To know more about UV embossed films and packaging call us on +91–785-785-7000 or drop us a mail us at connect@holostik.com.

In the last few years, counterfeit cosmetics and personal care products have increased drastically. From fake lipsticks to fake shampoos, duplicate face creams to duplicate facial masks – the list seems endless. Nowadays, roadside shops, markets, and even retail shops are flooded with counterfeit versions of cosmetics.

For example, in the city of Delhi, some of the major counterfeit hubs of fake cosmetics are Janpath, Central Market in Lajpat Nagar, Sadar, Palika market, etc. You can easily find here cheap copies of famous international cosmetic brands at very low prices. Similarly, there are many other spots in other cities where you can easily find counterfeit cosmetics.

Current facts and figures related to counterfeit cosmetics

The counterfeit cosmetics industry is growing at fast pace and here are some shocking facts which prove the same:

In 2016, fake perfumes and cosmetics had a share of 5% of the overall global seizures. Source- OECD.
Counterfeit cosmetics contain harmful chemicals like lead and mercury. Source- Web
In February 2018, police in the US found US$700,000 worth of knock-off Kylie Cosmetics products in 21 locations throughout Los Angeles. Source: Cosmeticsbusiness.com
Social media now contributes to more than 50% of black-market cosmetics sales. Source: Cosmeticsbusiness.com

Negative impact on the manufacturers and consumers

Counterfeit cosmetics lead to a monetary loss of the manufacturers. Counterfeiting takes away a major chunk of profits from the companies. Moreover, counterfeiting leads to a tarnished brand image which takes years to build up.

Many big cosmetic brands have taken strict anti-counterfeiting measures to fight fakes. This comes in the form of added costs and puts a financial burden on the company which is already suffering from fake products.

Every day, we come across numerous reports and news from different corners of the world on the harmful effects of counterfeit cosmetics. Since fake cosmetics contain toxic chemicals, they lead to different types of skin allergies, infections, etc.

Anti-counterfeiting solutions from Holostik

Holostik provides customized anti-counterfeiting, smart packaging, and supply chain solutions to the cosmetic and personal care industry. Our products not just help in preventing the sale of counterfeits but also help in monitoring the company’s supply chains.

Our anti-counterfeiting solutions are incorporated with high-security features like holography, tamper-evident and digital authentication technologies which makes it impossible for counterfeiters to breach our security standards.

To know about our customized anti-counterfeiting product line call us on +91–785-785-7000 or mail us at connect@holostik.com.

In today’s cut-throat market competition, manufacturers are highly conscious of branding and safeguarding their products from counterfeiting. These companies spend a huge amount of money on selecting the right packaging for their products.

An ideal packaging should efficiently convey the company’s brand image, product details and most importantly should have features that prevent counterfeiting.

Different kinds of packaging solutions

According to the customized requirement of the product and the company, different kinds of packaging solutions are used. All the prominent packaging solutions have the qualities of flexibility, durability, and aesthetics. Among the many packaging solutions, holographic shrink sleeves are one of the most effective for branding and brand protection.

In addition, shrink sleeves provide 360-degree branding for the product.

Shrink sleeves from Holostik

Shrink sleeves have become the leading packaging application and are being used majorly in many industries like beverages, food, dairy, paint, cosmetics, detergents, etc. Holostik’s custom printed shrink sleeves are known for their aesthetic appeal and functional adjustability.

On applying heat, these sleeves reduce in size and conform tightly to the shape of the container or product, creating a sleek label and product package. No wonder, having brilliant artwork and designs on them, these sleeves are perfect for marketing and brand promotion.

Holostik’s shrink sleeves comes with a holographic strip that immediately gives the sign of tampering which makes it a reliable solution against counterfeiting. Actually, these are tamper-evident shrink sleeves that are visually appealing product packaging with an essential feature that ensures the safety of products and consumers.

Variants of shrink sleeves

Holostik provides shrink sleeves in three main variants which are as follows:

Body and neck sleeves with printing
Body and neck sleeves with holography
Body and neck sleeves with printing & holography

If you need customized holographic shrink sleeves for your business, then please call us on +91–785-785-7000 or drop us a mail at connect@holostik.com.

Counterfeiting is growing at a fast pace across the world. Different reports show disturbing figures related to counterfeiting.

According to Global Brand Counterfeiting Report, “The amount of total counterfeiting globally has reached 1.2 Trillion USD in 2017 and is bound to reach 1.82 Trillion USD by the year 2020 which includes counterfeiting of all equipment/products from defense equipment’s to counterfeiting of watches.”

The report also states that losses incurred by luxury brands because of the sale of counterfeiting through the internet accounted for 30.3 Billion USD.

A report by OECD states that trade in fake goods is 3.3% of the world trade.

Link between counterfeiting and criminal activities

The above-mentioned figures clearly point towards the high growth of counterfeiting over the last few years, however, counterfeiting has also led to the growth of other criminal activities.

Many organized criminals deal in the sale of counterfeit goods as it is a lucrative business and there are less severe punishments to deal with it. With the penetration of the internet in far-flung places, criminals are making huge profits by selling counterfeits in the e-commerce space.

So, what do these criminals do with the money made by selling counterfeit goods? In most cases, they use it to fuel other criminal activities like human trafficking, illegal arms trade, drug trade, and even terrorism.

One can remember the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France in which many people died. The gruesome attacks were carried out by selling fake sneakers. Many international organizations have established a close link between counterfeiting and other criminal activities.

Conclusion

Counterfeiting is a growing menace across the world. The crime promotes other heinous crimes and the vicious cycle continues without an end. However, counterfeiting can be prevented by increasing consumer awareness, strict implementation of regulatory measures and ensuring the use of anti-counterfeiting solutions.

To get the best of anti-counterfeiting solutions to safeguard your product and business call us on +91–785-785-7000 or drop us a mail at connect@holostik.com.

You often see shiny and aesthetic foils of different shapes and sized – affixed to credit/debit cards, identity cards, plastic bottles, boxes or other metallic products. These enticing foils instantly catch your attention and cannot be removed from the products’ surface like labels.

Hot stamping is a form of relief printing in which a metalized foil is transferred to a surface at a high temperature.

Some of the industries where hot stamping foils are majorly used include government, education, apparel, automotive, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Use of hot stamping foil

Hot stamping foil serves the purpose of branding and authentication at the same time. Of late, these foils are being rampantly used by manufacturers due to their durability and cost-effectiveness.

Hot stamping foil is an important element of a hot stamping process. These foils are made up of several layers. These layers include a polyester carrier, a release layer, lacquer, image, and metal layers and an outer adhesive sizing layer.

In the hot stamping process, a heated die forces the foil against the surface which is supported by a counter cylinder. A combination of pressure and heat melts the release layer and a thin layer of metallic pigments stamps-on the substrate.

Major benefits of hot stamping foils

Some of the main benefits of hot stamping foils are as follows.

Hot stamping foil can withstand harsh conditions of nature.
These foils can be applied to a wide variety of substrates.
Cost-effective and environment-friendly in nature.
One of the best ways to ensure brand identity and protection.

Hot stamping foils from Holostik

Holostik is an industry leader in providing optimum quality hot stamping foils to the market. Some of the variants of hot stamping foil offered by Holostik are unregistered or running pattern, registered pattern with scan marks, registered pattern with both side scan marks.

The holographic hot stamping foil can be customized as per the requirements of the customer. This allows the enormous potential of incorporating different security features in the foil.

If you require customized hot stamping foil for safeguarding your product against counterfeiting and also for enhancing your brand value, then call us on +91–785-785-7000 or drop us a mail at connect@holostik.com

Whether its medicine, food or cosmetics people want to be sure that the products they are using have been tampered with or not. To deal with the same, manufacturers often use tamper-evident packaging for their products.

So, what is a tamper-evident packaging? In simple words, a packaging solution which clearly shows any form of tampering with the product or its packaging is known as tamper-evident.

According to U.S Food Drug Administration, “A tamper-evident package, is one having one or more indicators or barriers to entry which, if breached or missing, can reasonably be expected to provide visible evidence to consumers that tampering has occurred.”

Benefits of tamper-evident packaging

Tamper evident packaging helps manufacturers, supply chain inspectors and consumers to determine if the product has been tampered or not. Tamper evident packaging prevents the attempt of counterfeiting. A tamper-evident packaging incorporated with a QR code can further help in implementing gamut of supply chain solutions.

In times, when the product’s genuineness if of highest concern tamper-evident packaging can give a sigh of relief.

Tamper-evident packaging from Holostik

Holostik provides tamper-evident foil in many variants. These foils can be used in holograms or labels to give them tamper-evident qualities. Some of the variants are as follows:

Honeycomb pattern: Leaves behind a honeycomb pattern on the substrate if tampered with.
Void/Text tamper pattern: Leaves ‘VOID’ or customised text on the substrate.
Self-destructive (breakable vinyl) tamper evidence: Tears apart or self-destructs if an attempt is made to tamper with it.

These holograms or labels can be applied on plastic, glass, PVC, wood, paper and fabric. Some of the industries where these packaging solutions can be used are FMCG, liquor, lubricants, pharma, personal care etc.

To know more about our tamper-evident packaging solutions, call us on +91–785-785-7000 or mail us at connect@holostik.com.

Counterfeiting has reached to an enormous scale. A large number of products are being counterfeited by forgers and organized crime syndicates. Their sole motive behind is to earn huge amount of money by taking unfair advantage of brand names.

Of late, counterfeiting has infested the e-commerce market. Big online retail giants like Amazon and Alibaba are flooded with fake products which usually come from third-party sellers.

Large scale counterfeiting of products has resulted in heavy losses for manufacturers, consumers and the government.

Many times, companies take years to re-build the brand image, tarnished by counterfeiting.

This is where the need of anti-counterfeiting technologies arises. Manufacturers have been using different anti-duplication technologies as per their specific needs and supply chain capabilities.

Different kinds of brand protection technologies

Overt Technologies: These technologies do not require any additional tools; they are visible and apparent with naked eyes. This is the best way for on the spot visual authentication.

Covert Technologies: These technologies are not instantly recognizable. They require special tools or equipment to identify authenticity; not visible through naked eyes.

Forensic Technologies: These technologies being covert require detection by specialized technologies and are usually taken to laboratories for validation.

Digital Technologies: These technologies may be either covert or overt and require electronic means of authentication.

Combination of anti-duplication technologies to prevent duplication

In the current times, supply chains have become complex and goods can be delivered on e-commerce in instants. This has blurred the lines of regulation and inspection. Amidst this scenario, counterfeiters and forgers try their level best to copy the product and packaging.

In order to counter this burgeoning issue, anti-counterfeiting experts at Holostik came up with the idea of combining anti-counterfeiting technologies. Holostik’s latest offering in integrated anti-counterfeiting technologies is a combination of holograms and QR codes.

While holograms serve the purpose of product authentication, QR codes help in digital authentication, track and trace and supply chain solutions.

These two technologies act as a double-edged sword against counterfeiting. This means if a counterfeiter is able to breach one level of technology then he won’t be able to copy the next.

Holostik provides integrated holographic and digital technologies to prevent counterfeiting and improve supply chain efficiency and visibility.

In order to know about our integrated or combined anti-counterfeiting technologies call us on +91–785-785-7000 or mail us at connect@holostik.com.

The world is flooded with counterfeit products of all kinds, from fake Louis Vuitton bag to phoney Tissot watches, counterfeit Cartier pens to duplicate Adidas sneakers, fake Apple devices to fake MAC makeup kit- the list seems endless.

However, counterfeiting not just impacts luxurious brands but also affects those products which are affordable for the common man. With the growth of online trade, a large number of fake products and accessories are being sold online. Of late, global e-commerce giants like Amazon and Alibaba are suffering from the menace of counterfeit goods.

According to a report by Research and Markets, the global value of counterfeiting has reached a monstrous value of more than $1 trillion.

Impact of buying decisions on counterfeiting

Consumers play a major role in the impact of counterfeiting. While numerous buyers are being duped with fake products, there are many who knowingly buy fakes.

A recent report by OECD states that a large number of buyers in the UK were knowingly buying fakes. The report states, “Bulk of purchases of fashion and luxury-specific fakes did not occur by chance. Instead, nearly 60% of purchases of counterfeit fashion items in the UK were done intentionally by consumers who knew that they were buying fakes.”

According to a survey conducted by Civic Science in the US, “Around 10% of respondents had purchased a counterfeit knowingly.”

Over the years, there are many factors that have contributed to the rising consumer trend of knowingly buying fakes. Some of them are a rise of social media influencers, pop culture and a personal likeness for brands and luxurious goods. In a scenario when the common man is not able to purchase original costly items, he or she resorts to buying fake items- for fulfilling the desire.

The problem due to knowingly buying counterfeits

No wonder, there are numerous problems caused due to fake goods, however, in most cases, a consumer is not aware if he or she is buying a counterfeit or not.

The problem of knowingly buying fakes is a grave concern because in this scenario the consumer is promoting the sale of counterfeits. In such a case, awareness regarding fake brands turns futile and manufacturers are not able to take concrete action.

To deal with the same, strict regulatory measures should be implemented which prevent the sale of counterfeits on all the platforms. Moreover, manufacturers should resort to secure packaging solutions for enhanced supply chain security and inventory visibility.

Holostik’s anti-counterfeiting solutions

Holostik is a leading player in catering wide variety of anti-counterfeiting and IT-enabled supply chain solutions. Our products like security holograms, security labels, wads, shrink sleeves combined with digital authentication help in preventing counterfeits and the safety of the supply chain.

To know more about solutions, you can call us on +91–785-785-7000 or drop us a mail at connect@holostik.com

Different industries like pharmaceutical, electronics, FMCG, automobiles use a range of flexible packaging solutions as per their needs. These packaging solutions safeguard the products in a supply chain from spillage, tampering, diversion, counterfeiting, etc.

A product simply cannot sustain in the market without secure and robust packaging.

What is flexible packaging?

Secure and flexible packaging solutions combine the best quality of plastics, packaging films, holography, and digital authentication. Flexible packaging solutions have become highly popular due to their versatility, functionality, and cost-efficiency.

According to industry experts, flexible packaging includes a package or any part of the package whose shape can be changed readily. Some of the examples of flexible packaging solutions are security labels, security holograms, holographic pouches, shrink sleeves, holographic films, etc.

Flexible packaging solutions from Holostik

Holostik is an industry leader when it comes to catering customized packaging solutions. The anti-counterfeiting and packaging company has been catering to a wide variety of packaging solutions to different industries for the past 28+ years.

In this blog, we will discuss our secure and flexible product line which can be customized as per your specific needs.

Security labels:

Labels are considered as the first communicators of the company and its products. With added features of holography, security inks and digital authentication (QR codes/bar codes) they also prevent counterfeiting. Some variants of our security labels include paper labels, breakable vinyl, transparent, Tyvek and many more. These labels affixed to the product help in highlighting the product contents, enhancing the brand value and securing it.

Security holograms:

Security holograms are unique and low-cost OVDs (optically variable device) with the property to diffract light. Holograms incorporate security features that are extremely hard to copy by any other means. With the incorporation of overt, covert and forensic features security holograms are impeccable products against counterfeiting.

Holographic films:

Holographic metalized films are one of the best packaging products with a wide variety of applications like gift wrapping, lamination, and packaging. These films are available in PET (minimum thickness of 12 microns) and BOPP (minimum thickness of 20 microns).

Holographic wads:

Wads or liners are extensively used to close the mouth/orifice of bottles which in turn keep them secure from spilling or tampering. With the addition of holography, these wads help in preventing counterfeiting.

Shrink sleeves:

On applying heat, shrink sleeves reduce in size and conform tightly to the shape of the container or product. These products are used in many industries like beverages, food, dairy, paint, cosmetics, detergents, etc.

Hot stamping foil:

Available in different variants hot stamping is a permanent process in which a part of the object is marked with a properly formulated foil.

Other solutions:

Some of our other packaging solutions include holographic security pouches and tax stamps. While holographic security pouches are used in different industries for packaging products & making them distinct on the shelf, tax stamps help in preventing counterfeiting and collection of revenue.

Our flexible packaging products can also incorporate digital authentication features (QR codes/bar codes) which help in supply chain efficiency and visibility.