A secure plastic for official documents

With a name that seems taken straight from a film or police series, Crime Science Technology (CST), a recently incorporated Lille-based company made up of experts in the fiduciary sector and forensic science, has developed the O.V.M ™ "Optical Variable Material" technology which comprises a range of security features with innovative visual properties making it possible to quickly and intuitively authenticate official documents. Its purpose: making identification document even more secure and forgery-proof than before.

Securing the raw material

To do this, it uses what it calls Fiduciary Polycarbonate. For some years now, polycarbonate has been the go-to material for making identity documents, in particular because of its durability and strength. Fiduciary Polycarbonate takes that a step further since the technology makes it possible to secure the raw material and the inks used through optical effects that can be detected in a few seconds without need for a special device.

Changing the colours of identity documents based on exposure and making them secure as a result.

By combining chemical properties and optical phenomena, this innovation presents itself as a 3-in-1 security component which is unique on the market and makes it possible to identify identity documents and banknotes with the naked eye, in just a few seconds. "The examined documents feature tailored security components: they change shape or colour depending on the country of origin. For instance, the new French identity cards will change from blue to red. That is the colour code of our Republic", explained CST CEO Cosimo Prete.

CST is no stranger to this type of innovation as it already sells a unique process for revealing traces and clues for criminal identification purposes, is already working with experts in the French police’s Forensics Department and with many prestigious institutions such as the FBI and Scotland Yard, which have also adopted its innovations.

With this new technology, the young company hopes to secure French official documents, and in particular the future national identity card! And it has further ambitions yet, as it is currently in talks with around forty countries to extend its field of activities. In fact, it has just entered into a partnership with Covestro, a company renowned around the world for its polycarbonate films, in order to study the possibility of deploying its technology on a larger scale.

More information:
https://www.crimesciencetechnology.com