ACMA explores new solutions to tackle menace of fake parts

As is well known, the menace of spurious parts in the automotive industry continues relatively unabated, despite the enactment of stringent laws to punish counterfeiters. The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) recently brought together some of its member companies, whose businesses have been adversely impacted by counterfeiting, and agencies which have been actively developing solutions to counter the activity, at a seminar on ‘Packaging, security labels and brand protection solutions for the aftermarket’ in New Delhi.

Research conducted by ACMA has revealed that of the total Rs 33,000 crore aftermarket, fakes account for nearly 36 percent, leading to a loss to the government exchequer to the tune of Rs  2,200 crore per annum, an estimated employment loss of over 1.15 million jobs, consumption of an additional 109 million litres of petrol and 8 million litres of diesel per annum. Most rampantly counterfeited products include clutches, bearings, filters, brakes, brake linings, rubber rings and auto electricals all of which are safety related.

The conference saw presentations by some solution providers from the packaging and brand protection fields including TCPL Packaging, Scantrans India, PRS Permacel and U-Flex Industries.  For instance, the session on ‘Printable Security Features in Paper Board Packaging’ and ‘Anti-Counterfeiting Technologies’ delved on overt security measures such as tear-off detection labels, hologram stickers, colour-changing inks and dyes, cast and cure coatings and guilloche; semi- and covert security features such as hidden graphic objects and thermo chromic inks, ultraviolet and Infrared fluorescence and  RFID tags; tracking and  tracing technologies through coding and serialising;  and forensic measures/technologies such as DNA and micro taggants, isotope ratios, among others, to tackle authenticity issues.

The explanation of the concept of ‘Value engineering’ in packaging discussed, in detail, on how to optimise and increase efficiencies in packaging time and reducing costs, consolidate and rationalise SKUs, as well as creating an optimum balance between function and price.

‘Emerging trends in carton packaging’ such as tamper-proof locks and cartons, textured ultraviolet and penta panels, innovative carton dispensers, and anti-counterfeiting and brand protection concepts such as customised lamination film, were showcased to highlight the ultimate aim to create engineering processes that would make it complex and therefore difficult for counterfeiters to copy. 

Given environmental concerns, using recycled paper to make composite containers with tamper-proof closures was looked upon as a viable option to save money as compared to other materials such as metals and plastics.

Latest technologies such as embossing hidden images, tilt-to-view/colour-shift, to even deploying applications on smart-phones to track and trace, web-based platforms being deployed to digitally integrate products with a Unique Identity (UID), were all showcased as other, new and innovative, means to protect brand and anti-counterfeiting measures.