Pragmatic Semiconductor has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of a new flexible semiconductor designed to help brands tackle counterfeit goods, detect product tampering and give consumers greater confidence that the products they buy are genuine.
The new technology, Pragmatic NFC Protect PR1311, enables consumers and brands to verify a product’s authenticity and whether its seal remains intact with a simple tap of a smartphone. Designed to integrate seamlessly into products and packaging, including curved surfaces, the chip is almost imperceptible to the touch while providing every item with its own unique digital identity.
The launch comes as counterfeit goods continue to pose a growing challenge for manufacturers worldwide. The OECD estimates the global trade in counterfeit goods is worth almost half a trillion dollars each year, with sectors including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, beauty, food and drink among those most vulnerable to product tampering and fraud.
Beyond verifying authenticity, the technology also enables ongoing digital interactions between brands and consumers throughout a product’s lifecycle while improving traceability across the supply chain.
Manufactured using Pragmatic’s low-carbon semiconductor process, NFC Protect has been developed to make item-level product protection commercially viable at mass-market scale.
James Davey, Senior Vice President of Sales, Business Development and Product Management at Pragmatic Semiconductor, said: “The growth of e-commerce has created new opportunities for product tampering and fraud. Pragmatic NFC Protect enables brands to invisibly embed authentication and data integrity throughout the product lifecycle, giving people control and confidence wherever and however they choose to purchase.”
The launch is backed by a number of global partners across the packaging and digital identification sectors, with an early access programme now underway for customers.