IQ Structures Wins Tender to Protect Czech ID

IQ Structures, part of the IQS Group, a research and manufacturing organisation focused on controlled nanostructures, has announced that it has been selected as the supplier of anti-counterfeiting protection for the ID card of the Czech Republic.

The winning solution is based on IQ proID micro-segmentation technology. To the user, it appears as a set of very sophisticated holograms, but in truth they are carefully calculated nanostructures. It offers, among other things, the following advantages:

Integration in the card. Thanks to the micro-segmentation, it is virtually impossible to remove or tamper with the holographic layer. Any attempt to manipulate the holographic layer ends up disintegrating the hologram into thousands of miniature parts.

Full area protection. The data are protected by an unforgeable and non- removable hologram covering the entire document, right up to the edge.

Easy visual verification. It is very difficult to fool a supervisor because the various security technologies (security printing, UV and OVI printing, tactile surface embossing and holographic) are integrated into a single design unit that is easy to visually distinguish. This unique design unit can protect different documents, including IDs, passports and driving licences.

Distinctive visual effects. These include key-hole, see-through holograms in transparent windows, flip- flop (two holograms in one), white 3D bas-relief and full 3D, fluent changes in transparency, a combination of transparent and metallic effects and printed elements.

IQ Structures CEO Petr Franc commented that, ‘we are extremely pleased with this victory, because the selection process was very thorough. The protective strength, technological maturity and the ability to deliver safely were examined in detail. It was a rare opportunity to objectively compare the technologies available on the global market. We have won a number of awards over the years, but none of them was based on such a thorough analysis of different safety products.’