Avery Dennison launches Sharp Tear

Avery Dennison has launched Sharp Tear, an anti-counterfeiting technology that enables existing serial numbers to be read directly through the label, providing an extra layer of product security for pharmaceutical brands.

‘The growth of internet sales, together with limited supplies of pharma products in some regions and significant price differentials, means that counterfeiting has become a very significant threat to all pharma brands,’ said Hans Eichenwald, senior product manager specialty segments at Avery Dennison materials group. ‘Today, around 10 percent of drugs sold are already counterfeit according to the World Health Organization. Sharp Tear offers a rapid and reliable way to secure both product safety and brand reputation without impacting productivity or product margins.’

The thin and clear co-extruded film is designed for tamper-evident applications, where an easy tear is required in the label.

The product reveals tampering immediately by providing a seal that remains intact during normal handling, but which tears easily in one direction if attempts are made to open the package.

High clarity and very high opacity versions of Sharp Tear are available, allowing maximum flexibility across different packaging and product types. Sharp Tear can either mask unwanted packaging information or allow important product details to be visible through the label. The label material also delivers high mandrel performance with long term adhesion, and comes with the regulatory compliance needed in pharma applications.

The Sharp Tear material is also said to improve productivity. A BG40 glassine release liner is fully recyclable, and offers significant advantages during label conversion and high-speed dispensing. The company said, ‘It makes this product cost-efficient, delivering exceptional value for money in the pharma market’.

Avery Dennison’s range of pharma anti-counterfeiting and anti-tampering products also includes customized UV-printed films and inserted UV threads, customized holograms and voids, and high-end taggents.

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