Applied DNA Sciences, a provider of DNA-based security and product authentication, has signed an agreement with Pillar Technologies for a new business partnership for marking and authenticating original products and packaging with SigNature DNA. Pillar Technologies is a business unit of ITW, and is a provider of induction cap sealers andsurface treatment technologies.
Pillar will offer its customers the ability to prove the authenticity of its products with APDN's SigNature DNA, while APDN will be able to tightly bind its SigNature DNA in new ways to existing and new physical substrates.
As part of this collaboration, Applied DNA Sciences and Pillar Technologies will target key customers and markets for joint commercial development. In a joint news releases, the companies said that DNA marked on any product surface will be securely bound by plasma treatment, a technology that chemically activates the surface to allow bonding to the SigNature DNA. The partnership is targeting customers who are concerned about the quality, integrity and authenticity of their products.
Rory Wolf, CEO of Pillar Technologies, said that the "benefits our customers already enjoy from our surface treatment and induction cap sealing technologies will be further enhanced by a fully forensic, traceable and easily-adapted DNA tracer. We are excited to be able to jointly offer solutions that we believe will benefit our customers who need to know that their products are genuine."
OEMs and end-users in film extrusion, coating, laminating, and printing have used Pillar's surface treatment equipment in order to provide long-term surface treatment with results of increased wettability, long-term adhesion, and/or specialty surface modifications onto most polymer films, nonwovens, textiles, foils and papers. Pillar Technologies is also recognized as a manufacturer of induction cap sealing systems.
The packaging industry uses Pillar's induction sealers to provide tamper evidence, leak protection, discourage pilferage, and extend the shelf life of certain products. Markets most familiar with induction sealing include pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, beverage, automotive chemicals, agricultural chemicals, health and beauty, and all liquid, powder, tablet and capsule filling applications.
"We are very pleased to be working with Pillar Technologies on a unique binding system for our SigNature DNA platform. The customers of both companies will enjoy enormous benefit, and we will be able to offer SigNature DNA to a much more diversified range of physical substrates," stated James Hayward, resident and CEO ofApplied DNA Sciences.
He continued: "Plasma treatment will also benefit our existing industry verticals in military supply chains and in textiles."
