Tapì and Thinfilm develop smart closures to tackle counterfeiting

Italian closures manufacturer Tapì Group has joined forces with near-field communications (NFC) solutions provider Thinfilm to tackle counterfeiting in the wine and spirits industry.

The companies have started developing NFC-enabled OpenSense closures so that brands can protect their products and assure customers that the contents of the bottle are authentic and safe to consume.

The OpenSense solution detects when a closure seal has been broken and alerts the consumer that the container or bottle may have been tampered with.

Tapì and Thinfilm plan to release a suite of integrated smart closures to the premium segment of the spirits market over the coming months, addressing a broad range of spirits closure styles and design, aesthetic, and protection requirements.

A second closure type, based on the Thinfilm SpeedTap tag, is designed to allow brands to open a direct channel to customers for delivering real-time experiences throughout the consumer journey.

Tapì Group chief executive officer Roberto Casini said: “This is further confirmation that, here at Tapì, we are capable of innovating and anticipating trends in our sector. We are excited to offer cutting-edge IoT technology in the beverage sector, which will protect and enhance our customers’ products on several fronts. Counterfeit products not only cause worldwide losses in the sector, but they are a big health problem.

“In addition, brands are also now looking for new ways to interact with their consumers. These cleverly integrated smart closures can help our customers track and protect their products while at the same time strengthening their reputations on the market by increasing engagement with consumers.”

Thinfilm CEO Kevin Barber added: “We are thrilled to be joining Tapì in addressing the rampant worldwide counterfeiting problem plaguing their spirits customers, as well as giving brands’ empowered consumers unique and engaging experiences.

“Many brands are looking for new insights in order to move from indirect, transactional engagement to direct, long-term relationships with their consumers, as well as improvements to their packaging that will make the products more attractive and safer.”