Today, we are seeing holograms find their way into ever more sophisticated uses and this includes the automotive sector, where holographic designs and features are incorporated onto vehicle registration plates. New developments in materials and advanced processes are driving growth in the use of holography, bringing innovation and interaction ever closer as the technology opens-up to new applications. By the very nature of their application at the front and rear of every vehicle, registration plates are visible and exposed to everyone, including potential criminal activity. So, without effective security measures in place, registration plates can be prone to manipulation and counterfeiting - often referred to as ‘cloning’. Risky decisions Indeed, recent data in a report drawn up by Home Office officials, the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), suggests that there are about 13,000 cases of cloning being reported each year in England and Wales alone. Worldwide, incidents involving illicit licence plates continue to increase with resourceful criminals hiding their identities by using counterfeit, forged or stolen licence plates on their vehicles. The roll-out of Clean Air Zones (CAZ) is also driving the number of cloned vehicles now on roads, with drivers taking risky decisions to try and avoid punitive charges and fines. However, governments are fighting back and implementing new initiatives to thwart these activities. In Australia for instance, the island state of Tasmania is leading the way in making vehicle identification more secure with what are described as ‘directional security marks’ that cannot be removed physically or chemically embedded into automotive registration plates during the manufacturing process. The move makes it almost impossible for fraudulent plates to be made, according to the Government Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Increasing application There are several reasons why people might want to make unauthorised reproduction or fake plates, but in general it’s for illicit purposes to avoid identification. The markings on the plates are designed to appear similar to the holographic authentication marks found on driving licences. Symbols are embedded in the retro-reflective sheeting used in making authentic number plates which makes the plate visible to a viewer standing about two metres back examining the rear plate. However, the symbols then disappear when the viewer steps to one side or the other from the viewing position. The marks are also verifiable in diffuse daylight and by retro-reflected light at night, which is an important consideration for law enforcement agencies tasked with checking vehicle authentication in 24/7 road traffic operations. The holographic marks are being applied to regular vehicle and trailer plates as well as government vehicle plates – the ministry is also currently exploring the logistics of applying them to custom and personalised plates. The development reflects the increasing application of optics to protect licence plates - and vehicle owners and licencing authorities - from fraud. For example, Swiss company SICPA has developed a new approach to 16 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2024 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net POLE POSITION FOR HOLOGRAMS Holography has a growing role in the securing of vehicle licence plates BY Dr Paul Dunn, chair of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA)
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