HeiQ licenses Oberthur Fiduciaire and VHP Security Paper

(CONNECT) Customers of Oberthur Fiduciaire and VHP Security Paper can now purchase patent-compliant silver-based antimicrobial overprint varnishes, according to a statement from HeiQ Materials AG. This is guaranteed by a license that the Paris-based company and its Dutch subsidiary have acquired from HeiQ. HeiQ's patent protects the use of antimicrobial silver compounds in overprint varnishes applied to a variety of printed products. These include banknotes, checks, passports, certificates, ID cards and lottery tickets as well as packaging for consumer goods, book and magazine covers.

This license agreement gives Oberthur and VHP Security Paper a formal license to use HeiQ's patented antimicrobial technology in their overprint varnishes and printed products, including the Bioguard range of anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral products used for security printing worldwide. "Our customers, including central banks, public authorities and brand owners, now benefit from the certainty that both functional protection and full patent compliance are guaranteed," comments Oberthur Managing Director Nicolas Koutros.

"Oberthur and VHP Security Paper are recognized market leaders in high-security printing," Tom Ellefsen, HeiQ's Head of Antimicrobial Technologies, is quoted as saying. "This license ensures that customers worldwide have access to patent-compliant antimicrobial overprint varnishes through Oberthur and its subsidiary, while reinforcing HeiQ's commitment to protecting its intellectual property." At the same time, HeiQ advises printers and coating manufacturers who use antimicrobial additives without a license that HeiQ's patents are valid throughout Europe and the UK.

HeiQ is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, is based in the IJZ Innovation and Young Entrepreneur Center and is a member of Start Smart Schlieren. ce/mm