Nukote’s Expertise
Innovations in Science to Make Life More Secure
Nukote has a long heritage using the science of specialized coatings to protect businesses and individuals and keep the public safe from fraud in everyday life.
Nukote’s expertise in the unique skill of coating goes back 40 years, to its days as part of Burroughs Corporation. Nukote’s earliest coated products were used in traditional typewriter ribbons. The coatings that Nukote developed and manufactured included correctable typewriter ribbon coatings; MICR coatings (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) for the banking industry; multi-strike ribbons and lift-off tape coatings.
Many of Nukote’s traditional coatings have been carbon black-based coatings for ribbons, used for creating images on documents. Starting in the 1990s, Nukote developed and manufactured a new line of coated products called TTR (thermal transfer ribbon) coatings, which were used as components inside fax machines.
Since then, Nukote has blazed new frontiers in this field, putting science to work in the defense of honest commerce. Today, more than ever, Nukote is a master in the growing field of science-based imaging security.
Putting Science to Work Preventing Fraud
Fluorescent materials, penetrating inks and magnetic coatings—they sound like things you’d find in a James Bond movie. In fact, they are just three examples of Nukote’s capabilities for making sophisticated security imaging products.
In today’s dangerous world, businesses and the public face constant threats from fraud and abuse. Nukote’s imaging experts have developed sophisticated defenses to protect honest commerce and consumers from those who try to cheat the innocent.
Nukote has a long history in producing security-related coatings and products. Nukote’s forerunner, the Burroughs Office Supplies Division, developed a unique means of foiling counterfeiters in the early 1980s when color copiers become popular. By developing certain dot patterns and by printing the word “VOID” across a document so that it was barely visible to the eye—yet apparent after being copied—we were able to eliminate rampant counterfeiting on color copiers, such as photocopying paychecks and cashing the same paycheck several times. Five patents were issued for this innovative technology.
Nukote has decades of experience in making MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) coatings and ribbons. MICR coatings are a vital form of banking security that Nukote has perfected over many years. MICR ribbons contain magnetic particles embedded in the coating. They allow banks to authenticate the origin and content of documents, such as checks, using magnetic readers.
A related product coated by Nukote is a “bleed-through” MICR ribbon that contains a magnetic coating and components that cause ink to penetrate through to the back side of the paper. These ribbons are used by check manufacturers to generate routing and transit information on a check. The bleed-through MICR is used to prove that a check is authentic. If a counterfeiter tries to print his own checks or to modify the original check, the bank can spot a fake by checking whether the image can still be read on the back side of the check. This is a powerful weapon in the war against forgery.
Another example of Nukote’s expertise is fluorescent coatings, which are an essential tool in protecting against fraud. Nukote makes a fluorescent red thermal ribbon for use by the U.S. Post Office. When printed with this ribbon, postage markings on official government mail, such as letters sent by federal agencies or Members of Congress, can be checked to make sure that they are not counterfeit. The naked eye can’t see that the printed image is fluorescent. But when exposed to ultraviolet light, the difference can be clearly seen—and postal fraud can be stopped in its tracks.
Photochromic coatings developed by Nukote use materials that reflect light in a unique way, for a wide range of uses to prevent counterfeiting—such as drug labels for hospitals and pharmacies, labels for designer clothes that help prevent illegal knock-offs, gift cards and ID cards that cannot be faked. This technology has almost unlimited uses for all kinds of commercial, law enforcement and government needs.
Invisible printed images, which can be seen only under ultraviolet light, are another form of a coating that can be used for brand protection or to ensure the authenticity of an original.
Anti-copy coatings: One potential user of these coatings is security-sensitive government offices, where laminated original documents need to be legible, but must not be copied. Businesses or law firms can also use this protection, to make sure that private documents do not find their way into the wrong hands.
Security taggants: Nukote takes security to the highest level with our ability to create ink and coatings that contains nanoparticle taggants—materials which have a unique optical “fingerprint” and, in some cases, are one-of-a-kind in the world. Some of these “marker” materials are so sophisticated that they would require a forensic laboratory for identification—making it extremely unlikely that forgery or counterfeiting could occur.
Protective clothing for military use: Nukote has coated protective membranes that can be made part of laminated fabric apparel to protect soldiers and firefighters against chemical and biological warfare.
In today’s world, security products of all kinds are becoming more important than ever. With its extraordinary expertise in security coatings, Nukote is poised to continue developing new and practical protections in this area.
A Heritage of Security
Security for the public good is a longstanding part of Nukote’s heritage. During World War II, Nukote’s predecessor company, Burroughs Corporation, had close ties to the U.S. armed forces. During the middle years of the last century, Burroughs was a major supplier of computers to the military.
Nukote’s owners are the same persons who helped launched a small manufacturer of protective body armor for the military and police called Armor Holdings and set it on the path to become one of the world’s top security companies.
Armor Holdings eventually grew into a world-class security provider. It developed and provided an extraordinary range of products and services, including armored vehicles, electronic security and alarm systems, narcotics investigation products, security trainers and consultants, mine clearance, risk insurance and other sophisticated tools for defense and law enforcement.
The company’s clients included the U.S. and allied governments, banks, universities, airports and corporations. Armor Holdings eventually was acquired by the world’s third largest global defense company.
Other Innovations for Daily Life
It isn’t only in the area of security and fraud protection that Nukote is leading the way. Our company also uses its specialty coating and imaging expertise for products that help make daily life more convenient.
In addition to the security uses above, the company’s custom coating activities include a wide range of applications, such as:
- Optical film coatings that make displays and presentations easier to see on liquid crystal displays (LCDs);
- Anti-glare coatings to protect the eyes, for use in personal electronic devices, ski goggles, etc.;
- Print receptive coatings that can be applied to a variety of products, to allow ink or toner to be printed on them;
- HP Indigo™ receptive coatings that can be applied to a variety of substances to create products, including label stocks, menus, calendars, etc., to allow digital printers to print on them;
- Direct thermal coatings, containing a special heat-sensitive chemistry, that can be applied to a variety of substances to create products, such as wristbands, tags, labels, etc., that can be printed on;
- Flexible packaging coatings, including heat seal coatings and barrier coatings, that create a heat or moisture barrier for use in food packaging. One use is a heat seal coating to protect packaged frozen foods and allow them to be oven baked or microwaved;
- Overlaminate films that can be used in automobiles, boats and recreational vehicles to protect them against weather and enhance their appearance;
- Rubber coatings on film and fabrics for use as components inside digital imaging printers.
In short, Nukote has virtually unlimited abilities to develop practical products through our extraordinary coating and imaging expertise.
Nukote’s scientists and researchers are working on the next generation of innovative and practical coating products to serve a changing world.
