Tapì and Thinfilm to tackle counterfeiting with launch of smart closures

Closures company Tapì Group has partnered with near field communications specialist Thinfilm Electronics to develop a range of smart closures to tackle the growing problem of counterfeiting in wine and spirits.

The new companies have signed a letter of intent in order to pool their collective knowledge in order to “better serve the needs of the wine and spirits industry”.

Based in Massanzago, Italy, Tapì believes its collaborations with California’s ThinFilm will create “dependable, cost-effective closure solutions for brand protection and consumer engagement purposes”.

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.”

Kevin Barber, chief executive officer of Thinfilm, said: “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.”

Tapì and Thinfilm have already begun to develop NFC-enabled OpenSense closures in order for brands to protect their products against counterfeiters. The technology can detect when a seal has been broken, alerting the consumer that the bottle may have been tampered with. Another closure, based on the Thinfilm Speedtap tag, is also in development.