The BlindSpotz technology of CTI (Chromatic Technologies Inc.) is helping stop product tampering by inventing a dual-indicator to detect product tampering from heat and freezing. The use of extreme temperatures (especially sub-zero temperatures) to circumvent traditional security measures on packaging has increased substantially among criminals in recent years.

To date, most tamper indicators only reveal heat tampering such as using a heat gun to melt glue on packaging tape. BlindSpotz “Tamper Freeze” and “Tamper Heat” inks show color and messaging when thieves use heat or cold to tamper with packages.

The Tamper Heat and Tamper Freeze ink technologies from CTI are designed to protect documents, seals, tape, labels or various packaging substrates. Tamper Freeze inks turn from clear to blue when exposed to temperatures below -10° C while  Tamper Heat turns from gray to orange (or gray to pink) if exposed to heat greater than 65° C.

The long-time industry standard has been a high-heat tamper indicator that changes color, but now there’s a tool to fight bad actors who use cold spray, freezing or liquid nitrogen to (1) pull apart a money or document bag and (2) remove and replace an expired label or bypass security tape–treated, high-heat irreversible inks.

According to CTI founder Lyle Small, “Criminals have figured out that the way to get around high-heat tampering indicators is to ‘go cold’ by exposing packaging to very low temperatures. This can “delaminate” many adhesives without activating a tamper-heat indicator. The BlindSpotz Tamper Heat and Tamper Freeze inks eliminate both threats.”

Additionally, the ‘Tamper Heat’ ink offers multiple advantages compared to existing high-heat tamper evident inks: (1) they maintain color if exposed to very high temperatures (greater than 100° C for instance), (2) Tamper Heat/ Tamper Freeze technology activates within a 5° C window, (3) can be printed with adhesives and over-print varnishes and (4) will last much longer on the shelf than existing “heat irreversible” systems, in both wet and printed states.

The Tamper Heat-Freeze ink is available in UV flexo and water-based inks systems.