Move and Approve with Motus

A new security thread featuring micro-optics was launched at the Global Currency Forum by Portals.

Called Motus (Latin for ‘movement’), the thread is the first security product to be launched by Portals following its acquisition last year of the security features and thread business Fabriano from Fedrigoni.

According to Portals, which describes Motus as a ‘move and approve’ feature, it comprises a combination of spherical (convex) one dimensional lenses and surface printed images, the latter measuring 0.5 micron in size. The lenses magnify the print and create the effects of movement.

There are clear similarities with Crane Currency’s MOTION® feature but, says Portals, whilst the effects may be similar, the underlying technology is different. As such, it claims that Motus now offers central banks an alternative when specifying threads with movement.

Portals has signed an exclusive development and distribution agreement with Swedish-based micro-optics specialist Rolling Optics for the technology.

The threads are currently available in red, green, grey and indigo and in widths from 3-6mm. The thickness of the finished thread is 37-38 microns. If magnetics are added (for example, the company’s coded magnetic technology MagCube), this increases to 40 microns.

They have been designed to be overcoated for durability, with no impact on the performance of the lenses. And neither are these degraded by post-printed varnishes. Such is Portals’ confidence in this aspect of the threads that it says they will likely last longer than the paper they are in.

Although launched as a thread, the feature could also be engineered as a surface-applied stripe in due course.