IHMA Embraces New Security Features Ecosystem

The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) has a new name – the International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA). The change is part of the industry body’s strategic plan to broaden its scope to better serve evolving markets and new technology frontiers, particularly in optical security.

The implementation of this plan began in early 2024, with the launch of the Security Image Register (SIR), a replacement to the Hologram Image Register and the only system for the secure document community to safeguard copyright by recording and tracking all designs and manufacturing details for optical security features.

New research and development collaborations, leadership changes with the appointment of new board members, and the expansion of membership to all security OVD suppliers have also taken place.

The renaming of the industry association itself is the next logical step.

The IHMA was founded in 1993 and, since then, holograms and their derivatives have become one of the most successful and ubiquitous anticounterfeiting features for banknotes, as well as identity, secure documents and brand protection – both on their own and, increasingly, in combination with other technologies.