Anti Counterfeit Security Labels

Universeal UK’s anti-counterfeit labelling solutions are designed to authenticate and verify that branded products are genuine and have been supplied through legitimate supply routes. Our highly bespoke and secure micro-optic labels use micro-optic technology to create visual effects which are extremely difficult to replicate or counterfeit, providing assurance against counterfeiting to both you and your customers.

The issue of counterfeiting is a serious and increasingly costly issue. It has been estimated that counterfeit goods now represent a $1 trillion a year problem globally, leading to financial and reputational loss to brands as well as posing huge potential risks to consumers. Our brand protection security labels provide a highly recognisable authentication measure, which can be easily and simply applied to primary and secondary packaging like master carton boxes, supporting documents, and directly onto products themselves.

Picture for category Anti Counterfeit Security Labels

Product Authentication for Brand Protection


At Universeal UK, we deliver advanced technology solutions that empower brand owners and OEMs to verify the authenticity of their branded products—effectively helping to combat counterfeiting. Our optical authentication systems include tamper-evident labels that can be applied directly to products, carton boxes, or primary packaging to ensure product integrity and consumer trust.

Micro-Optic Illustration

See below a visual demonstration of micro-optic effects on our security labels:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why should I protect my products with authentication security labels?

Our micro-optical authentication labels are visually impactful, dynamic and easy to recognise. At the same time, the labels are virtually impossible to copy. They are a highly effective at identifying counterfeit goods “at a glance” and are a cost-effective deterrent against would-be fraudsters.

How does the technology work?

Micro-lenses (essentially, tiny lenses, often smaller than the width of a human hair) are embedded into the label’s surface. Beneath this, we use highly secure micro-printing to create a graphic design / structured image, that interacts with light through the lenses in specific ways. When viewed from different angles, the labels can display movement, depth, or 3D effects—like shifting patterns, zooming images, or floating symbols.

Micro-optic security films were originally developed for the currency markets (e.g., the security stripe on banknotes) and as a result, the technology is highly secure and cannot be easily copied.  A key feature of our films is the dynamic 3D/ motion graphics which can be easily identified by the consumer providing instant verification of authenticity.

Aren’t these just holographic labels?

No! Solutions such as hologram labels do not provide any guarantee of authenticity as they can easily copied and replicated due to the widespread prevalence of the technology and its cheap supply chain. Below outlines some of the key differences between traditional holograms and our micro-optic labels:

TechnologyLevel of SecurityAppearanceRecognitionGraphicSubstrateAvailabilityPricing
HologramsLowShiny metallic look, no real coloursRequires good illuminationComplex graphics possibleThin, wide range of widthsHundreds of suppliers globallyCheap price, moderate tooling charge
Micro-optic labelsVery HighMulti-colour availableInstantaneous recognition

Any complex graphics and text

Thin (≤40 microns), wider filmsHighly restricted, limited number of capable suppliersCost-effective, moderate tooling charge

How do these labels fit into my wider supply chain?

These products can also be combined with any existing track and trace methodology, and in that sense, are no different from any other labels. Our method of production allows for production with QR codes, barcodes and sequential numbering.

What kind of design features can be incorporated?

The precise details of every optical design feature available cannot be publicised but includes customisation of 3D depth; motion and countermotion; as well as pulsating, zooming and other specialised optical effects. Furthermore, optical labels can be manufactured in a tamper evident void adhesive, replacing more conventional security labels.