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For Immediate Release

New film enables production of unmistakable, unique IDs: Cards stacked against counterfeiters

Excellent potential also for logistics, brand protection and labeling

October 7, 2009

New Orleans, October 7, 2009 — The new polycarbonate film Makrofol® ID ProteXXion® from Bayer MaterialScience is the latest weapon in the war against fraud with counterfeit cards.

The film contains tiny metallic identification particles (OVDot), which are distributed randomly but can be arranged in customized patterns to deliver identification security features. This overlay film can be used to give polycarbonate security documents — such as IDs, passports, drivers' licenses and, in the future, credit cards — an unmistakable, unique surface. It also holds excellent potential for protecting high-quality branded articles and producing counterfeit-proof labels. "Thanks to the random distribution of the metal particles, every ID made of our new film is unique and, therefore, virtually counterfeit-proof," says David Margulis, business development specialist, Secure ID Card Market, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

The metal particles, which measure about a tenth of a millimeter, can also include alphanumeric information, such as letters, to meet specific customer requirements. Logos, pictograms and national emblems can also be incorporated. "This adds an extra dimension to the card security," explains Margulis.

The new film is available in a standard thickness of 100 micrometers. It can be formed when either hot or cold and back-injected with thermoplastics using the Film Insert Molding (FIM) process. It can be decorated beforehand using screen printing or laser engraving.

The Films Unit is working closely with the Bayer subgroup, Bayer Technology Services GmbH, on the market launch of the new film. The cooperation came about as a result of the ProteXXion technology platform recently launched by Bayer Technology Services. This platform features laser-optic scanners for reading surface information to ensure counterfeit-proof authentication of objects. The light beam of a laser scanner records and digitizes the reflective characteristics of an object's surface and compresses the information using special analysis algorithms. The resulting datasets can be compared at any time with previously generated registration scans stored in a database — either locally or via a Web application. This enables the object or card to be clearly authenticated.

"Customers using cards made of our new film have access to all the technical peripherals of ProteXXion — such as laser-optic scanners and analysis and comparison software — for quick and unambiguous card identification," explains Margulis.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 15,100 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2008 sales of 9.7 billion euros. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries.

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience's Makrofol® films, call 1-412-777-3983, e-mail naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.

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This website may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Media Contact(s)
Name:	Thomas Erdner
Phone:	412-777-5200
Company:	Bayer MaterialScience
Email:	thomas.erdner@bayerbms.com

Upon inserting the ATM card in the machine, the laser light of the reader precisely scans the surface. The laser beam strikes the film at an obtuse angle and detects the tiny metal platelets.