Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olnica Technology French?

Yes, Olnica is a French company based in Rennes. It is now a subsidiary of SOCOMORE group, also French, which has been developing chemical solutions since 1972.

How long has Olnica been tracing products / materials?

Olnica has over 14 years of expertise in secure tracking and traceability.

How is Olnica different from other existing solutions?

Olnica stands out thanks to:

  • The highest level of security in traceability and authentication: non-replicable and counterfeit-proof
  • A legal admissibility: the taggant is recognized as legal proof in international courts
  • A complete solution integrating unique taggants, detection devices and a data management platform
  • A compatibility with all types of materials and industrial processes
What is a molecular taggant and how does it work?

The Olnica molecular taggant is comparable to “DNA” for materials. It is a patented solution based on invisible microcrystals with luminescent and unique coding capabilities. These taggants are tamper-proof and non-replicable, with over 1.3 billion possible combinations.

How is Olnica taggant applied to products?

Olnica taggant can be applied in two main ways:

Directly integrated into the material:

  • Plastics
  • Rubber
  • Fibers
  • Composites
  • Paints
  • Sealants

Integrated on the surface via inks:

  • Direct marking
  • Screen printing
  • Flexography
  • CIJ (Continuous Inkjet)
  • TIJ (Thermal Inkjet)
Is the taggant visible or detectable by consumers?

No, the taggant is invisible to the naked eyes. The detection requires specific equipments and is performed at three levels:

  • Level 1: Visual detection with our flashlight
  • Level 2: Detection of the optical fingerprint with the “PocketLab”
  • Level 3: Laboratory analysis of the taggant unique molecular code
Can the Olnica taggant be used on different types of materials?

Yes, Olnica technology is compatible with a wide range of materials.

Does the taggant affect the physical of chemical properties of the product?

No, the Olnica solution is designed to have no impact on the final product. This is one of the key advantages.

What is the shelf life of the taggant? And on a finished product?

As our taggant is not altered by the external environment, its shelf life is as long as the materials shelf life.

What happens if I mix 2 products, each containing its own Olnica taggant?

We will find both taggants in the final product. We can even quantitatively analyze their proportion to check if the correct ratio was maintained during mixing.

Is the taggant safe for applications involving contact with food or pharmaceutical products?

This technology is food contact approved. For specific pharmaceutical applications, case-by-case validation might be necessary.

Does the taggant withstand extreme environmental conditions?

Our taggant is very robust and withstands extreme environmental and manufacturing conditions. Please contact our team for more technical information.

What types of readers or equipment are needed to detect the taggant?

Olnica offers the PocketLab, a portable and ultra-light spectrometer that allows:

  • Quick field checks (a few seconds needed)
  • Non-destructive analyses
  • Connection to a mobile application (iOS and Android)
  • Secure management of measurements via the online cloud
What are the steps to integrate the Olnica taggant into the production line?

Integration has been designed to be quick and easy, compatible with existing industrial processes. The precise steps depend on your specific application and production process.

Is the Olnica system compatible with our existing production processes?

Yes, the Olnica solution has been designed to be compatible with all existing industrial processes, without requiring major modifications to production lines.

Is the Olnica system compliant with local and international regulations?

Yes, the Olnica solution is:

  • Compliant with current regulations
  • Recognized as legal proof in international courts
  • Approved for food contact
  • Compatible with industrial traceability requirements
What are the costs associated with implementing Olnica technology?

Olnica taggant are added in very small quantities to the material (ppm – parts per million). Therefore, the costs associated with using the taggant are low, making the solution applicable to a very large number of products.

Is the Olnica taggant compatible with the DPP (Digital Product Passport)?

Yes, the Olnica solution contributes to the traceability of materials and products from their creation to their end-of-life, which aligns perfectly with the requirements of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). The solution enables:

  • Complete traceability
  • Production transparency
  • Product lifecycle management
  • Extended Producer Responsibility