Tokyo – June 16, 2021 – Toppan Printing (Toppan) (TYO: 7911), a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions has developed NFC¹ labels combining high-quality metallic design with maintenance of the communication performance required of NFC tags.

Due to a focus on essential functions, little attention has traditionally been paid to high-quality visual design for RFID tags and QR Code² labels used for product management and authentication. Labels have also generally been attached in positions that ensure they are inconspicuous and do not negatively impact the overall design of the product or package.

However, the ubiquity of smartphones has prompted heightened demand for product experiences provided to consumers via the use of NFC tags. Businesses are therefore considering ways to attach NFC labels in positions that make them easier for consumers to access. The importance of maintaining the quality of the product or package design has created demand for higher quality design for NFC labels themselves.

To meet these needs, Toppan has developed NFC labels with high-quality metallic design. It is now possible to attach NFC labels to packages for high-end items such as wine, spirits, and luxury brand goods without sacrificing design quality. Brand owners can also leverage NFC functions to facilitate product traceability, anti-counterfeiting, CRM, and other customer-focused services driven by digital transformation.

Two types of label are available—a metallic decor type and a metallic surface type. Outstanding design and a premium look has been achieved by combining multiple decorative printing technologies used for creating eye-catching designs on high-quality folding cartons.

Toppan’s new NFC labels are available as a metallic decor type (left) or metallic surface type (right).
© Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

The metallic decor type label features decorative metallic designs achieved by combining a variety of printing techniques, including metal foil transfer employing digital printing. High-quality designs can be produced at low cost and with short lead times because no printing plates or cylinders are required. The metallic surface type, meanwhile, uses metallizing via vapor deposition to produce a metallic mirror finish. In addition to gold and other metallic colors, matt finishes are also available.

NFC communication performance can be inhibited by metal materials. Toppan has addressed this by leveraging expertise in NFC tag antenna design to ensure communication performance even when metallic decoration techniques are applied.

“We have taken advantage of Toppan’s wealth of decorative techniques and extensive antenna design know-how to develop labels offering excellent visual quality and optimal NFC communication performance,” said Takamitsu Nakabayashi, senior R&D manager in Toppan’s Security business. “They can be applied seamlessly to high-end and luxury product packages to provide all the benefits of NFC-enabled customer engagement and supply chain management, and we plan to add to this series of products in the future.”

Toppan’s new NFC labels will be on show in the Toppan booth at AIPIA Asia Summit 2021 (June 23), the international congress for smart packaging, and Luxe Pack Shanghai 2021 (July 7–8), the premier trade show for luxury packaging. Details of the Toppan booth can be viewed here. (English/Chinese)

About AIPIA Asia Summit 2021

Date: June 23, 2021
Venue: InterContinental Shanghai Hongqiao NECC
Theme: New Development of Active and Intelligent Packaging in the Digital Age
Organizer: Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (Headquarters: Utrecht, Netherlands)
Official website: https://events.bizzabo.com/AIPIA-China (English) 

About Luxe Pack Shanghai 2021

Dates: July 7–8, 2021
Venue: Shanghai Exhibition Center
Organizer: Luxe Pack (Headquarters: Oyonnax, France)
Official website: https://www.luxepackshanghai.com/  (English/Chinese)

About Toppan

Toppan is a leading global provider of integrated solutions in the fields of printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. Serving customers in every sector of business and industry, Toppan’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges that businesses and society face in today’s rapidly changing market.

For more information, visit https://www.toppan.com/en/ or follow Toppan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan-printing/.