Toppan, a Japanese specialist in printing and authentication solutions, has acquired Selinko, a European pioneer in NFC authentication solutions for luxury and spirits brands.
Founded in 2012 in Belgium, Selinko has become a major European player in digital authentication, with a unique NFC technology already adopted by over 45 brands in the luxury, spirits and lifestyle sectors. The company has developed advanced expertise in creating personalized solutions that transform authentication into an immersive customer experience.
With over 120 years of expertise in secure printing, the Toppan Group has developed in-depth knowledge in the design and development of NFC and RFID tags specifically adapted to a wide range of products, containers and packaging.
A comprehensive offer
Selinko's integration into the Toppan group will combine Toppan's advanced NFC tag and RFID chip technologies with Selinko's authentication platform. This will enable us to offer :
- Tamper-proof authentication to combat market detour and counterfeiting,
- Full product traceability, from production to sale and recycling, in compliance with local regulations such as the future Digital Product Passport, the European RGPD and the China Data Protection Act;
- Enhanced customer relations for luxury brands thanks to personalized, interactive services and content;
- Innovative sustainability solutions, extending the life of products with long-term warranties and securing the second-hand market with digital property certificates.
Digital authentication and traceability solutions for IoT (Internet of Things) and intelligent packaging for the European and Asian luxury goods industry can be operated anywhere in the world, including China.
Dealing with counterfeiting
Growing consumer demand for transparency, legislation and the rise in counterfeiting are putting considerable pressure on the sector. Counterfeiting cost 4 billion euros1 to luxury brands and 1.3 billion euros to European wine and spirits companies, resulting in the loss of more than 20,000 jobs, particularly in Spain, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.2.
"With Selinko, brands can better control and optimize their entire supply chain, from the start of production to after-sales. Our authentication solution protects the unique expertise of luxury brands by guaranteeing the authenticity of each piece and preserving the value and excellence of their creations. It effectively defends them against counterfeiting. Our solution also enables them to showcase their history and expertise by sharing their creative process with their customers. They can thus highlight their artisanal techniques and communicate directly on the uniqueness of each product", says André Ghighi, Selinko Sales Director.
Patrick Eischen, Selinko's founder, will continue to steer the company's product vision and expertise. The current team remains in place and is being strengthened, notably with the recent opening of an office in Paris and the expansion of the team.
"This acquisition represents a major step forward in our digitalization strategy. Selinko's expertise in authentication technologies, combined with our long-standing know-how in design and integration and our global manufacturing capabilities in RFID product development, enables us to offer a unique global solution to meet the authenticity and traceability challenges of luxury and spirits brands."says Hiroki Shibatani, Director and Executive Vice President of Toppan Digital, the Toppan Holdings company that manages digital transformation solutions for the entire group.
1 https://www.eslsca.fr/blog/contrefacon-un-secteur-qui-la-cote
