Hologram trade body opens membership to all OVD suppliers

22 April 2024: The trade body representing the global hologram industry has extended its membership criteria and adapted its articles of association to reflect the rapidly changing nature of the sector.

The move sees International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) now accept applications for membership from all security OVD (optical variable device) suppliers. This comes as the organisation continues to strengthen its position as a leading authority on commercial authentication, ID security and packaging augmentation technologies.

Originally open to hologram suppliers, membership has been extended to include providers of material and equipment as well as finishers and converters. Associate membership has also been refocused to ensure research organisations and other trade associations can benefit from the IHMA’s work at the forefront of developing new applications and spearheading the opening of new markets for holograms.

The Hologram Image Register was recently expanded and rebranded as the Security Image Register (SIR), reflecting the changing dynamics of the global security printing industry and security features, including all optically variable security features.

The news to include all security OVD suppliers sees the IHMA continue to grow and expand its membership base, according to chair Dr Mark Deakes.

This comes as developments in new anti-counterfeit technologies such as micro-lenses, micro-mirrors and plasmonics, which all require new foils, different manufacturing processes and different originating technologies, will reshape the industry and drive the growth of holograms in the next few years.

Dr Deakes said: “In these exciting times for holography, the IHMA board felt it apt to make full membership available to all OVD suppliers. The move reflects the changing dynamics of the global hologram and security print industries, where holograms are increasingly being integrated with other optically variable devices to provide advanced anti-counterfeiting solutions.

New members will be able to benefit from a package of support from IHMA that includes the use of SIR, access to industry publications as well as regular tender alerts and patent newsletters.

The IHMA (www.ihma.org) is made up more than 80 of the world’s leading hologram companies. Members include the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world, and actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.