—  Koenig & Bauer has announce that the ‘protected at print’ technology Stegano, a new vision and protection solution, is completing its testing in North America and ready to be launched. It is a new method that invisibly conceals data within the artwork or varnish during the prepress stage. Each folding carton can receive a hidden code, image, or logo. Even under strong magnification, these codes remain hidden to the naked eye and do not affect the original design. This data can be decoded offline via a smartphone app, which optically analyzes the printed image and extracts the hidden information. Anyone, whether end user, reseller, or manufacturer, can call up and decode the information using a simple mobile application. This makes it much easier to verify the authenticity of a product and ensure that it is an original. This simple process not only helps printers to avoid counterfeiting, but also increases the trust of a printer’s customers. It is a smart asset, safeguarding brands from counterfeiting, boosting customer loyalty, and ensuring transparent supply chains. ‘protected at print’ is an important revolutionary key to the industry, offering authentication, connectivity, and traceability directly within a brand’s packaging. This is about product safety; it's about unlocking new business models for printing companies and strengthening brands with invaluable insights.”