What does serialization mean?
Providing products with unique numbers
Serialization refers to the unmistakable numbering or marking of each individual product in a production series. A serial number is usually printed on each product. In order to make a product clearly traceable and therefore forgery-proof, this number must never be duplicated.
Serialization means forgery-proofing
How to protect yourself from counterfeit products
Thanks to serialization, the origin of goods can be traced back to the manufacturer at any time along the entire supply chain. This Track & Trace process ultimately works in the same way as parcel tracking. The serial number is linked to the respective product data in the manufacturer's database. If a product is to be verified, the serial number is compared with the database. Serialization thus increases counterfeit protection, as counterfeit products can be identified fast and reliably and taken out of circulation. The serial number can be printed as a numerical code, but also as an automatically readable QR code or barcode.
For which industries is serialization important?
Products always have to be particularly forgery-proof and traceable when consumer health and safety play a special role. This is the case in the following sectors, among others:
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Cosmetics industry
- Medical technology
- Automotive manufacturers, automotive suppliers and the automotive industry
- Food industry
In the pharmaceutical industry, the serialization and verification of pharmaceutical packaging has been mandatory since 2019 as a result of EU Directive 2011/62/EU and EU Regulation 2016/161. The cosmetics industry also often produces according to pharmaceutical standards and relies on seamless Track & Trace.
For the food industry, medical technology and the automotive sector, serialization has also long been an indispensable part of production. Processes for printing unique numbers therefore have to be seamlessly integrated into production plants or manufacturing plants in order to ensure the serialized traceability of food and technical components alike.
