18 Mar New International Optical Trade Body confirms first executive board

[info_box point1=”The newly established trade body has officially confirmed its first executive board” point2= “This announcement comes at a time when technological advancements are pushing the boundaries of optical security beyond traditional holography” point3= “IOTA has appointed five people to its board.”

The newly established trade body representing the international optical security technologies sector has officially confirmed its first executive board.

The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA), formerly known as the International Hologram Manufacturers Association, has appointed Ondřej Fedorčák from Optaglio, Manoj Kochar from Holoflex, Don Havourd from Hazen Paper Company, Jim Keller from Opsec Security, and Alexandre Noizet from Surys to its board.

Dr Mark Deakes chairs the organisation and will lead efforts to promote authentication, anti-counterfeiting, and automation optical security technologies to global law enforcement agencies, central governments, and brand owners in 2025 and beyond.

Dr Paul Dunn, a former chair of the IHMA, continues to serve in a consultancy role on the board.

This announcement comes at a time when technological advancements are pushing the boundaries of optical security beyond traditional holography.

The sector is witnessing expanding market applications, as well as mergers and acquisitions among solutions providers.

In response, IOTA has been established to represent and promote a diverse range of authentication, anti-counterfeiting, and automation optical security technologies suitable for a global audience.

Membership of IOTA encompasses all developers and suppliers of security features that, in addition to holography, include micro-lens arrays, micro-mirrors, plasmonics, nano-gratings, colour change, caustics, polarization, photonic crystals, and special print-generated effects, among others.

Dr Mark Deakes said on the formation of the board: “I’m very much looking forward to the challenge of taking the IOTA forward and working with board members and organisations to ensure it becomes a strong advocate and resource for the industry in the future. Innovation is pushing the boundaries of what optical security technologies can achieve and we stand on the cusp of a transformative era. The transition to IOTA reflects a commitment to ongoing evolving markets and opening up new technology frontiers, particularly in optical security.”