Perhaps it is 3d additive printing using QD as the
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Cubichain tackles 3D printing counterfeiting issues with blockchain technology
Luke Parker 09 Dec 2016, 19:18 UTC
Blockchain AdoptionSupply ChainTracking
The latest industrial supply chain to embrace blockchain technology is targeting the additive manufacturing industry, otherwise known as large-scale 3D printing. Cubichain Technologies and CalRAM LLC. recently made a joint announcement that they have successfully demonstrated the deployment of a blockchain network to track aircraft parts from design, through printing, all the way to certification and sales.
The latest industrial supply chain to embrace blockchain technology is targeting the additive manufacturing industry, otherwise known as large-scale 3D printing. Cubichain Technologies and CalRAM LLC. recently made a joint announcement that they have successfully demonstrated the deployment of a blockchain network to track aircraft parts from design, through printing, all the way to certification and sales.
The primary purpose for their blockchain is to fight counterfeiters. It has become clear over the last few years that 3D printing parts of any kind is problematic because counterfeiters can easily print the same parts on the same equipment. All they need is the part file, a 3D blueprint that can be shared as easily as a word document. Not only does the act of counterfeiting cut into profits, but it can harm reputation, and in some cases even put lives at risk when sub-par materials are used.
The demonstration proved, according to the announcement, that the Cubichain technology can easily identify part files which have been tampered with by recognizing the “difference in a single data bit” in the binary part file.
“Cubichain wants to define an industry standard for manufacturing data security and elimination of counterfeit parts worldwide. What we accomplished today provides the proof-of-concept for a much larger closed-loop solution currently being developed.” -- - Dr. Kenneth Newell, co-founder of Cubichain Technologies
An April 2016 study from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EU-IPO) addressed the size of the global counterfeit products market. Trade in both tangible counterfeits and pirated goods has risen throughout the last decade, and fakes are now estimated to be worth about US$461 billion, or roughly 2.5 percent of the total world GDP.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency estimated that counterfeiting is expected to become a US$1.7 trillion “threat to world economies.” The agency reported confiscating 325% more counterfeit goods between 2002 and 2012 than in any previous decade.
In one infamous case, a few US military disasters involving $2.00 counterfeit parts led the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to discover that the U.S. defense supply chain is filled with counterfeit electronic parts. The outcome of the DLA’s finding, in 2012, was for the agency to mandate that certain electronic parts would be marked with unique ink, that contains DNA signatures, to make it easy to spot the fakes.
There are many other methods to marking a material as unique besides DNA ink. As the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) reported last year, there are various other methods, including micro laser engraving, quantum dots , magnetic inks. They’re all compatible with the additive manufacturing 3D print process . No matter how 3D printed items are marked, however, the problem of tracking them well still existed.
“ Both additive manufacturing and blockchain networks are disruptive technologies…combining the two will undoubtedly revolutionize the future of manufacturing.” - - - Shane Collins, Director Additive Manufacturing Programs for CalRAM
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