Stony Brook firm shows its DNA security tech in Germany

The Stony Brook security technology maker Applied DNA Sciences is in Dusseldorf, Germany, this week, showcasing its products, highlighting its digitalDNA system, which allows precise tracking of products as they move through the supply chain.

The company is attending Drupa 2012, a printing and publishing industry trade fair, which starts Thursday and ends May 16. It's sharing the booth of one of its partners in Europe, Printcolor Screen AG, a Swiss maker of security inks.

Applied DNA's products are based on its techniques for making unique strands of botanical genetic material, to be used as unique identifiers as a security measure.

Its DigitalDNA product securely identifies each unit of a customer's delivery at each phase of the supply process, helping companies in "taming the supply chain beast" and spotlighting any attempt to divert a shipment, or to substitute counterfeit products, the company's vice president of sales, Dave Wigfield, said in a news release.

Applied DNA in recent years has produced, and sold, several practical applications of its technology for use in burglar alarms, motion detection devices, robbery deterrent dye packs, and prestigious brands of clothing and electronics.

Even so, it continues to report operating losses. In February Applied DNA reported that an increase in sales was more than outpaced by expenses resulting in a steep quarterly loss. Applied DNA said it had a loss of $2.4 million on sales of $516,000 for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared to a loss of $1.3 million on sales of $317,817 for the same quarter the previous year.

Photo: Applied DNA chief executive James Hayward.

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