The recent increases in copper theft all over the world are costing businesses and industry many hundreds of millions of dollars not to mention putting lives at risk. 

DatatraceDNA has developed several techniques for marking valuable metals in both overt and covert ways. There are advantages to using both techniques given that an overt mark can act as a deterrent and a covert mark can’t be seen by thieves.

Both techniques allow law enforcement to identify the owner. DatatraceDNA is made from specially designed nanotechnology particles that can be applied to metals using clear lacquers via a spray can and also using a specialized technique called Gas Dynamic Metal Deposition.

The pictures to the right show 5 identical pieces of copper tubing marked with different DatatraceDNA spray lacquer codes. The Authenticator Reader displays the code, or owner’s name, when pressed to the surface and the scan button is pressed.