Vallourec applies QR codes to detect forged tubing products

Industrial tubing specialist Vallourec is rolling out a QR code-based product identification platform to try to protect customers from inadvertently buying counterfeits.

The new platform – called Valguard – “allows for the forgery-proofing of certificates concerning Vallourec tubes by means of a QR code, and secondly makes it possible to forgery-proof the products themselves, through the use of a special marking technology,” according to the company.

Vallourec, which produces tubes used in demanding industrial applications, says it will roll the security technology out to products used in the process application, petrochemical, mechanics, oil and gas, line pipes and power generation sectors, amongst others, from the end of 2017.

“Counterfeit is a major issue that affects many sectors including industry and, in particular, premium seamless tubes,” said the company in a statement. “Vallourec takes this matter very seriously given the critical nature of the applications and projects for which the tubes are intended to be used.”