Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

29 June 2022

2 min read

Making Waves for the First Time

WaveFront Technology – a California-based supplier of nano and micro-structured tools, coatings and films for the security, lighting, aerospace, and display markets – used the Banknote & Currency Conference in February as an opportunity to debut its new new portfolio of security features for currency and other security applications.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

Unique 3D RELIEF Effects for Premium New Thread

Oberthur Fiduciaire has launched a technology for threads in the form of RELIEF™ – which offers striking bas-relief 3D effects in what the company terms a major advance in security features for threads and unlike anything else on the market.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

Move and Approve with Motus

A new security thread featuring micro-optics was launched at the Global Currency Forum by Portals. Called Motus, the thread is the first security product to be launched by Portals following its acquisition last year of the security features and thread business Fabriano from Fedrigoni.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

3 min read

Interactive Features from IQ Structures

Following the return of in-person events, one company that has been prominent with its range of eye-catching optically variable features is IQ Structures, which specialises in lithography techniques, 3D nano-printing and industrial replication of nanostructured materials.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

2 min read

The Innovation Keeps Flowing

As described in the Banknote of the Month feature in the February issue of Currency News™, Kazakhstan’s new 20,000 tenge is memorable on a number of fronts – not least because the use of the Durasafe® substrate enabled the first ever application of a stripe in a vertical orientation, but also because it is the world’s first circulating note to incorporate SICPA’s new SPARK Flow® feature.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

1 min read

IGNITE-ing New Thread Possibilities

De La Rue launched the next effects in its IGNITE® thread portfolio at the Banknote & Currency Conference in February. IGNITE belongs to the fast-growing combinational thread category that is becoming extremely popular amongst central banks that issue paper banknotes.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

5 min read

Bioguard™ – the Precautionary Solution for Safer Banknotes

As has been well documented, sensational and alarmist claims in the media at the outset of the pandemic that handling cash transfers COVID has done long term and potentially irreparable damage to public confidence.

COVID-19 Free Substrates, Features Free

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2022

1 min read

Long, Longer, Longest Yet

In 2019, the Central Bank of the Bahamas issued the $50 banknote in its new CRISP Evolution series, which used Durasafe® substrate from Landqart and included a RAPID® windowed thread from Crane Currency.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

2 min read

Meta Materials Previews New KolourOptik Stripe

Meta Materials Inc, a developer of high-performance functional materials and nanocomposites and new owner of Nanotech Security, previewed a new technology from its security products business – KolourOptik® Stripe – at the Banknote & Currency Conference.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

1 min read

SAFEGUARD® – the Most Complete Banknote Substrate Solution Available?

There are many functional and secure features available that meet the needs of the various cash cycles, banknote issuing authorities and end users. One such feature is the taggant, which overcomes the challenges of the degradation of visible security features in that it continues to perform even when the note is subject to extensive wear and tear.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Innovations from KURZ in Digitalisation and Threads

The emphasis on the recent round of IACA’s Excellence in Currency Awards, which were presented in October, was on innovations in response to the pandemic that will have lasting value. One such innovation was from KURZ in the form of its ‘Digital Design and Origination Approval Process’.

Substrates, Features Technology

Tim Berridge

23 Dec. 2021

4 min read

Designing for CINEMA™ – A New Dimension in Banknote Security

CINEMA™ is a ground-breaking security feature for banknotes, launched in 2020 by CCL Secure. The feature uses advanced micro-optics to create 3D and novel effects such as movement, depth, float, flip effects, and magnification – all in normal lighting, without the need for UV or other special lighting techniques.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

2 min read

Philippines Polymer Trial Takes Shape

More details have emerged about the polymer trial in the Philippines. Delivery of the first batch will be next April. 500 million pieces of 1,000 piso polymer banknotes will be rolled out by the middle of 2022, and the pilot will last for three years.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

3 min read

How CCL Secure and Innovia Films Create Bank Grade Polymer

CCL Secure’s GUARDIAN™ substrate was the catalyst for the development of the market for polymer banknotes over the past three decades, and it remains a key driver for its continuing growth.

Substrates, Features

Alan Newman

1 Dec. 2021

4 min read

Eye-Catching, Distinctive and Secure

At the latest count a third of all banknotes contain a diffractive feature, in the form of a patch, stripe or thread, 327 to be precise. According to Frank van der Horst of the DNB in his presentation at the recently-concluded Holography Conference, the feature is the second best in public recognition terms after watermarks – which makes one wonder why the other two thirds of banknotes don’t use one!

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 Oct. 2021

3 min read

Philippines the Latest Country to Trial Polymer

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has confirmed that it will trial a run of ‘a few hundred million pieces’ of the 1,000 piso on polymer during the first half of 2022.

Coins Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

1 min read

Krypten Plans Release of 3D-GRAM® CONTRUST

Next month, Russian secure hologram company producer KRYPTEN will introduce the 100/50 Nobelists house note, featuring a new 3D-GRAM® CONTRUST photopolymer security patch for use on paper and polymer banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Mark Spencer

26 Aug. 2021

3 min read

Diversity Exemplified in G7 Banknote Denominations

The recent meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven, an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US) held in the UK prompted De La Rue to look at the banknotes of the participating countries, which threw up some interesting divergences in their approaches to banknote security.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

Pakistan To Try Out Polymer

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is the latest central bank planning to issue polymer notes, with a commemorative note to mark the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022, and another to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Bank in 2023.

Substrates, Features

Louisenthal

26 Aug. 2021

3 min read

Registered Threads – Perfect Security, Perfect Storytelling

In the Banknote of the Month feature in last month’s Currency News™, we covered the Central Bank of Honduras’ new 200 lempira note which, among other features, is the first in the world to incorporate a registered Galaxy® thread. In this article, Louisenthal explains the significance of this new advance in thread technology.

Substrates, Features