Latest News

Dr Ahmed Goher

30 April 2024

5 min read

Polymer Banknotes Outperform Paper on Strength and Security

As an anti-forgery expert with the Egyptian Ministry of Justice, I have spent decades investigating the strength and security of various banknote substrates. My work has involved analysis of the technical specifications of banknotes, through extensive mechanical and chemical testing, as well as an assessment of data published by central banks. I’d like to share my findings here.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

30 April 2024

3 min read

A New Force in Vietnam for Polymer Production

In recent years Vietnam has been a go-to country for many of the world players in the technology, automotive, and fashion industries. It is now stepping into a new field – polymer banknote substrates and security features.

Banknotes Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

30 April 2024

2 min read

World’s First Certified Circular Polymer Substrate

Spectra Systems has developed its own print-ready machine- readable banknote polymer substrate, FUSION™, working exclusively with Toray Plastics America.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2024

2 min read

IACA Awards – the Finalists Are…

The International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) has announced the finalists of the 2024 Excellence in Currency Technical Awards. The winners for all four categories will be announced at the Banknote Conference Awards Dinner on the evening of 15 May.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2023

4 min read

New Security Image Register Launched

The Hologram Image Register, established by the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) to help safeguard hologram copyright and underpin the use of holograms in secure documents and products, has been extended to include all optically variable (or active) features, and relaunched as the Security Image Register.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2023

2 min read

Banknote Fibre Extraction – Repurposing Goes Greener

Earlier this year Giesecke+Devrient outlined a solution for banknote waste which is ‘straightforward, flexible and scalable’ (see CN July 2023). After having introduced the concept of Banknote Fibre Extraction (BFE) at the CT Symposium, the next development phase has taken place.

Sustainability Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2023

4 min read

Delivering Banknote Security Through Technology… Louisenthal´s Solution

Readers will recall in earlier editions that we addressed a number of significant highlights following G+D`s Currency Technology Symposium held in July. This is the final story, focusing on key elements of the day dedicated to Louisenthal, G+D’s substrate and feature subsidiary.

Companies Substrates, Features Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2023

4 min read

Digital Intelligence in Banknote Printing

In this issue, we describe the industry’s newest banknote production facility – IMBISA in Spain. Another example of a new printworks that has also built innovation in from the start is Guangzhou Banknote Printing Co Ltd (GBPC), the seventh and newest of China Banknote Printing and Minting’s banknote factories.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

3 Nov. 2023

2 min read

ISRA BankStar for Thread Inspection

German-based ISRA Vision’s BankSTAR family of in-line inspection solution has been extended by a version for security thread microslitting – BankSTAR TS.

Companies Technology

Ernesto González Candela

3 Nov. 2023

6 min read

A BAAD™ Way to Assess Substrate Durability

UnderCurrency was established in 2019 as a technical consultancy service. We are based in Mexico and specialise in methodologies, solutions and systems for evaluating and enhancing the security, functionality and durability of secure documents and banknotes.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

CTiP III Offers New Greener Engraving

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBS) has introduced the next iteration in its computer-to-intaglio plate technology with CTiP III, which it claims has a better ecological impact as well as offering new intaglio engraving opportunities to printers.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

27 Sept. 2023

2 min read

Koenig & Bauer Steps into Digital Authentication

Koenig & Bauer Banknotes Solutions (KBBS) is forging ahead with its agenda to create physical-digital technology bridges with the announcement of two new partnerships linked to digital authentication.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

24 Aug. 2023

1 min read

New KINEGRAM Reference Book from KURZ

KURZ, the leading supplier of security foils with diffractive features, has produced a new reference book with a wide selection of images of banknotes that have utilised its KINEGRAM® technology.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

24 Aug. 2023

2 min read

Get the Vibe with New Thread from SURYS

In his interview in last month’s Currency News, Frederic Trojani, CEO of SURYS, referenced a new thread from the company, Vibes™.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

China Invests in Inspection and Platemaking

China Banknote Designing and Engraving Co, part of the family of companies belonging to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, has brand-new inspection and platemaking systems to meet increasing innovation requirements and demand.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

3 min read

Polymer Features Pay Homage to the Universe

Security features embedded into the substrate of a banknote are particularly difficult for counterfeiters to replicate effectively – and the technology behind these features has advanced significantly in the past several years.

Technology

31 July 2023

4 min read

From Costa Rica to Meta’s Latest Plasmonic Banknote Security Feature

Meta Materials Inc has been a pioneer in banknote OVD technology for the past decade with innovations in micro-, nano- and now plasmonic structures. The company has also developed in-house secure foil production so that it can offer banknote stripes direct to customers.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

3 min read

The Absence of Everything – New Concepts Pioneered by BDR and Partners

At the Currency Conference in May, Dieter Sauter, Vice President & General Manager Value Printing for Bundesdruckerei, unveiled the concept behind the ‘Dark Banknote Series‘, and the first note in this series (ExNihilo), which is the result of the SIRALab initiative.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

PerceptNote Puts Banknote Designs to the Test

Design testing is not easy but is good practice. Ernesto Gonzalez Candela of Mexican firm UnderCurrency, which offers consulting services and products to assess and improve the performance of banknotes and coins, presented a new tool at the Optical and Digital Document Security conference in April to help central banks optimise their banknote designs and have confidence that they will perform in circulation.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

Windows and All That Jazz

SUSI Optics® Jazz™, the latest addition to the SUSI Optics® family of optically variable features for banknotes, was launched at the Currency Conference in May, with a stunning specimen note produced to demonstrate the spectrum of opportunities it offers.

Banknotes Technology