Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

29 June 2022

7 min read

War, Energy Crisis, Inflation, Recession, COVID on the Rise – Markets, Unsurprisingly, Tumble

In the December edition of Industry Watch, the focus was on the implications of a new infectious COVID variant, Omicron. In the March edition, the focus switched to the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia and the implications, if the war continued, of a global fuel, food, fertilizer and aluminium crisis. This on top of the shortages of many goods used in manufacturing – a legacy of COVID.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

3 min read

RBI Annual Report Reflects a More Normal Year

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued its annual report for 2021-22. The backdrop for the year was India’s second and third wave of the pandemic, which affected operations.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

The CashTech Innovation Awards

The global independent think tank CashEssentials has announced the launch of the CashTech Innovation Awards, to recognise innovations that will facilitate access to and acceptance of cash.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

3 min read

Global Currency Forum – A Different Approach to Debating Cash

It was a long-time coming, but following two years of delays and a last-minute change of venue, the inaugural Global Currency Forum finally went ahead in early May in Port Aventura in Spain.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

People in the News

Benjamin Diokno, Governor of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas, will join the incoming government as Finance Minister. His replacement will be Felipe Medalla.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

White Nights for HSP EMEA 2022

The last major industry event to take place before COVID hit was High Security Printing™ EMEA, which was held in Lisbon in March 2020. The latest HSP EMEA opens it doors from 13-15 June in Tallinn in Estonia, renowned at that time of year for its ‘White Nights’ when the sun scarcely sets.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

IBDA Announce ‘The Developers Lounge’ & ‘Cash Innovation Zone’ at the 6th IBDC

The primary focus of the 6th IBDC taking place in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 24-27 October 2022 is ‘Design Community Reconnect’.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

Standing Secure with New Barbados Series

The Central Bank of Barbados has unveiled the designs of its new polymer banknote series, which will be introduced on 5 December, two days after it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

3 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina Argentina has showcased the designs of its new series of banknotes, in which the images of indigenous fauna and their habitats that feature on the current series will be replaced by famous Argentineans.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

6th Coin Conference Goes to Amsterdam

After a three year gap, the Coin Conference returns this October to Amsterdam, in what will be the sixth edition of the event, and the only one of its kind to focus on coins as part of cash strategies in circulation from the perspective of currency issuers.

Coins Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

Nominations Open for Excellence in Currency Awards for Coins

Nominations will be open on 8 June for the 16th round of the ‘Excellence in Currency: 2022 Coin Awards’, run by IACA (the International Association of Currency Affairs) and sponsored by Currency News.

Events

Steve Craig

1 June 2022

3 min read

Currency and the Metaverse

Among the customary technical presentations and product launches at conferences, the one given by Komori at the recent Global Currency Forum on the topic of the metaverse was very much ‘out of the box’. Here Steve Craig of Komori explains what the metaverse is, and how Komori is looking at harnessing it for banknote production.

Banknotes Technology

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 June 2022

2 min read

Year of Pivot Pays Off for Royal Canadian Mint

2021 was a great year for the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), despite the ongoing effects of the pandemic, with record sales, profits, and a healthy $78.9 returned to the Canadian government, compared with $20 million the previous year.

Coins

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

2 min read

Profits Up for De La Rue, Despite Headwinds

De La Rue’s sales fell marginally in 2021/22 – revenue (non IFRS) of £375 million and operating profit of £36.4 million were down 3.3% and 4.5% respectively on the previous year.

Companies

John Winchcombe

1 June 2022

3 min read

Cash and Payments: The Sustainability Forum

The inaugural Cash & Payments Sustainability Forum, which will take place 15-16 November in Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, will share best practice, promote cooperation and address specific environmental challenges and solutions in the cash and payments arena.

Events Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

3 min read

Spain’s New Printworks Complete – Machinery Moves In

The construction of the Banco de España’s new printworks for IMBISA just outside Madrid – the first new state-owned printing plant in the EU in over 50 years – has now been completed, and work has started on moving in the new equipment.

Banknotes Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

12 min read

Oberthur Fiduciaire – Leading the Way on Safer, Greener, More Secure Banknotes

The history of French banknote and security printer Oberthur Fiduciaire dates back 175 years, being founded by Francois-Charles Oberthur in 1842.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

5 min read

K&B BNS Open House Demonstrates a Clear Strategy

Koenig and Bauer Banknote Solutions has just completed a series of showcase events for customers called ‘Open House’. Structured as a morning of presentations followed by equipment demonstrations, the day was focused on the practical, the tangible and improving those elements of business that are within the control of K&B BNS.

Events