News In Brief

New JV for Oumolat and SICPA

Oumolat Security Printing, owned by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE), has entered into a strategic partnership with SICPA to print enhanced tax stamps and track activities through the integration of advanced technologies.

The agreement aims to bolster the existing collaboration between Oumolat and SICPA, from the enhancement of banknote features to the provision of high-security printing solutions.

As part of the agreement, the two will establish a joint venture (JV) under the name O&S Security Solutions, to be incorporated in the UAE. The JV combines Oumolat’s integrated security and protection systems with SICPA’s high-security inks, authentication, and traceability systems.

O&S Security Solutions will produce and supply enhanced tax stamps in addition to solutions that safeguard tax collection services, among others, both locally and globally.

RCM Partners with aXedras

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has announced a partnership with aXedras, a developer of digital solutions for supply chains of precious metals that support proof of provenance, product integrity and traceability within the precious metal industry.

The partnership comes after the successful completion of a global pilot under the Gold Bar Integrity Programme co-initiated and led by the London Bullion Market Association and the World Gold Council.

RCM says it will leverage aXedras’ Bullion Integrity Ledger™ solution to realise its goal to be best-in-class for its supply chain and partner management. This collaboration will help to provide an additional layer of assurance and transparency in its refinery’s operations, it said, reinforcing its position as a leading player in the precious metal industry.

aXedras’s blockchain-based solution capture and preserve data along the supply chain of gold, ensuring the provenance and integrity of refined gold products, thereby providing downstream customers and investors both traceability and transparency.

New Structure for Toppan

Toppan, the Japanese-based global provider of printing solutions, including for banknotes and secure documents, has changed its name for the first time since its founding in 1900. Toppan Inc is now Toppan Holdings Inc, which means it has transitioned to a holding company structure.

Businesses operating under the former Toppan Inc have been transferred to two new operating companies: Toppan Inc and Toppan Digital Inc. In addition, the security subdivision of the former Toppan Inc was integrated with Toppan Forms in April this year, and the combined entity has made a fresh start as Toppan Edge. Its portfolio includes security features based on diffractive and nano-technology, among them the holograms that will feature on Japan’s forthcoming new banknote series.

Other subsidiaries, including Toppan Gravity, fall under the Toppan Group operating companies, Toppan Gravity serves as the international development arm of the Toppan group in the security domain.

Komori Opens Global Security Centre

Komori Corporation, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, has announced that the Komori Global Center Security (KGC-S) has now been opened at its Tsukuba production plant outside Tokyo.

KGC-S is described as a state-of-the-art facility where Komori offers its security printing. Its technologies have been fine-tuned over a period of more than 65 years, to government agencies, printing companies, and suppliers with interests in banknote and high-security printing by conducting printing demonstrations, training, and R&D activities.

KGC-S is equipped with banknote printing machines and systems that incorporate all aspects of security printing technologies (intaglio, offset, numbering) and is staffed by a team of security printing experts.

Komori has also opened the Printed Electronics Elemental Technology Development Center (PEDEC), which will carry out projects into how Komori’s technology can improve the production of printed electronics.

De La Rue Updates Guidance

De La Rue has upgraded its guidance for the financial year ending March 2024, following what has been described as a ‘solid first half’.

Operating profit exceeded expectations in the first six months of the financial year, while net debt came in £20 million better than the projected £100 million.

For the full year, the Board’s expectations for operating profit remain unchanged, while net debt is expected to be in the mid£90 million range, marginally better than previous guidance.

Full interim results for the period ending 30 September will be published on 19 December.

G+D and JCM Join Forces for Casino Market

JCM Global has announced a collaborative partnership with Giesecke+Devrient in the US to bring more effective and efficient cash processing solutions to count rooms in the gaming industry.

The strategic alliance will result in additional market access and the opportunity to further optimise the end-to-end process in casinos – from drop to asset verification and through reconciliation and audit.

The technology that forms part of the collaboration includes G+D’s BPS® C5 and JCM’s ICB® (Intelligent Cash Box) and ICB ASAP robotics solutions. Additionally, JCM has added an API to communicate between G+D machines and its FUZION® system for connecting and monitoring in real time its cash boxes, note validators and ticket printers, which will further help streamline the count process.

G+D’s BPS® C5 is a compact system that can process up to 63,000 banknotes and tickets per hour and has up to 25 output stackers, supporting multiple and complex sorting requirements. JCM’s ICB 3.0 is a drop management system that provides real-time health monitoring data and predictive drop and maintenance scheduling. Its ASAP is described as the first and only automated secure asset processing solution available in the market.

Nearly All 2,000 Rupee Notes Returned

Following the announcement by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May that the Rs 2,000, introduced in 2016 as part of its demonetisation of the then Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, over 97% had been deposited by the time of the extended deadline of 7 October.

RBI said that the objective of introducing Rs 2,000 banknotes in 2016 was met once banknotes in other denominations became available in adequate quantities. Therefore, production of the notes was stopped in 2018-19.

The Rs 2,000 notes continue to be legal tender, and can still be exchanged or credited to bank accounts if presented at one of the RBI’s 19 regional offices with issue departments.

Separately, the RBI has quashed speculation that an Rs 1,000 banknote could be reintroduced. The highest denomination is now the Rs 500 (worth US$6).