Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

3 June 2024

2 min read

Glory Bounces Back

Glory – the Japanese developer of cash handling, management and automation systems for the financial, retail, vending, transportation and gaming sectors – has reported an impressive increase in sales for 2023-24 and a return to profit, driven largely by a resurgence in the domestic market.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

In Other News…

The Bank of Canada has issued a progress update on the new $20, which will feature King Charles III as the portrait subject, replacing that of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The back will continue to feature the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

News

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

Note and Coin News

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR) has issued the new 5,000 som banknote, the seventh and last banknote of the fifth series, completing the modernisation that started in May 2023. The new series includes denominations ranging from 20 to 5,000 som – all featuring RAPID HD® Detect from Crane Currency.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

5 min read

IACA Awards – the Winners Are…

The IACA 2024 Excellence in Currency Technical Awards, which are sponsored by Currency News, were presented at the dinner on the last evening of the Banknote Conference, 15 May.

Events Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

Every Little Bit of Sustainability Helps

Gary Spinks of Security Fibres introduced his presentation in one of the Innovation Sessions at the Banknote Conference with the acknowledgement that, in the great scheme of things, security fibres are an infinitesimally small element of security paper, and therefore the impact of more sustainable fibres is limited. Even so, he said, everyone needs to do their bit.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

Ignis House Note – Out of Darkness Comes Fire

The winner of the IACA Best New House Note at this year’s Banknote Conference was Bundesdruckerei (BDR), which launched its new note – Ignis – from the ExNihilo series during the conference.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

Cash Sustainability Forum Draws Close

A forum is a meeting where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged, and that is the aim of the Cash Sustainability Forum, providing the opportunity for all stakeholders involved in cash to meet, share, understand and learn.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

IQ Structures and Hueck Folien Launch Nanoswitch™

On July 20, 1969, more than 500 million people around the world watched the Moonlanding, the ‘great leap for mankind’ - a technical feat that opened new horizons for humanity.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

Future of Meta Materials in Doubt

The materials and nanotechnology specialist Meta Materials – which acquired the security features company Nanotech Security Corp in 2021 – has announced a workforce reduction of 80%. It is understood that most of the workforce of over 100 has already been let go.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

5 min read

Some Ups, Some Downs for Mints

Three of the main mints have recently published their annual results for 2023. It’s something of a mixed bag, with overall positive results, but not necessarily driven by circulating coins.

Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

A New Polymer Enters the Market

There was a time when the market for polymer substrates, albeit small, was dominated by one supplier. The market grew, and so did the number of suppliers, CCL Secure and GUARDIAN™ being joined by De La Rue with SAFEGUARD®.

Technology

John Winchcombe

29 May 2024

4 min read

Time for Confidence in Cash

The Banknote Conference took place 13-16 May in Fort Worth, Texas. Organised by Currency Research, it was attended by nearly 425 delegates from 72 countries and 183 organisations. Of those, 92 were central banks and/or printworks.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

4 min read

News in Brief

Further to the completion of the acquisition of OpSec Security for $270 million, Crane NXT has announced a restructuring of its business segments.

News

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

CPS Returns, Launches Green Strategy

Just over a year ago, CPS announced that it was exiting the market for high-speed banknote sorting systems and pivoting to software and services. It was then back in force at the Banknote Conference, unveiling its new strategy for sustainability, flexibility and digitisation for the banknote fitness sorting and authentication sector.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

1 min read

Secure Innovation Launches Remote Planet

Secure Innovation Group, the global technology company specialising in cash protection and security solutions (formerly known as Spinnaker), has launched its latest brand – Remote Planet.

Companies

Concha Jiminez

29 May 2024

2 min read

DENARIA – Ensuring Fair Access to Cash

The third DENARIA Conference recently took place in Madrid, with a focus on how cash can ensure a fair, inclusive and secure digital transition, particularly in a country where cash continues to be the main payment method for a very significant number of citizens.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

5 min read

Stop Press – De La Rue for Sale?

As Currency News™ went to press, De La Rue provided a strategic update which states that a sale of one or both divisions could be on the cards. The Board is in discussions with a number of parties who have made proposals in relation to, or expressed interest in, either of the divisions – Authentication and Currency.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

12 min read

Celebrating 20 Years of MOTION®

It was 20 years ago that the micro-optics technology behind MOTION® first made its appearance – first at the Optical Document Security conference that year in San Francisco, and then a few months later at the Currency Conference in Rome.

Interviews

John Winchcombe

28 May 2024

4 min read

Challenging Manufacturing ‘Truth’: Is Small Beautiful?

An unscientific rule of thumb taught to those entering the banknote industry used to be that a country needed a population of about 40 million people to justify having their own banknote printing works. This article considers how accurate, or relevant, this rule is in modern times.

Comment Free Free

Antti Heinonen

30 April 2024

11 min read

From Secrecy to Transparency – The Evolution of Banknote Communications

Antti Heinonen looks at the evolution of central bank engagement with the public on banknotes, considering what lessons can be learned and including his own personal perspective.

Banknotes