Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

1 min read

Major Milestone for Schuler

Schuler Press, the leading manufacturer of coin production equipment, has reached a major milestone with the sale this month of its 1,000th high performance minting press.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

3 min read

In Other News…

Japan will begin issuing newly redesigned ¥500 coins from around November, the Finance Ministry has said, after their initial release in the first half of the fiscal year from April was postponed due to the pandemic, and in particular delays to updates to ticket and automated teller machines.

Banknotes Central Banks Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

2 min read

Bank of England Shrinks Cash Footprint

The success of the new polymer series and falling transactional demand are behind the Bank of England’s proposal to close its regional cash distribution centre in the northern city of Leeds, in February 2023.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

1 min read

World Earth Day – What is Our Industry Doing to Support Sustainability?

As described in April's Comment article, other than the current pandemic, the main topic of major global concern – and one that will endure long after the pandemic has (we hope) receded – is the environment.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

2 min read

G+D Partners with Doconomy for Payments

G+D has also announced that it is joining forces with the Swedish fintech start-up Doconomy to enhance payment solutions with digital sustainability-oriented tools.

Companies Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

3 min read

The ECB’s Environmental Sustainability Journey

At Intergraf's just-concluded Currency+Identity online conference, Bernadette O’Brien presented the work done by the European Central Bank (ECB) on improving the environmental sustainability of euro banknotes. From its first life cycle assessment (LCA) of the first euro series in 2004 through to its 2020 Product Environmental Footprint project, the ECB has steadily worked to ensure the euro banknotes are ‘good citizens’.

Central Banks Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

KOMSCO Implements Emergency Measures

The state-run Korean Minting, Security Printing and ID card Operating Corp (KOMSCO) has announced the implementation of an emergency management system in the face of losses sustained last year.

Companies COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

The Unique Identity of a Polymer Banknote

When a polymer banknote is produced, a number of opacification layers are printed onto the core substrate so that it can accept the traditional banknote printing processes such as litho, intaglio, screen and letterpress printing.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

1 min read

Shareholders Approve G4S Acquisition

G4S shareholders have accepted a £3.8 billion from Allied Universal, bringing to a close a months-long battle between two firms to take control of the security services company.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

1 min read

People in the News

The Federal Reserve of New York has announced the appointment of Naureen Hassan as its First Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). She replaces Michael Strine, who retired at the end of February.

Central Banks Companies News

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

3 min read

Orell Füssli Results for 2020 Demonstrate Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime factor in companies’ financial results for the last year, and for most its impact has been negative. Orell Füssli’s results are no exception. In an opening statement it said the company ‘held its own in a difficult market environment in 2020. Although sales and profitability were lower than in the previous year and cash flow was negative due to high capital expenditure, our balance sheet allows us to pay a dividend to our shareholders’.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

10 min read

Luminescence Sun Chemical Security – Combining Family Values with Global Reach

Three years ago, the family-owned security ink business Luminescence was acquired by Sun Chemical, the world’s largest manufacturer of inks and pigments to create, in its words, a new global player and an enormous growth platform for the company in the $2.7 billion security ink market. Since then, whilst the company is now called Luminescence Sun Chemical Security, it seems to be very much business as usual in the highly specialised security ink market, where technical requirements are exceptionally demanding and competition relatively limited.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

Five Winners in Expanded Range of Central Banking Awards

The National Bank of Ukraine, the ECB and Federal Reserve, Crane Currency and CCL Secure are among the winners in the Central Banking Awards 2021, presented annually by the Central Banking Journal and which this year have nearly doubled in number to 29.

Central Banks Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

3 min read

Bitcoin and Banknotes – When Physical Meets Digital

Cryptocurrencies, the best known of which is Bitcoin, exist almost entirely in the digital sphere, connecting with the physical world only if the owner writes down their digital key or if they use one of the growing number of ATMs where they can exchange their cryptocurrency for physical cash. A new venture, Noteworthy, is looking to change that, embedding cryptocurrencies into what will look and feel like a traditional banknote.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of Iraq has added a feature to its banknotes to protect them from bacteria and viruses, including the coronavirus strain. The feature is not named, but is described as a biological pesticide developed by international companies specialised in printing banknotes, and is presumed to be incorporated in a coating/varnish. The notes containing the feature will be put into circulation soon.

Banknotes Central Banks Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Russia Unveils New Plans for Banknotes and Cash Circulation

The Board of the Central Bank of Russia has issued its ‘Guidelines for Cash Circulation Development in 2021-2026’. Its over-arching goals are to ensure the stability of cash circulation, optimise costs based on the development of technical infrastructure, as well as the formation of partnerships with banks for holding stocks of banknotes.

Banknotes Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

1 min read

ECCB Completes its New Series

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issued its new $5 polymer banknote into circulation this month, completing the transition of its new family onto SAFEGUARD® polymer banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Checking in With You – About Corvina

According to Jura, COVID-19 has required a lot of strategic rethinking. The company’s core way of conducting business has always been in-person, building rapport with current and future clientele via personal contact.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

Spectra Launches New COVID-19 Banknote Disinfection System

In 2014, Spectra Systems (Spectra) launched Aeris™, a unique new banknote disinfection system which uses carbon dioxide in a supercritical phase to penetrate banknotes and remove oxidised oils and other contaminants, effectively ‘washing’ the notes with gas.

COVID-19 Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

Has Globalisation Had its Day?

Globalisation is the result of the ability to move and communicate easily with others leading eventually to global cultural, political and economic integration.

Comment COVID-19 Sustainability