In this article, Francisco Mandiola of FMA Secure explains what is happening in South America’s second largest country and economy, and what it means for the currency.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has published its annual report for 2023 – the first under Acting Director Charlene E Williams, who was appointed to the position after the retirement of Len Olijar last July.

A new periodic series of articles in Currency News™ will summarise information on counterfeit currency around the world, starting in this issue with the Czech Republic, Ghana, Kosovo and the Philippines.

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.

Banque de France has appointed the Alstef Group to supply the process automation system at its printworks and logistics centre in Vic-Le-Comte, which is currently under construction.

A cooperative project between Jura (the developer of security prepress systems including software and hardware solutions) and OeBS (the Austrian banknote printer) has worked to develop direct engraved steel (S-DLE) intaglio printing plates, thus eliminating the use of an environmentally dangerous process and materials.

What is the primary reason that most countries issue a new banknote to replace an older design? To help prevent COUNTERFETING!

Last November, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) issued a commemorative 10,000 tenge banknote to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the national currency, followed in December by the issue of the first banknote in a new note series, the 5,000 tenge.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will be circulating an additional 1 billion P1,000 polymer banknotes in 2024, double the amount previously ordered in 2021 for the circulation trial of the polymer versus the paper version.

Each February and March we cover the previous year’s results for the leading companies in cash management, most of whose financial years run from January to December. Between them these results provide a useful means of taking the pulse of our industry.

The Bundesbank (BBk) has established a National Cash Forum to allow cash cycle stakeholders to exchange information on cash issues. The BBk wants the Forum to increase cooperation and pool interests for stakeholders in order to prepare initiatives to improve and stabilise the cash cycle. In itself, the creation of the Forum signals that the BBk and stakeholders support cash.

Biobanknote has spent 12 years focusing on the protection of the environment, building expert knowledge about composting banknotes, and offers professional advisory services to central banks and producers helping them set banknote specification parameters, measurement methodologies, controls and evaluations so that the new banknotes can be more sustainable throughout the cash cycle.

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (K&B BNS) has pre- launched its new production platform called ‘AKTINA’.

The second Cash Sustainability Forum (CSF) takes place in Frankfurt, Germany from 24-26 June. On the first afternoon will be a workshop dedicated to the recycling and recirculation of cash. It will build on a white paper currently being researched and prepared and for which input is still very welcome.

Three webinars will be held over the coming weeks of interest to the banknote and coin communities, each with a very different focus

The problems with plastic are widely known – but not well understood. The truth is, sometimes plastic is necessary. And when it comes to banknotes, polymer substrate is the green choice.

The first Security Designers Forum (SDF) will take place 9-11 September 2024 in Warsaw, Poland as a dedicated setting for all those involved in design and design decision-making relating to secure documents such as banknotes and passports, to learn, exchange knowledge and develop new ideas.

First level features for public authentication have grown remarkably over the years. The key objective is to stop counterfeits at the first pass. A solid combination of printed and substrate embedded features is available, and continues to grow.

‘Concept Notes: Art, Design and Security in One’, the second issue of a special report from Currency News summarising the latest house notes, is now available to download and read.

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (K&B BNS) will be hosting an event this June to bring the international central bank community together around the future role cash will play in society.