Biobanknote, developer of solutions for repurposing end of life banknotes and the Banco Central de Reserva del Perú have recently conducted a composting test with the waste from banknotes withdrawn from circulation at the Control Ambiental plant.

Giesecke+Devrient held its Currency Technology Symposium 2023 in July in Munich. Normally a biennial event, this is the first to be held since 2019 due to COVID, and was attended by more than 300 customers from central banks, printworks and commercial cash handling industry.

Currency News spoke to Frederic Trojani, CEO of SURYS and Executive Vice President for the Secured Components Division of IN Groupe, about the company’s history, how being part of IN Groupe is helping it fulfil its ambitions in the currency market, and the benefits that the two recent acquisitions will bring.

The Bank of Japan will start issuing its new series of banknotes in around the first half of July 2024. The actual date of issue will be announced when the necessary preparations have been completed.

China Banknote Designing and Engraving Co, part of the family of companies belonging to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, has brand-new inspection and platemaking systems to meet increasing innovation requirements and demand.

Meta Materials Inc has been a pioneer in banknote OVD technology for the past decade with innovations in micro-, nano- and now plasmonic structures. The company has also developed in-house secure foil production so that it can offer banknote stripes direct to customers.

The Central Bank of Belize is to issue a new currency series, which will feature images of national heroes rather than the head of state, King Charles III.

The Currency Conference took part in Mexico City in May 2023, overlapping with the Digital Currency Conference.

The Polish state-owned printer and papermaker PWPW is building a new banknote printing plant and paper mill on an 18-hectare site in Warsaw, recently purchased from the state-owned pharmaceutical company Polfa Tarchomin for PLN 143 million (€32 million).

KURZ, the market leader in security foils for banknotes, has announced that it has been awarded a silver medal from the well-known sustainability rating agency EcoVadis, having achieved excellent results in all four areas examined – the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Hyosung Innovue (formerly knowns as Hyosung America and the North American subsidiary of South Korean ATM manufacturer Hyosung TNS) has announced the launch of the new Cajera Pivot recycling ATM series for retail applications.

The Cavendish banana, the world’s most consumed fruit, is at risk of extinction due to climate change, viruses and unsustainable agricultural practices. The banana’s decline, suggests Tortoise Media, a UK news organisation, ‘is yet another flashing red light in an economic ecosystem that has ruthlessly prioritised convenience over resilience.’

The Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI), which is 10 years old this year, now has 15 members after Oumolat Security Printing LLC was formally accredited by the BnEI Accreditation Council.

Michele Bullock has been announced as the next Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), making her the first woman to lead the central bank. She replaces Philip Lowe, and will begin her seven-year term in September.

IN Groupe, owners of the optical features specialist SURYS, has agreed to buy 100% of the shares of Gleitsmann Security Inks from hubergroup Deutschland for an undisclosed consideration in cash.

On 17 July the Central Bank of Lesotho unveiled its first Green Banknote, in commemoration of the 60th birthday of the King of Lesotho, His Majesty King Letsie III, who has reigned since 1996.

In our latest monthly summary of central bank annual reports, we look at the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, Liberia, Eastern Caribbean, Colombia and Taiwan.

The Mint of Poland (Mennica Polska), which trades on the Warsaw Stock Exchange as the only publicly-listed mint, has three distinct business segments – minting, electronic payments and real estate development.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is asking European citizens about their views on the proposed themes for the next series of euro banknotes, which have now been made public.

The Royal Mint (TRM) announced its results for 2022/23 which, according to Anne Jessopp, its Chief Executive, was a pivotal year as it embarked on a five year business transformation plan.