Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

2 Oct. 2023

6 min read

Micro-Optics Partnership Drives New Security Threads for Banknotes

Earlier this year, Oberthur Fiduciaire announced the acquisition of a 65.5% stake in Rolling Optics. The Swedish-based company uses micro-lens patterns to create 3D effects in film, and its technology already underpins some of the existing micro-optics security features on the market (see CN February 2023).

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

3 min read

Toshiba Thrown a Lifeline as Bid Takes it Private

Toshiba – the Japanese industrial conglomerate and one of only two producers of high speed currency processing systems – has announced that a ¥2 trillion ($14 billion) tender offer from private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has ended in success, paving the way for the company to go private.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

Global Social and Financial Skills Conference – Empowering Generations, Sparking Change

Following the coverage of the iLearn partnership between Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBS) and Aflatoun International in last month’s Currency News™, an important event is coming up on the subject of financial literacy.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

8 min read

The Caribbean – A Celebration of SAFEGUARD Polymer

Over the course of the last four years, four currency series in the Caribbean have converted to polymer – starting with the East Caribbean dollar in 2019, followed by Trinidad and Tobago in 2020, then Barbados in 2022 and, most recently, Jamaica this summer.

Events

John Winchcombe

28 Sept. 2023

4 min read

Where’s the Money? The Challenge of Managing Change

The London Climate Technology Show, which took place end September, was full of start-ups and other more established companies offering solutions to measure your environmental footprint, to offset your carbon, to sequester your carbon in the soil/ocean/trees etc. etc. etc.

CBDC Free Sustainability Free

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

5 min read

News in Brief

The Federal Reserve has started a publicity campaign for its FedCash® E-Manifest Service. The new system is digitising a hitherto manual system for matching paper manifests for deposits and orders at Federal Reserve docks with a technology based on GSI US standards that enables scanning and the electronic exchange of data in real time.

News

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

5 min read

Interim Results Broadly Positive for Industry

Until relatively recently, we ran a round-up of company results in the quarterly Industry Watch. We have replaced this with a periodic summary of central bank annual reports relating to cash, but continue to cover the companies in our sector with reviews of their interim and annual results.

Companies

Guillaume Lepecq

28 Sept. 2023

5 min read

Is Cash a Public Good or a Basic Right?

The Future of Cash Conference 2023 (Istanbul, 6-8 November) will kick-off with a research seminar organised by CashEssentials. International researchers from different fields will discuss whether cash qualifies as a public good or as a basic right, and the policy implications of this.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

Framing the Narrative for the Future of Cash

The Future of Cash conference typically attracts some 120 participants from central and commercial banks, CIT and cash management companies, academics and other cash cycle stakeholders. The 2023 event takes place 6-8 November in Istanbul, and the full agenda is now available.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

6 min read

G+D Promotes the Value of Cash for Society

In March, Currency News™ featured an interview with Dr Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of G+D Currency, on the topic of building a resilient cash infrastructure.

Cash Handling Studies, Reports

Antti Heinonen

28 Sept. 2023

8 min read

Demand for Cash Under Uncertainty: A Global Update for 2023

So called ‘normal times’ ended in many respects more than three years ago, in early 2020. Since then, developments have been characterised by growing uncertainty and volatility, first by the COVID-19 pandemic and disruption of global supply chains, and then by geopolitical tensions created by the Russian attack on Ukraine and inflation of food and energy prices.

Cash Handling Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

1 min read

SDG Award for Oberthur

In 2022, Global Compact Réseau France launched the SDG Awards, designed to reward companies in all sectors that contribute to the concrete implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are committed to initiatives that advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

1 min read

A New Force in Consultancy and Strategic Advice

Three well-known faces from our industry have joined forces to set up a new firm offering consulting and advisory services for governments, central banks, security printing house, technology suppliers, brand owners and financial investors.

Companies

Kerre Corbin

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

Counterfeit Corner

Do you want to hear about an actual counterfeiting case? Well, here is your chance! The High Security Printing (HSP) Conference Asia is taking place in Sri Lanka, 4-6 December 2023. Register now for what will prove to be a most interesting Counterfeit Workshop, entitled ‘Operation Timerbrier – A Counterfeiters’ Fall from Glory’.

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

INX and SICPA Team Up for CBDC

SICPA and the INX Digital Company – the US-regulated broker-dealer, ATS, and transfer agent which offers the first-ever SEC-regulated digital asset trading platform for both cryptocurrencies and security tokens – have launched a new joint venture, Nabatech, to aid government and central bank construct sovereign digital asset ecosystems.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

People In The News

The Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI) has announced the appointment of Prof Deon Rossouw, the CEO of The Ethics Institute in South Africa, as its new Chairman. He takes up his new position in October.

News

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

2 min read

CTiP III Offers New Greener Engraving

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBS) has introduced the next iteration in its computer-to-intaglio plate technology with CTiP III, which it claims has a better ecological impact as well as offering new intaglio engraving opportunities to printers.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

3 min read

The Security Ink Supplier of Chinese Banknotes and Beyond

China Banknote Ink Co Ltd (CBI) provides security inks and related products for China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM).

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

1 min read

BSP Collects Award for Banknote of the Year

After the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announced earlier this year that the Philippines’ new polymer 1,000 piso was the 2022 Banknote of the Year winner (see CN April 2023), the Melbourne branch of the IBNS formally presented the award to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Assistant Governor Mary Anne Lim in a ceremony held at Note Printing Australia.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

28 Sept. 2023

1 min read

Out Now: Smartphones for Authentication

Reconnaissance International, co-publisher of Currency News™, is pleased to announce the release of its new report – ‘Smartphones for Authentication’ – the only publication of its kind.

Studies, Reports