Russian state printer and mint Goznak has launched its own banknote counting and sorting machine – the BARS-S5. This follows the acquisition last year of BIS (which stands for Bank Innovation Systems), with whom the new machine was co-developed. The first order has already been received from the Central Bank of Russia.

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Papierfabrik Louisenthal have been working on reducing the environmental impact of their banknote production and cash cycle related activities for many years.

The International Banknote Designers Association (IBDA) has finalised the agenda for the 6th International Banknote Designers Conference that will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 24-27 October 2022.

The Banco de España has issued a press release about meeting the European Central Bank’s (ECB) waste goal for banknotes. It puts this in the context of the ECB’s wider programme.

The Bank of Thailand will launch a new 20 baht note on 24 March, marking the transition to polymer of the country’s most widely used denomination, which accounts for 30% of all Thai banknotes in circulation.

Banknote authentication and security software provider Spectra Systems Corporation has announced three new contract awards, generating $700,000 of additional unforecasted revenue for the 2022 calendar year.

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, a pioneer in computer design software with the launch of its ONE Security system in 2001, has announced the arrival of version 2.1 with a raft of new features and capabilities.

The team behind the multi-award winning cash cycle analytics platform DLR Analytics™ have announced a major upgrade to the existing software.

Organisers of the High Security Printing Conferences (HSP), Reconnaissance International, have announced the programme for the upcoming HSP Latin America event.

The Bank of Albania has put into circulation new versions of the 500 lekë and 2,000 lekë, thereby completing its new series which also includes 200, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 lekë.

Optimism towards the end of last year that the pandemic was running its course have been frustrated by the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID. But while some events have been thwarted, others are going ahead as planned.

At the European Cash Cycle last autumn, the presentation by Josef Vrana, Senior Banknote Issuance Expert, Directorate Banknotes for the European Central Bank (ECB), covered euro cash trends and the effect of COVID-19 to date.

De La Rue has announced a trading update on the financial year ending March 2022, as well as an update of progress on its Turnaround Plan, which unsurprisingly has been impacted by the pandemic.

The Bank of Guyana has announced that it will shortly be issuing a new $2,000 banknote on polymer to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of Independence.

Work has now started on the first in the HUMANIA series of banknotes, which are being produced to raise money to support people who have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flights have been booked, hotel reservations have been made and final preparations are being made so that, after two years apart, Currency Research can bring the majority of the industry back together for some long-overdue discussions, professional networking, and a lively exchange of information and views.

We have covered a number of initiatives by central banks and suppliers (individually or collectively through their associations) to reduce the environmental impact of cash, and will continue to do so.

Amir Safranovich, Head of Cash Management in the Currency Department at the Bank of Israel (BOI) introduced his presentation at the European Cash Cycle Seminar with the title ‘Cash: The Point of No Return’.

In the absence in 2021 of the HSP Awards, which are normally held three times a year to coincide with the three regional conferences, HSP organiser Reconnaissance International held a series of virtual awards instead.

On 21 December, the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) launched a significantly upgraded series of banknotes, with dynamic and innovative security threads and advanced security print features.