Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

24 May 2023

3 min read

Unfit Banknotes Transformed in Brazil

In 2020 Fedrigoni sold its Brazilian paper mill and Blendpaper / BP Security were created. The mill was originally founded in 1889 as Papel de Salto but was taken over by ArjoMari/Papel Simão in 1976, by Arjowiggins in 1997, and finally by Fedrigoni in 2015.

Companies Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

26 April 2023

2 min read

New Name for Agfa Offset as Sale Completed

Private equity group Aurelius has announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Agfa Offset Solutions from the Agfa-Gevaert Group for €92 million.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

26 April 2023

3 min read

BEP Ramps up for New Catalyst Series

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s outgoing Director, Len Olijar called 2022 an exciting year on many fronts in his introduction to the agency’s Annual Report, citing progress in a number of areas, including the goal of upgrading its facilities.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

25 April 2023

2 min read

Koenig & Bauer Exceeds Forecast

Koenig & Bauer has reported that, based on its preliminary and as yet unaudited figures, group EBIT for 2022 has exceeded its own forecast, as well as market expectations. This was in spite of a challenging environment characterised by supply chain constraints and an associated increase in material and energy costs, and a loss in one of its main divisions – the Digital and Webfed segment.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

25 April 2023

3 min read

De La Rue Impacted by Low Banknote Demand

De La Rue has recently provided a trading update, which indicates both a small (mid-single digit percentage) drop in profitability below market expectations (of £30-33 million) for 2022/23 but an uncertain outlook for 2023/24, with a potentially sharp reduction in profits. The share price fell 20% on the news.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

23 April 2023

3 min read

Record Results Even in a Challenging Year for G+D

Giesecke+Devrient has described 2022 as having a challenging business environment but one in which it has achieved strong results. The challenges have included rising energy, raw material and logistic costs, worldwide inflation, supply chain challenges, particularly for chips, and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

18 April 2023

4 min read

Crane NXT Goes for Growth as a Newly Independent Company

Crane NXT has announced the completion of its separation from Crane Co., the US-based industrial products and processes conglomerate, and its launch as an independent, publicly traded company.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

3 min read

Komori’s Environmental Journey and Commitment

Komori Corporation is 100 years old this year and has recently published its annual integrated report for 2022 covering value creation, business strategies, sustainability and its corporate data.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

New Expert Counterfeit Service for Currency

Renowned counterfeit expert Kerre Corbin has set up Kerrency Ltd – a new independent consultancy for the banknote industry to provide guidance and training to central banks, police agencies, commercial banks and security industry companies on counterfeiting issues.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

Voith’s Papermaking for Life

Voith Group includes Voith Paper, which is well known in the banknote paper making world as the manufacturer of paper machines. In its 2022 Sustainability Report it gives details of its ‘Papermaking for Life’ programme designed to contribute to more sustainable paper production.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

9 min read

Oumolat Means Currency, and Business

Oumolat Security Printing, which began operations in 2016, is not only the industry’s newest banknote printing company. Located in Abu Dhabi, it is also the first in the Middle East, taking advantage of the strategic location to offer banknote printing and services to the world.

Companies Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

4 min read

The Story of the Demise of Cash Processing Solutions

In the January issue of Currency News™, we covered the closure of Cash Processing Solution (CPS), the second supplier of high-speed sorting systems after Giesecke+Devrient, and the creation of a series of new entities to continue with the profitable software and services side of the business.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

3 min read

Distinkt – a New Name in Nanotech Authentication

Nanotechnology has been a fertile breeding ground for authentication devices – as structures that can be controlled at the nanoscale exhibit responses to light that are distinctive and near impossible to replicate.

Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

META Continues to Burn Through Cash

META Materials Inc, a developer of high performance functional materials and nanocomposites which acquired security feature specialist Nanotech Security Corp in 2021, has announced its results for 2022, and raised concerns about its future viability unless additional funding can be secured.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

3 min read

More Cash Leaders Report Return to Good Times

Last month, we covered the annual results of five of the major companies in the cash sector. This month is the turn of Prosegur, Spectra Systems and Orell Füssli, all of whom turned in a good performance for the year.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

5 min read

Good Times Continue for Cash Industry Leaders

Each February it is customary in Currency News™ to cover the annual results for 2022 for the leading companies in cash management, which is when most are published, with their success (or otherwise) providing a useful means of taking the pulse of our industry.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

2 min read

Oberthur Buys Into Micro-Optics

Francois Charles Oberthur (Oberthur) has acquired a 65.5% stake in Rolling Optics, a Swedish developer of micro-optics technology, for a sum believed to be in the region of $15-20 million.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

2 min read

KBBNS Teams with SONECT for Access to Cash

Koenig and Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBNS) has signed a new partnership with the virtual ATM company SONECT as part of its strategy to help reinvent the way we move, access and manage cash in society.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2022

2 min read

Digimarc CDS Contract Extended

Digimarc Corporation has announced a five-year extension of its agreement with the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group, comprising 35 of the world’s central banks.

Companies Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2022

6 min read

Conflict, Energy Crisis, Rising Inflation and Interest Rates Continue to Unsettle Markets

In the full year, only three markets were less than 10% lower compared with the beginning of the year, eight lost between 10% and 20%, and three lost between 20% and 30%.

Companies