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Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

PEAR-FINCH: A New Breakthrough in 3D Holographic Imaging

A breakthrough in computational imaging is set to transform how scientists study complex biological structures. Led by doctoral researcher Shivasubramanian Gopinath at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Physics, a research team has developed a method to bypass one of the most persistent limitations in microscopy – fixed focal depth.

Medical Imaging

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Diamond Dust is a Label’s Best Friend

Securikett, a provider of tamper-evident security labels and brand protection products, has announced a strategic partnership with Dust Identity, a provider of physical-to-digital identity technology.

Brand Protection

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Demax Launches Thin Single Layer Motion for Banknotes and ID

Over the past few years, light-field imaging has been considered one of the more promising directions for next-generation document security features. By reproducing not only the intensity of light but also its direction, a light-field structure can create convincing 3D imagery that changes naturally when the viewing angle shifts. For the holder of a passport, banknote or ID card, the result is an effect that is both visually striking and immediately verifiable by the naked eye.

Technical Features

Francis Tuffy

17 March 2026

5 min read

A Walk Through the World’s Largest Hologram Showroom

Just before the end of 2025, I travelled to Uxbridge, north-west London, to see Musion 3D’s newly opened World’s Largest Hologram Showroom (WLHS). The site is located within The Atrium, a conventional mixed-use commercial-technology building whose exterior offers little indication of the optical and computational systems operating within.

AR & VR

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Next-Gen Banknotes and Optical Innovation at the HSP EMEA Awards

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA Awards continue to be the region’s premier platform recognising excellence in banknote and ID design and innovation. This year’s awards took place on 10 February in Rabat, Morocco. In our last edition, we covered the ID awards; now we focus on the best innovation in banknotes.

Awards Free Free

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Fibarcode Secures Funding to Scale Photonic Fibre

Fibarcode, a materials science startup spun out of the University of Michigan, has secured a $1.5 million Fast-Track grant from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance its work on textile labelling for authentication, traceability and recycling.

Sustainability

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Covestro Navigates Headwinds with Strategic Shifts and Industrial Expansion

Covestro, a German materials science company, has concluded a challenging 2025 fiscal year, despite a persistently testing market environment. Volatile geopolitical dynamics, sustained weak global demand, and intense competitive pressure, coupled with the impact of the fire at the Dormagen Chempark, weighed heavily on the group’s economic development.

Companies Free Free

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Editorial – Changing the Picture: Women in Optical Security and Authentication

On International Women’s Day (8 March), we celebrate the female researchers, engineers, and leaders who have helped shape the optical and security printing industry.

Editorial

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Labels That Authenticate… Then Dissolve

Researchers at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed an eco-friendly smart security label that combines colour-based verification with holographic authentication. This sustainable alternative to conventional security labels can dissolve completely in water, leaving no trace.

Authentication Strategy

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

4 min read

News in Brief

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru has introduced an updated version of the 200 soles banknote, first issued in 2023 and the highest value in the current series.

News

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Crane NXT Results Highlight Rising Demand for Micro-Optic Banknote Security

Recent financial results from Crane NXT highlight growing global demand for advanced authentication technologies, especially micro-optic security features in banknotes. The company reported strong performance for the fourth quarter and full year ending 31 December 2025, reflecting wider adoption of its currency and security solutions by central banks worldwide.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

2 min read

The Hybrid Frontier: Examining the Security Industry’s Dual Strategies

Back in our November 2025 editorial for Holography & Optical Technology News™, we said that collaboration was becoming a smarter strategic pathway than aggressive acquisitions, which appeared to have reached a natural peak. This shift encouraged more agile partnership models, offering companies a faster route to innovation in the rapidly evolving anticounterfeiting landscape.

Editorial

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Hueck Folien Hits ‘Full-Liner’ Status with WaveFront Acquisition

Banknote security specialist Hueck Folien has acquired California-based WaveFront Technology LLC, transforming the Austrian firm into a ‘full-liner’ with end-to-end control over the security feature lifecycle. By integrating WaveFront’s 30-year expertise in micro and nanostructures, Hueck Folien secures strategic independence and the ability to originate custom optical designs in-house. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

4 min read

News in Brief

The Bank of Russia introduced a redesigned 1,000 ruble banknote on 26 December 2025, featuring the Volga Federal District and Nizhny Novgorod.

News

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

3 min read

£1 Billion at Stake: The Battle for UK Security Printing Contracts

The UK is navigating a pivotal moment in its national infrastructure, embarking on major security printing tenders totalling over £1 billion. These flagship programs, covering banknotes, passports, and excise-control stamps, will define the country’s currency, identity, and tax-enforcement landscape for the next decade.

Strategy

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

6 min read

WaveFront After the Acquisition: Chris Rich on Strategy and Technology

In April 2022, Holography News (the predecessor to Holography & Optical Technology News™) published an in-depth interview with Chris Rich, co-founder and CEO of WaveFront Technology, charting more than three decades at the forefront of holography. That conversation explored WaveFront’s origins in recombination and tooling, its evolution into deep microstructure UV-casting and freeform optical technologies, and the company’s vision to integrate macro, micro and nanostructures into unified optical security features.

Interviews

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

2 min read

DISH: The 0.6-Second Breakthrough in Holographic 3D Printing

A research team from Tsinghua University has unveiled a transformative technique for super-high-speed 3D printing. Published recently in Nature, the study details how the team can now print complex, millimetre-scale objects in as little as 0.6 seconds. The cornerstone of this advancement is a process called Digital Incoherent Synthesis of Holographic light fields (DISH).

3D Printing

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

6 min read

HSP EMEA Makes Its African Debut with a Record Audience

This February, HSP EMEA marked its 22nd edition with its largest event yet. For the first time, the conference was held in Morocco and on the African continent, highlighting the region’s rising role in secure printing, identity management, and related technologies.

Events

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

5 min read

Next-Gen IDs and Optical Innovation at the HSP EMEA Awards

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA Awards continue to serve as the region’s leading platform for recognising excellence in design and innovation for banknotes and IDs. This year’s HSP EMEA awards were held on 10 February in Rabat, Morocco (see also page 8). In this edition, we are covering the ID awards, followed by the best innovation in banknotes in the next edition.

Awards Free Free

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

2 min read

ODDS 2027 Call for Papers: Advancing Research in Next-Generation Security

The organisers of the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference announce the Call for Papers for ODDS 2027, inviting researchers, technologists, and practitioners to submit original work on document and identity system security.

Events

Latest News

PEAR-FINCH: A New Breakthrough in 3D Holographic Imaging

Diamond Dust is a Label’s Best Friend

Demax Launches Thin Single Layer Motion for Banknotes and ID

A Walk Through the World’s Largest Hologram Showroom

Next-Gen Banknotes and Optical Innovation at the HSP EMEA Awards

Fibarcode Secures Funding to Scale Photonic Fibre

Covestro Navigates Headwinds with Strategic Shifts and Industrial Expansion

Editorial – Changing the Picture: Women in Optical Security and Authentication

Labels That Authenticate… Then Dissolve

News in Brief

Crane NXT Results Highlight Rising Demand for Micro-Optic Banknote Security

The Hybrid Frontier: Examining the Security Industry’s Dual Strategies

Hueck Folien Hits ‘Full-Liner’ Status with WaveFront Acquisition

News in Brief

£1 Billion at Stake: The Battle for UK Security Printing Contracts

WaveFront After the Acquisition: Chris Rich on Strategy and Technology

DISH: The 0.6-Second Breakthrough in Holographic 3D Printing

HSP EMEA Makes Its African Debut with a Record Audience

Next-Gen IDs and Optical Innovation at the HSP EMEA Awards

ODDS 2027 Call for Papers: Advancing Research in Next-Generation Security

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