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Chander S Jeena

20 Nov. 2025

3 min read

Covestro Marks 10 Years of Innovation and Sustainable Materials

Covestro, a German materials science company that was spun out from Bayer in 2015, is celebrating ten years of innovation and growth with an emphasis on sustainable solutions for secure documents. Over the past decade, Covestro has established itself as a leading supplier of high-performance polymer films for passports, ID cards, and driving licenses.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

20 Nov. 2025

4 min read

Across Asia, Central Banks Accelerate Launch of Banknotes with Optical Features

Around the world, 166 issuing authorities circulate 1,007 banknote denominations in regular use, excluding commemoratives. According to data from the Reconnaissance DataVault, Asia leads the global charts with 314 active denominations, reflecting the region’s scale, diversity, and rapid monetary development.

Banknotes Optical Security

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

3 min read

Are Micro and Nano-Optics Taking Centre Stage in Brand Protection?

At the recent LUXEPACK Monaco (29 September-1 October), Rolling Optics, a subsidiary of Oberthur, unveiled Fidaro™ – a micro-optic-based brand protection solution for packaging, labels, and product integration.

Editorial

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Hong Kong Lights Up Optical Defence Against Illicit Tobacco

Hong Kong Customs has started a three-month pilot scheme under the new duty stamp system to tackle illicit tobacco sales and ensure tax compliance.

Tax Stamps

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Koenig & Bauer Taps Bosch Partnership to Strengthen Product Security

Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection has entered a strategic cooperation with Bosch Secure Authentication GmbH – a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH and part of the Bosch Group – to advance technologies in brand protection and traceability for protectable printed products.

Collaborations

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

2 min read

IOTA Seminar Explores What’s Next for OVDs at ODDS

At the recently held Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference, the International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) reaffirmed its leading role in promoting the global optical security ecosystem.

IOTA (IHMA)

Francis Tuffy

23 Oct. 2025

3 min read

Full-Parallax Authentication

The demand for high-security document features has driven research into optical technologies capable of producing effects that are both visually striking and extremely difficult to counterfeit.

Technical Features

Ian Lancaster

23 Oct. 2025

3 min read

Optical Document Security: 4th Edition on its Way

‘Optical Document Security’, the book by Rudolf (Ruud) van Renesse, is recognised as the most authoritative guide to the science, techniques and use of optical security features on security documents.

Studies, Reports

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

9 min read

Celebrating Disruption: Technologies Redefining Optical Security

The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) announced the winners of its inaugural Excellence in Optical Technologies Awards 2025 during a special ceremony held at the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) Conference in Warsaw, Poland.

Awards

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

3 min read

From Deep Roots to New Heights – The Tree of Life by Kurz

KURZ Banknote Security’s production site in Sulzbach-Rosenberg in Germany celebrates its 30th anniversary this year (see HOT News August 2025), in honour of which the company has produced a series of celebration ‘Tree of Life’ notes themed around the beauty and strength of nature and the passage of time.

Banknotes Free Free

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

4 min read

People In the News

Giancarlo Vimercati, the founder of Pilot Italia, passed away in July 2025. In 1968, Giancarlo Vimercati founded Pilot Italia, a label converter that gradually became well-known in the Italian label business.

News

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Invima Detects Counterfeit MABTHERA® with the Help of Holograms

Colombia’s Health Regulatory Body Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos – INVIMA has issued a health alert after uncovering a counterfeit batch of oncological drug MABTHERA® (500 mg/50 mL) circulating in the market.

Brand Protection Free Free

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

4 min read

News in Brief

Spectra Systems announced its first-half yearly performance for 2025, with revenues surging 54% to $34.97 million, up from $22.74 million in the same period last year.

News

Micaal Sidorov

23 Oct. 2025

4 min read

Sharper Edges, Stronger Security: Inside Demax’s FreeEdge™ Innovation

Diffractive optically variable image devices (DOVIDs) are widely used to protect documents against counterfeiting and misuse. They are commonly integrated into multilayer holographic foils, which are either hot-stamped onto documents such as credit cards, driving licenses, identity cards, passports, and banknotes or embedded into laminates that are heat-sealed to a document’s surface.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Brunei to Launch New Polymer Banknote Series in 2026

Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) has announced its new family banknotes series in the denominations of BND1, BND5, BND10, BND100 and BND500, scheduled to enter circulation in the first half of 2026.

Banknotes

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

2 min read

HSP Asia Returns to Malaysia After 15 Years

Reconnaissance, publishers of Holography & Optical Technology News™ and organisers of the High Security Printing™ (HSP) conferences, have announced the full programme for the upcoming HSP Asia 2025, taking place from 1-3 December 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Events

Chander S Jeena

23 Oct. 2025

1 min read

Botswana’s Commemorative Banknote Features ANIMA™

The Bank of Botswana has unveiled a 50 pula banknote commemorating its first Olympic gold medallist, sprinter Letsile Tebogo, who won the 200 metres, and the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team that he anchored to a silver medal, at the Paris Olympic Games last year.

Banknotes

Chander S Jeena

23 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Aldus Brings Foils, Inks and Machines Under One Roof

The Aldus Group, a global provider of printing, packaging, finishing and precision engineering solutions, has stepped onto the international stage with a unified identity. At Label Expo Europe 2025 (15-17 September, Barcelona), the group showcased its consolidated portfolio, from foils and inks to machines, bringing them together under one roof for the first time.

Packaging

Chander S Jeena

23 Sept. 2025

4 min read

Welcome to the Genius of Secure Documents

The 2025 edition of the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) Conference opened with the headline ‘Welcome to the Genius of Secure Documents’. The conference was formally opened by Francis Tuffy, the newly appointed Chairman of ODDS, setting the tone for three days of technical exchange and innovation of experts, innovators and leaders in the optical security landscape.

Events

Chander S Jeena

23 Sept. 2025

3 min read

PROFOUND® TruSpectrum™ – Colour and Security Precision for Brand Protection

Crane Authentication – a Crane NXT business unit – has unveiled its latest innovation in overt security: PROFOUND® TruSpectrum™, which extends the colour palette of its micro-optic labels to match the spectrum of colours integral to a brand’s visual identity.

Brand Protection

Latest News

Covestro Marks 10 Years of Innovation and Sustainable Materials

Across Asia, Central Banks Accelerate Launch of Banknotes with Optical Features

Are Micro and Nano-Optics Taking Centre Stage in Brand Protection?

Hong Kong Lights Up Optical Defence Against Illicit Tobacco

Koenig & Bauer Taps Bosch Partnership to Strengthen Product Security

IOTA Seminar Explores What’s Next for OVDs at ODDS

Full-Parallax Authentication

Optical Document Security: 4th Edition on its Way

Celebrating Disruption: Technologies Redefining Optical Security

From Deep Roots to New Heights – The Tree of Life by Kurz

People In the News

Invima Detects Counterfeit MABTHERA® with the Help of Holograms

News in Brief

Sharper Edges, Stronger Security: Inside Demax’s FreeEdge™ Innovation

Brunei to Launch New Polymer Banknote Series in 2026

HSP Asia Returns to Malaysia After 15 Years

Botswana’s Commemorative Banknote Features ANIMA™

Aldus Brings Foils, Inks and Machines Under One Roof

Welcome to the Genius of Secure Documents

PROFOUND® TruSpectrum™ – Colour and Security Precision for Brand Protection

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