Valletta, 10 October 2014: De La Rue was today delighted to welcome the Prime Minister of Malta, The Honourable Dr Joseph Muscat to its Currency and Security Print factory in Zejtun, Malta. The visit reflects the contribution the world-class De La Rue manufacturing facility makes to the local economy.
Opened in 1975, the De La Rue factory today produces banknotes and passports, and will commence manufacturing other security products shortly. De La Rue employs over 500 skilled personnel at the site and has invested €7 million over the last 3 years with a further €4 million planned in the next 12 months.
In the last year the facility printed banknotes for 28 countries, spread over 6 continents. In 2008 De La Rue opened a second facility on the site, the first in the world specifically designed to produce biometric passports. De La Rue both manufactures the passport books and can also handle the personalisation of the books. Over the years the factory has produced passports for over 80 countries.
De La Rue is very active in the local community, in recent months supporting both local charities and environmental initiatives.
Following his visit the Prime Minister commented; "I am delighted that this truly world-class hi-tech manufacturing facility is based here in Malta. I have been impressed by the highly skilled personnel that I have met during my visit. There is no doubt that De La Rue and its employees make a significant contribution to the Maltese economy and the local community in which it operates.”
Rupert Middleton, De La Rue Supply Chain Managing Director who accompanied the Prime Minister on his visit said; "We were honoured that the Prime Minister was able to take time out of his busy schedule to visit our facility today. Dr Muscat clearly appreciates the investment we have made in the site and our personnel.”
At the end of his visit De La Rue presented the Prime Minister with a dye used to stamp gold foil on to the cover of the Maltese national passport.
For further information:
Rob Hutchison
Group Director of Communications, De La Rue
Tel: +44 (0) 1256 605018
Email: rob.hutchison@uk.delarue.com
About De La Rue plc:
De La Rue is the world’s largest commercial banknote printer and passport manufacturer and is a trusted partner of governments, central banks and commercial organisations around the world.
De La Rue also produces a wide range of other security products, including tax stamps, authentication labels and identity documents and manufactures high speed cash sorting and banknote inspection equipment.
De La Rue’s Currency division provides customers with a full range of sophisticated products and services which are available either individually or as a whole. This includes design, production of security components, manufacture of paper and polymer substrates and printing of banknotes.
Within the Solutions division, a similar integrated offering from design to manufacture is available. In addition De La Rue offers a range of specialist services and software solutions including government identity schemes, product authentication systems and cash management processing solutions
In recent years De La Rue has been involved in the production of over 150 national currencies, and passports or identity systems for over 65 countries.
De La Rue employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
www.delarue.com
