IN THE YEAR IN WHICH DE LA RUE CELEBRATES ITS 200TH ANNIVERSARY, IT IS HONOURED TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE QUEEN’S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE IN THE INNOVATION CATEGORY FOR OPTIKS™, ONE OF ITS PROVEN AND SUCCESSFUL ANTI-COUNTERFEIT TECHNOLOGIES.
London: April 21, 2013
De La Rue is today celebrating winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the twelfth time in its history it has received such an Award.
Optiks™ anti-counterfeit technology for banknotes comprises super-wide security threads and the associated paper making process. It is a step-change in both security thread and papermaking technology whereby an 18mm thread is incorporated into banknote paper, so the thread is simultaneously exposed on both sides of the note in a defined location to create a see-through area, a “window” in the paper. This complete exposure of the thread enables the banknote to be fully transparent in a defined area. This also allows innovative optical effects, derived from new thread structures, to be incorporated, as well as interaction with the banknote print design.
Already 10 countries have adopted Optiks™ into their notes, including Bermuda, Gibraltar, Jamaica and Kazakhstan.
De La Rue’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Tim Cobbold said; “ De La Rue is very proud and honoured to receive this Queen’s Award which reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation. Optiks™ is a quantum leap in the technology available to Central Banks to address the threat of counterfeits, and demonstrates how technical innovation underpins De La Rue’s leadership as the world’s largest integrated commercial banknote printer.”
ENDS
For further information:
Rob Hutchison
Group Director of Communications De La Rue
Tel: +44 (0) 1256 605018
Email: rob.hutchison@uk.delarue.com
Jon Coles, Brunswick Group
Tel: +44 (0) 207 404 5959
Oliver Hughes, Brunswick Group
Tel: +44 (0) 207 404 5959
