22 February 2019 – The Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, and her husband Mr Tony Howard AM QC, visited Note Printing Australia today with a focus on innovation. Both the Governor and Mr Howard walked away from the trip with great enthusiasm for Note Printing Australia.
“I knew very little about the business before today but I’m quite excited to be able to talk with confidence about NPA to the people I meet in the course of my duties,” said Governor Dessau at the conclusion of the visit.
NPA Board Director Michelle McPhee and CEO Malcolm McDowell served as tour hosts, introducing a wide cross-section of NPA employees throughout the two hour event. The visit began with an introduction to some of the latest security features in banknotes and passports including SUSI Optics® and future security for the next series of Australian passports. This was followed by a session in the Design Studio in which the Governor and Mr Howard were taken through the intaglio development process from artwork to plate engraving.
“The Governor has a keen interest in the intersection between art and science, and combined with the key line portraits and engraved plates featuring the Queen, she was absolutely fascinated with our work,” says Mr McDowell.
With a requested focus on innovation, the Governor and Mr Howard were briefed on a range of NPA innovations including its Wet-Dry Offset Ink printing capability and the use of ink agitators, NPA’s foiling capability, the Cylon Table (emboss height measurement using a laser), Hybrid Illumination (foil quality inspection system), the Robotic Arm in Finishing, and the unique construction of a machine used for ePassport manufacturing.
In summarising the day, Mr McDowell says, “The whole experience was clearly a pleasure for the Governor and Mr Howard and the whole team reciprocated.”
Technophiles: The Governor and Mr Howard were captivated by the range of technologies they learned about, all of which were delivered with humour and professionalism by the NPA team. Here Security Printer Danny Muir (left) briefs the Governor and Mr Howard while (left to right) Board director Michelle McPhee, CEO Malcolm McDowell, Director of Operations Dean Stephens, and Print Hall Manager Daniel Roberts look on