July 2022 - Over the coming decade, industry trends suggest that a growing number of State-Owned Printworks (SPWs) will make the move from paper to polymer banknote printing. Based on NPA’s experience, the greatest challenge for these SPWs in making this transition will be mitigating the risks in an environment where the aesthetic, quality and functional expectations of polymer banknotes is now set to a high benchmark. The margin for error is small, and the potential for spoilage is consequently much higher.
While the equipment used for both substrates is the same and paper printing experience counts for much, the properties of opacified polymer substrate sheets means that numerous adjustments need to be made to the handling of the material, the production process, and the machines themselves in order to print on polymer substrate in a stable and efficient manner. This article details these differences.
In addition, this topic will be presented by NPA’s Dean McGrath at the Banknote Technology Report Webinar on Wednesday 6 July at 5:30pm Melbourne-time. Register here.