2020 High Security Printing EMEA in Picture Perfect Lisbon

Seven cinematic hillsides overlook the Rio Tejo cradle – Lisbon’s postcard-perfect panorama of cobbled alleyways, ancient ruins and white-domed cathedrals – which provided a wonderful backdrop to the latest High Security Printing HSP (EMEA) conference. And despite the gathering storm clouds of coronavirus, the events was still host to over 270 delegates from more than 136 organisations and 43 countries, who came together in what was probably the last industry event for some months to come.

The conference programme was split into two parallel tracks – one focusing on currency and the other on travel and identity documents – allowing attendees to concentrate on the topics and issues that interest them most. A total of 52 presentations was delivered over the two days with seven dedicated sessions covering regional developments in currency, passports and national eID, security features, production and print as well as issuance and identity management, authentication, cash management, developments in other secure documents, and technology and innovation.

The second currency seminar provided an overview of the new Europa series and its security features, including the newest features introduced in the high value banknotes. In an unusually open and frank session Manuel Mourato, Senior Forensic Expert from the Judiciary Police National Counterfeiting Analysis Centre in Portugal not only gave his view on how secure those banknotes are and if the new features will be sufficient to prevent counterfeiting, but also provided numerous examples of counterfeit features for the audience to examine.

The ID seminars looked at the creation of a passport design and how many countries have been able to deliver unique travel documents that become works of art and symbols of trust followed by the theory of blockchain, digital transformation and augmented reality in the high security printing sector.

The conference itself was formally opened by Mr Hélder Rosalino, Member of the Board, Banco de Portugal followed by Sérgio S?o Jo?o, also of the central bank, who reviewed Valora’s development strategy covering its development from 2004. Valora is fully owned by Banco de Portugal and produces the share of euro banknotes allocated to Banco de Portugal by the Eurosystem. Euro banknotes produced by Valora are easily identifiable through the serial number, which always start with M.

Source of information: Reconnaissance International Ltd