Hazen Paper received four honours at the 33rd Annual Gold Leaf Awards in Nashville, held from 17-19 June 2026. They included three golds for best use of embellished poster, best use of holographics (self-promotion) and best use of transfer metallised substrate. The awards were organised by the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA).

Dealmaking accelerated during 2024 and 2025, with events in 2026 confirming that consolidation remains a defining industry trend. From manufacturing and product authentication to digital identity and banknote printing, companies are reshaping their portfolios through strategic acquisitions.

3S, a German security printing specialist, has announced a strategic rebranding, adopting the name 3S Group to better reflect its growing international structure and long-term development plans.

In 2025, the global security technology, authentication, and secure printing sectors continued to evolve despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges. The industry players reported growth, highlighting the convergence of traditional security printing with digital security infrastructure and intelligent authentication technologies.

Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer and KURZ have signed a Project Development Cooperation Agreement to integrate KINEGRAM® optical security features into Q&T’s PolySecure® polymer banknote substrate. The partnership will focus on embedding KURZ’s KINEGRAM® technology directly within the BOPP layers of Q&T’s polymer substrate structure, creating a higher level of security integration than conventional surface-applied features.

Counterfeiters are no longer limited to simple print-and-overlay methods to create counterfeit security features. While document issuers have strengthened physical security using polycarbonate data pages and laser engraving, optical security features must also evolve. They can no longer rely solely on visual appeal; they must be inherently difficult to analyse, replicate, or reverse-engineer.

Hanoi-based Q&T Hi-tech Polymer continues to strengthen its position in the global polymer banknote ecosystem, combining certification milestones with new technology investments that deepen its capabilities in high-security production.

Covestro, a German materials science company, has concluded a challenging 2025 fiscal year, despite a persistently testing market environment. Volatile geopolitical dynamics, sustained weak global demand, and intense competitive pressure, coupled with the impact of the fire at the Dormagen Chempark, weighed heavily on the group’s economic development.

Recent financial results from Crane NXT highlight growing global demand for advanced authentication technologies, especially micro-optic security features in banknotes. The company reported strong performance for the fourth quarter and full year ending 31 December 2025, reflecting wider adoption of its currency and security solutions by central banks worldwide.

Hanoi-based Q&T Hi-tech Polymer continues to strengthen its position in polymer banknote production with the acquisition of a BOBST VISION K5 HS vacuum metalliser featuring AluBond® technology. The 1,350mm-wide system, scheduled for installation in early 2026, will be the company’s first in-house metallising line, marking a vital step in vertically integrating one of the most critical processes in high-security polymer banknote production.