Reconnaissance, publishers of Holography & Optical Technology News™ and organisers of the High Security Printing™ (HSP) conferences, has announced that registration is now open for the upcoming HSP Latin America event, scheduled for 1-3 June 2026 in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The program details are already announced.

The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) will lead a specialist workshop at the Banknote Conference 2026 in Washington DC, reinforcing its role in advancing optical security technologies.

The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has adopted a new name that reflects a major shift in the technologies and systems used to control regulated products. The organisation will now be known as the International Tax Stamp, Authentication and Traceability Association, albeit retaining the well-established ITSA acronym by which it is widely recognised in the industry.

LEONHARD KURZ has enhanced its Application Technology Department in Fürth, Germany, by installing a BOBST NOVAFOIL 106 H hot-stamping machine. This installation marks the 55th anniversary of BOBST’s entry into hot transfer technology and strengthens the company’s 20 year partnership.

Vietnam’s cable industry is experiencing rapid growth, with increased infrastructure investment and expanding manufacturing capacity. Meanwhile, counterfeit risk has shifted from isolated incidents to a systemic supply chain challenge.

‘China thinks in centuries, not in years’ – Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State & author of book ‘ON CHINA’.

Idvac is a private company based at Manchester Science Park in the UK, founded in 2004 to develop new processes and products for holographic, packaging, and solar window films. It has now developed an innovative process that introduces enhanced design features for security holograms and optical films.

Crane NXT has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Italy’s Antares Vision, marking a key step in its strategic expansion into software-led traceability solutions.

DSG-USA, a global supplier of premium aftermarket engine components for heavy-duty and industrial applications (such as Caterpillar® earthmoving equipment) has launched a new security label to safeguard its products against counterfeiting and grey-market diversion.

In the evolving landscape of currency design, the boundary between scientific innovation and artistic expression is blurring. Central banks have long sought features that are not only impossible to replicate but also intuitive for the public to verify.

Georgia just took home the ‘Best New Document Series’ award, presented at HSP EMEA in Rabat, and for good reason. The Georgia Document Family is a harmonised suite of ePassports and eID cards that successfully merges futuristic security with a deep reverence for the nation’s history.

Smithers’ report, ‘The Future of Global Security Printing to 2030’, projects the security printing market will surge to $39.7 billion by 2030, driven by the shift toward integrated physical and digital trust systems. A key part of this growth is the renewed focus on Diffractive Optical Variable Image Devices (DOVIDs), which are expected to reach $4.39 billion by 2030.

In a recent move to enhance night-time road safety and curb accidents caused by poor visibility, the Telangana Transport Department (India) has issued a new mandate requiring all transport vehicles to be equipped with high-standard reflective rear-marking plates and tapes.

In a move to redefine national security, President Gustavo Petro has unveiled the design of Colombia’s new passport. Set to enter circulation on 1 April 2026, the document is being hailed as one of the four most secure travel documents in the world.

The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) held its electronic Annual General Meeting (e-AGM) on 24 February 2026, reaffirming its governance structure and presenting a strategic roadmap for the coming year.

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.

A breakthrough in computational imaging is set to transform how scientists study complex biological structures. Led by doctoral researcher Shivasubramanian Gopinath at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Physics, a research team has developed a method to bypass one of the most persistent limitations in microscopy – fixed focal depth.

Securikett, a provider of tamper-evident security labels and brand protection products, has announced a strategic partnership with Dust Identity, a provider of physical-to-digital identity technology.

Over the past few years, light-field imaging has been considered one of the more promising directions for next-generation document security features. By reproducing not only the intensity of light but also its direction, a light-field structure can create convincing 3D imagery that changes naturally when the viewing angle shifts. For the holder of a passport, banknote or ID card, the result is an effect that is both visually striking and immediately verifiable by the naked eye.

Just before the end of 2025, I travelled to Uxbridge, north-west London, to see Musion 3D’s newly opened World’s Largest Hologram Showroom (WLHS). The site is located within The Atrium, a conventional mixed-use commercial-technology building whose exterior offers little indication of the optical and computational systems operating within.