Cambodia’s New Banknotes Highlight a Landmark Year for Hueck Folien

On 25 September 2026, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) unveiled updated versions of its 50,000 riel and 100,000 riel banknotes, continuing the country’s long-standing use of holographic security features. The new denominations will circulate alongside existing banknotes rather than replace them, representing the latest chapter in Cambodia’s adoption of advanced optical security.

Cambodia’s relationship with holographic security dates back to 2008, when it introduced a holographic stripe on its 20,000 riel banknote. More than a decade later, the country became an early adopter of TRILUMIC®, Hueck Folien’s ultraviolet authentication technology developed in collaboration with Banque de France.

Issued in 2019 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of King Norodom Sihamoni’s accession to the throne, Cambodia produced a 15,000 riel banknote on Landqart’s Durasafe® substrate and incorporated a 15mm TRILUMIC holographic foil stripe.

The technology returned in 2021 on Cambodia’s 30,000 riel commemorative banknote, marking the 30th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords.

While the 30,000 riel denomination combined a 15mm TRILUMIC holographic stripe with a windowed security thread, watermark and electrotype, the 200,000 riel note incorporated an 11mm holographic stripe in gold colour together with a 3mm holographic security thread featuring gold cleartext.

Although Cambodia’s latest denominations do not incorporate TRILUMIC, the continued use of holographic security features reflects the country’s sustained commitment to advanced banknote authentication and provides a fitting backdrop to a significant year for Hueck Folien.

TRILUMIC beyond Cambodia

TRILUMIC was introduced by Hueck Folien in 2017 and combines holography with concealed, full-colour ultraviolet imagery. Initially deployed on holographic foil stripes, the technology has since evolved into security-thread applications incorporating metallised, demetallised and colour-shifting elements.

The technology enables designers to integrate fine-line structures, intricate motifs and vivid UV colour effects, creating multiple layers of authentication for both the public and trained inspectors.

Cambodia was among the earliest adopters, but the technology has since expanded into other markets. Morocco’s 50 dirham banknote, for example, incorporates a TRILUMIC security thread that combines concealed UV imagery with colour-shifting and metallised effects.

Further applications are expected in the coming months. Two passport programmes are currently planned, one incorporating a TRILUMIC security thread and another featuring a TRILUMIC holographic foil stripe.

Portfolio expansion

Hueck Folien has supplied security products to the banknote industry for more than 35 years. The company initially built its reputation through security threads before expanding into holographic, diffractive, and micro-optical security features.

Innovation has accelerated in recent years. In 2023, Hueck Folien introduced Optomove®, a micro-optical security thread combining dynamic movement effects with colour shifts enabled by ColorSwitch™ technology.

The following year, the company partnered with IQ Structures to launch the Nanovista™ platform, including the Nanoswitch® series. By combining ColorSwitch™ technology with nanofabricated optical structures, Nanoswitch® creates distinctive three-dimensional visual effects alongside tactile authentication features.

WaveFront acquisition

While its technologies continue to appear on banknotes and identity documents worldwide, Hueck Folien has also expanded its long-term capabilities through the acquisition of the California-based WaveFront Technology LLC (see HOTN Feb 2026).

The acquisition brings more than three decades of expertise in micro- and nanostructure development into the organisation and supports Hueck Folien’s ambition to become a full-service provider of optical security solutions.

By bringing advanced design capabilities in-house, the company gains greater control over the development, customisation and commercialisation of proprietary security features. The move complements its established strengths in optical security materials while enhancing its capacity to develop future banknote and authentication technologies.

The acquisition is one element of a broader strategy that combines internal development, technology partnerships and selective corporate expansion.

Having strengthened its design and development capabilities Hueck Folien has increasingly used showcase banknotes to demonstrate how these technologies can be combined in practical security-document applications.

Showcase notes

Alongside commercial projects, Hueck Folien continues to use demonstration banknotes to highlight advances across its technology portfolio.

The programme began in April 2026 with the launch of the ‘Vault Bill’ house note at the Global Currency Forum. Developed in cooperation with IQ Structures and Landqart, the project served as a platform for presenting new optical-security concepts to the currency community.

The company then unveiled the ‘Breath’ house note at HSP Latin America in Guatemala in June. Developed with Poland's PWPW, the environmentally themed design depicts a pair of lungs formed from trees and incorporates an Optomove security thread featuring a customised Falling Leaves effect. Based on ColorSwitch technology, the thread shifts from green-to-gold while creating a dynamic movement effect.

PWPW’s latest house note also incorporates the first Hueck Folien Nanoswitch stripe combined with colourful TRILUMIC UV printing, demonstrating how multiple optical technologies can be integrated within a single banknote design.

Now Siren’s Call – a collaboration of innovation

The latest addition to the concept banknote series, Siren’s Call, made its debut at the Intergraf Currency+Identity conference in Copenhagen this month, showcasing a combination of advanced optical security technologies, specialist materials and innovative banknote design.

The project brings together a consortium of security industry companies, including Seprinto & Partners, the Hungarian Banknote Printing Company (HBPC), BP Security, Hueck Folien, IQ Structures, SICPA, Solstice and I.T.G. Graphic Products. Each partner contributed expertise spanning design, optical security, security inks, specialised substrates and banknote production.

Seprinto & Partners coordinated the graphic development, artistic direction and integration of the security features, working closely with renowned banknote designer Ronald Keller. HBPC transformed the concept into a high-quality finished banknote, ensuring the complex range of security elements were successfully incorporated into the final design.

Among the note’s key security features are technologies supplied by Hueck Folien, including its Optomove security thread and Nanoswitch security stripe. The thread incorporates micro-optical freeform elements, while the stripe is enhanced with ColorSwitch technology to create dynamic colour-changing effects that support fast and intuitive public authentication.

IQ Structures complemented these features with its nanoDOVID® technologies, integrating both 3D White Bas-Relief and Keyhole effects into the Nanoswitch stripe to deliver additional layers of optical security and visual complexity.

SICPA contributed a range of advanced security inks, including OVI® Intaglio Gold-to-Green and inks with specific infrared absorption properties. Solstice supplied Lumilux® cryo-assisted thermofluorescent fibres and covert luminescent pigments, while I.T.G. Graphic Products provided its Simultan Special 90 Neo printing blanket to support consistent print quality throughout production.

Beyond showcasing individual technologies, Siren’s Call highlights the value of collaboration across the banknote and security printing supply chain. By bringing together expertise in design, optical security, security inks, specialised materials and print production, the project demonstrates how multiple authentication technologies can be integrated into a single, coherent banknote concept.

Taken together, Hueck Folien’s activities in 2026 paint a picture of a company pursuing growth on multiple fronts – acquisition, internal innovation and collaboration.

Whether the company’s next chapter brings more of the same or a different strategic direction will be something the industry watches with interest.