Leslie Massey
Note Printing Australia (NPA) is a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that produces banknotes and passports. NPA has printed more than 10 billion banknotes for 19 countries across more than 80 denominations. The company has won multiple awards for its printing capabilities, including the 2020 Currency Services Award by Central Banking, a London-based industry organisation. NPA's banknotes are known for their durability and security features, making them difficult to counterfeit. The company's history dates back to 1913 when it was established to print banknotes for Australia, and it has since expanded its operations globally, contributing to the issuance of polymer currency notes in numerous countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does Australia print money for other countries? | Yes |
| Why does Australia print money for other countries? | Polymer banknotes are durable and difficult to counterfeit due to their complex design |
| How many countries has Australia printed money for? | 18 or 19 countries according to different sources |
| How many denominations has Australia printed for other countries? | 51 or more than 80 according to different sources |
| Which countries has Australia printed money for? | New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Vietnam, Brunei, and the Solomon Islands |
| What is the name of the Australian company that prints money for other countries? | Note Printing Australia (NPA) |
| Who owns NPA? | The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) |
| Where is NPA located? | Craigieburn, Melbourne |
| When was NPA established? | 1913 |
| What is the name of the polymer used in Australian banknotes? | Guardian® |
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What You'll Learn
Note Printing Australia (NPA)
In the mid-1960s, Australia faced a surge in counterfeiting of its newly introduced $10 paper decimal notes. As a result, the Reserve Bank of Australia and Note Printing Australia commissioned the CSIRO to enhance the security of the country's currency. This led to the development of the polymer banknote, which NPA first produced and issued in 1988. Australia became the first country to introduce polymer banknotes, which are waterproof and difficult to counterfeit due to their intricate design.
Since its introduction of polymer banknotes, NPA has printed over 10 billion banknotes for 18-19 countries across more than 51-80 denominations. The company has won multiple awards for its printing capabilities, including the 2020 Currency Services Award by Central Banking and a Printing Industry Craftsmanship Awards Gold Medal for the design and production of the Solomon Islands' new $5 polymer banknote.
NPA's Board operates under a charter from the Reserve Bank Board, and its CEO is Malcolm McDowell. The company works closely with Securency Pty Ltd, a joint venture between the Reserve Bank and Innovia Films, a global supplier of polypropylene films. Securency provides NPA and other currency note printers with high-security polymer substrates, such as Guardian® for currency notes and Sentinel® for other high-security documents.
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NPA's security features
Note Printing Australia (NPA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that produces banknotes and passports. NPA has printed over 10 billion banknotes for 19 countries, including Australia, on more than 80 denominations. The company has won several awards for its printing capabilities, including the Currency Services Award in 2020.
- Polymer Substrate: NPA was involved in the early development and production of polymer substrate for banknotes. Polymer banknotes are more durable and difficult to counterfeit compared to traditional paper notes. The polymer substrate is produced by applying unique coatings and security features to specialised films supplied by Innovia.
- Optically Variable Devices: NPA has utilised optically variable security features, such as the G Switch®, which was launched on the new 100 kina note for Papua New Guinea. This feature provides an additional layer of security by creating a colour-shifting effect when viewed from different angles.
- Research and Development: NPA works closely with Securency, a joint venture between the Reserve Bank and Innovia Films, in research and development to continuously enhance the security features of its banknotes. Securency supplies high-security polymer substrates to NPA and other currency note printers worldwide.
- Advanced Printing Technology: As a security printing facility, NPA employs specialised printers that are not accessible to the general printing industry. This enables the incorporation of intricate designs, microprinting, and other security features that are challenging to replicate.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: NPA collaborates with various entities to enhance the security of its banknotes. For example, in the mid-1960s, NPA and the Reserve Bank of Australia commissioned the CSIRO to improve the security of Australian currency, leading to the development of the polymer banknote.
The combination of these security features, along with ongoing research and development, ensures that NPA's banknotes are secure and difficult to counterfeit, maintaining the integrity of the currencies it produces for Australia and other countries.
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Polymer banknotes
Australia does print money for other countries. Polymer banknotes, made from synthetic polymers such as biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), were first introduced in Australia in 1988. They were developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the University of Melbourne. Polymer banknotes were created in response to the wave of forgeries of the newly introduced $10 paper decimal note in the mid-1960s. The new polymer notes incorporate many security features not available in paper banknotes, such as the use of metameric inks, intaglio, metal strips, and clear areas. They also last significantly longer than paper notes, reducing environmental impact and the cost of production and replacement.
Note Printing Australia (NPA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBA, has printed over 10 billion banknotes for 19 countries on more than 80 denominations. NPA has won several awards for its printing capabilities, including the 2020 Currency Services Award by Central Banking, a London-based industry organisation. Securency Pty Ltd, a joint venture between the RBA and Innovia Films, supplies NPA and other currency note printers overseas with high-security polymer substrates. Securency has supplied polymer to printers in six countries, including Taiwan, and has successfully marketed its polymer substrate for secure documents.
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NPA's sustainability efforts
Note Printing Australia (NPA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that produces banknotes and passports. NPA has a strong focus on sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
The company's sustainability efforts are led by its Sustainability Manager, Hiru Jayatunge, who has prioritised climate action and enhancing sustainability across the value chain. NPA's latest initiative involves its Finishing Department, which converts printed sheets into individual banknotes, revamping their waste segregation process to maximise recyclables and minimise landfill. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce the percentage of waste sent to landfill.
NPA has also invested in dedicated staff with expertise in sustainability to drive the organisation's performance in this area. In addition, NPA has developed an ESG framework as part of its broader sustainability efforts. The company has also won awards for its sustainability efforts, including the Currency Services Award by a London-based industry organisation, Central Banking, in 2020.
In addition to its work with polymer technology, NPA offers a range of security products based on polymer note-printing technology, including academic transcripts for universities and birth, death, and marriage certificates for Australian state governments. NPA's focus on sustainability and innovation has positioned it as a leader in the global currency and security printing industry.
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NPA's international awards
Note Printing Australia (NPA) is a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that produces banknotes and passports. It was established in 1913 to print paper banknotes for Australia and introduced the first polymer banknote in 1988. NPA has since printed banknotes for several other countries due to the high standards of durability and security offered by polymer notes.
NPA has printed denominations for 18 countries, including Australia, and provides printing services to overseas central banks. The company has worked with over 20 countries, including Thailand, Western Samoa, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Taiwan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kuwait, and Singapore.
NPA has received international recognition for its expertise and contributions to the development of polymer notes. The company has received awards and accolades for its work, including:
- The Philippines' New Polymer Banknote family won the International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) Best New Banknote Series of the Year award.
- NPA's CEO, Malcolm McDowell, was invited to present at a global forum on the future of high-security printing, demonstrating NPA's leadership in the industry.
- NPA's sustainability efforts have been prioritised, with a focus on climate action and enhancing sustainability across the value chain.
- NPA celebrated International Women's Day, showcasing its support for gender equality and the progress of women in business and professional life.
These awards and initiatives highlight NPA's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility, contributing to its reputation as a trusted and respected player in the global currency and security printing industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia prints money for other countries. Note Printing Australia (NPA) prints banknotes for several countries due to the high standards of durability and difficulty of counterfeiting.
The banknotes printed by Australia are very secure. They are made of polymer, which is a complex design that is notoriously hard to counterfeit. Additionally, Australia has also developed an innovative optically variable security feature called G Switch®, which is launched on the new 100 kina for Papua New Guinea.
NPA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that produces banknotes and passports. It was corporatized in July 1998 and is located in Craigieburn, Melbourne.
Since 1988, NPA has printed more than 10 billion banknotes for 19 countries (as of 2020) on more than 80 denominations.
NPA has won numerous awards, including the 2020 Currency Services Award by the London-based industry organization Central Banking and a Printing Industry Craftsmanship Awards Gold Medal for the design and production of the Solomon Islands' new $5 polymer banknote.
