Ruqayyah Snyder
Australian banknotes are printed on clear plastic, also known as polymer substrate. This is a unique feature of Australian currency, as most banknotes from around the world are made from cotton or paper fibres. The use of plastic makes counterfeiting more difficult and allows for the inclusion of security features that aren't possible with paper. The process of printing Australian money involves melting plastic pellets and blowing them into a large bubble, which is then pressed and cooled to form a thin film of clear plastic. This film is cut into sheets, printed with special inks, and run through a press to print on both sides simultaneously. The unique material and printing process give Australian banknotes their distinctive look and feel, and also provide enhanced security features to deter counterfeiting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Clear plastic/polymer |
| Printing company | Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA) |
| Location of printing company | Craigieburn, Victoria, 25 kilometres north of Melbourne |
| Year of introduction of polymer notes | 1988 |
| Number of notes delivered to the bank in 2020-21 | 234 million |
| Cost of making each note | 32 cents |
| Cost of making a $2 coin | 20 cents |
| Number of notes printed on a sheet | 45 $10 notes, 40 $5, $20 and $50 notes, 32 $100 notes, 54 $5 notes, 45 $10, $20, $50 and $100 new series notes |
| Security features | Diamond-shaped patterns printed on each side of the banknote combine perfectly to form a seven-pointed star inside a circle, clear windows, G Switch® |
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What You'll Learn
Australian banknotes are printed on clear plastic
The use of clear plastic for Australian banknotes offers several advantages. Firstly, it serves as a security measure, making it more difficult for criminals to counterfeit the currency. The plastic material also allows for the incorporation of additional security features that are not possible with traditional paper banknotes. Furthermore, the composite plastic is more durable than paper, reducing the need for reprinting destroyed bills and extending the lifespan of the currency.
Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA) is responsible for producing Australia's banknotes. NPA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and is located in Craigieburn, Victoria. The company has been printing banknotes since 1913 and introduced the world's first polymer banknote in 1988. NPA's printing costs are relatively low, with each note costing around 20 to 34 cents to produce.
The process of printing on clear plastic involves several steps to ensure the final product is secure and durable. By starting with a clear base, NPA can incorporate multiple layers of security features, inks, and coatings to create a banknote that is challenging to counterfeit. This process has made Australia a leader in polymer note technology, with their banknotes recognised as some of the most advanced and secure in the world.
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The plastic is more durable and harder to counterfeit
Australian banknotes are printed on sheets of polymer substrate, which are made from plastic pellets. The plastic pellets are melted and blown into a three-storey bubble, which is then pressed and cooled to form a laminated polymer film. This film is then cut into sheets and printed with a white ink to help other inks stick to the plastic. The plastic substrate is manufactured in Australia by CCL Secure, a wholly owned subsidiary of CCL Industries, a Canadian publicly listed company.
The use of polymer substrate for Australian banknotes provides several advantages over traditional paper-based notes. One of the key benefits is enhanced durability. Polymer banknotes are more resistant to wear and tear compared to paper notes, making them longer-lasting and reducing the need for frequent replacements. This durability also contributes to cost savings for the country, as fewer notes need to be reprinted due to damage or deterioration.
Another significant advantage of polymer substrate is its security features, making counterfeiting significantly more challenging. The plastic material itself acts as a security measure, as it is more difficult to replicate than paper. Additionally, the polymer substrate allows for the incorporation of advanced security features that are not possible with paper. These features include transparent windows, optically variable devices, and other specialised coatings.
The combination of the polymer substrate and advanced security features has positioned Australia at the forefront of polymer note technology globally. The country has successfully addressed the challenges of counterfeiting and has established itself as a leader in this field. Australia's success with polymer banknotes has also led to export opportunities, with the country printing banknotes for over 19 other countries using similar technology.
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The plastic pellets are melted and blown into a bubble
Australian banknotes are made from a type of plastic. The process of creating these notes starts with plastic pellets, which are melted down and blown into a three-storey bubble. This bubble is then flattened to form a thin roll of clear plastic film, which is then cut into sheets.
The sheets are then printed with a white ink, which helps other inks adhere to the plastic. Special inks are then applied to make the film opaque, except for certain areas left free of ink to create clear windows. Different-sized sheets are used for different denominations, and the number of banknotes printed on each sheet varies. For example, a sheet of the new $5 banknotes has 54 polymer banknotes, while the $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations have 45 banknotes on a sheet.
The first printing process involves printing the background colours and patterns on both sides of the polymer sheets simultaneously. This ensures that the images are perfectly aligned. An innovative feature of Australian banknotes is the inclusion of diamond-shaped patterns printed on each side, which combine to form a seven-pointed star inside a circle when held up to the light.
The use of plastic for Australian banknotes offers several advantages. It acts as a deterrent to counterfeiting and allows for the incorporation of new security features that are not possible with paper currency. Additionally, the plastic notes are more durable than traditional paper notes, contributing to their widespread adoption.
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Special inks are used to make the film opaque
Australian banknotes are printed on sheets of polymer substrate using various printing plates, processes, machines, and inks. The banknotes start out as plastic pellets, which are melted and blown into a three-storey bubble. The walls of this bubble are pressed together and cooled to form a laminated polymer film. This film is then cut into sheets and printed with a white ink, which helps other inks stick to the plastic.
The process of applying the special inks involves printing the background colours and patterns onto both sides of the polymer sheets simultaneously. This simultaneous printing ensures precise alignment, as evident in the Federation Star image on the $50 note. When held up to the light, diamond-shaped patterns on each side combine perfectly to form a seven-pointed star inside a circle.
The use of special inks to create opaque areas on the polymer film is a unique aspect of Australian banknote production. It showcases the country's innovation in currency design and its commitment to incorporating advanced security features. This technology has not only enhanced the security of Australian banknotes but has also gained international recognition, with NPA exporting its expertise to various countries.
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NPA prints banknotes for Australia and other countries
Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA) is a security printing facility that prints banknotes for Australia and other countries. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and is located in Craigieburn, Victoria, just outside Melbourne. NPA has been printing Australia's banknotes since 1913, when it was established as a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank.
The process of printing Australian banknotes starts with plastic pellets, which are melted and blown into a large bubble. This bubble is then pressed and cooled to form a laminated polymer film. Special inks are applied to make the film opaque, except for certain areas left free of ink to create clear windows. Different-sized sheets are used for each denomination, and the number of banknotes printed on a sheet varies. The first printing process involves printing the background colours and patterns onto both sides of the polymer sheets simultaneously.
NPA has led the way in establishing polymer technology as a viable alternative to paper for banknotes. In 1988, NPA introduced the first polymer banknote, which has since been issued in more than 60 countries worldwide. Polymer banknotes are more durable and difficult to counterfeit than paper banknotes. NPA has printed more than 10 billion banknotes for 19 countries on more than 80 denominations. In 2020-21 alone, NPA delivered 234 million notes to the bank.
NPA's printing costs are relatively low, at around 20 to 34 cents per note, depending on the denomination. The profits from printing notes help keep the Reserve Bank self-funding. NPA's focus on promoting the benefits of polymer technology and its high-security printing capabilities have made it a trusted supplier of banknotes for countries in Asia, South America, and the Pacific.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian money is printed on clear plastic.
Plastic is more durable and harder to counterfeit than paper.
Australian banknotes start out as plastic pellets, which are melted and blown into a three-storey bubble. The walls of the bubble are pressed together and cooled to form laminated polymer film.
Australian money is printed by Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
It costs around 32 cents to make a $100 note.
