Villiger Ink Security by SICPA
Cash Protection needs on the rise
As the volume and frequency of cash circulation is in incessant growth, the demand for effective cash protection measures registers equally significant growth. The need for cash protection does not limit to ATMs and Cash in Transit (CIT), but applies to all places with high cash storage. Such protection has initially been ensured by a combination of security measures including armoured vehicles, armed guards, video surveillance, etc.
Unfortunately those solutions have led to escalating violence during attacks of ATMs, attacks against vehicles and security guards during cash transportation, and raids of cashrich sites. This situation has led to the development of a safer and more efficient solution: Intelligent Banknote Neutralisation Systems (IBNS).
IBNS, a solution tackling violence through the use of technologies rather than force, are widely adopted in Europe and increasingly used in other continents. The solution comprises cassettes, containers and safes used to store, dispense and transport cash, equipped with an intelligent system which activates a built-in staining mechanism when the container is forced.
By voiding the value of an irreversibly stained banknote, the very benefit for cash raid criminals is removed.
Staining Inks and Benefits
- Crime deterrent
- Proven effectiveness*
- Indelible
- Safe to use
- Easy to use
- Compatible with a large majority of banknote substrates— Environment friendly
Staining Ink: Resistance and Strengh
SICPA staining inks meet the stringent requirements established by national and International standards, marking all the banknotes contained in the security cases.
The characteristics for high-quality staining inks include:
- Resistance: even with powerful chemicals, the stains remain permanent and indelible and cannot be removed effectively from the stained banknotes;
- Versatility: constant R&D efforts are undertaken to ensure the formulations of staining inks are effective on conventional paper substrates, innovative substrates as well as varnished substrates;
- Traceability: possibility to include taggants in the ink solution for tracing to the Banknote source and for reimbursement purpose or to establish a link with a crime. SICPA staining inks are compatible with different unitary taggant technologies, some of them based on DNA;
- Safety: non-toxic and in full compliance with health, safety and environment legislations.
CERTIFICATION AND STAINING INKS REQUIREMENTS
Thorough test protocols have been conducted by competent and independent laboratories in various countries on SICPA staining inks verifying chemical resistance, dyeing performance and ageing phenomenon.
Some of the organisations which have proven and certified SICPA staining inks are:
- LNE (Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d’Essais), France;
- SBSC (Svensk Brand & Säkerhets Certifiering) / NFC (Nationellt Forensiskt Centrum), Sweden;
- Forensic Documents Consultants, South
The assessments confirm that SICPA staining inks are indelible and cannot be removed from banknotes without destroying the substrate or completely altering the banknotes from its original status.
*Top Picture: Stained 5€ banknote for test purpose
*Bottom Picture: Stained 5€ banknote after resistance test
CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT IN LINE WITH INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS
Since the early 1990’s, SICPA has been formulating staining inks to indelibly mark paper banknotes. Continuous R&D efforts are undertaken to ensure the effectiveness of staining inks on innovative substrates such as coated paper, polymer and hybrid solutions.
Major breakthroughs have been achieved in this area, allowing SICPA staining inks to be certified by the LNE (France) for the Euro series 2.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT COMPLIANCE
All SICPA inks are developed in line with health, safety and environment standards. The company applies strict rules in the selection of raw materials to ensure that staining inks do not contain harmful substances as stipulated in international regulations. A number of potential exposure scenarios are studied in order to define appropriate precautions and working procedures during the handling of staining inks.
A new international codification system regarding classification, labelling and packaging norms has been recently introduced to protect the whole chain of actors involved in the chemical industry. The new ink labels aim at giving complete and detailed information to those involved in handling the inks.
All R&D efforts at SICPA take into consideration the evolving environment and safety standards on a proactive basis.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The next challenge of staining ink applications will be in relation with machine recognition, with the ultimate objective to prevent stained notes from being introduced into circulation via automated systems.
The infrared response of the stained banknotes should enable banknote machines to differentiate the stained (stolen) notes from otherwise soiled notes.
*At the end of 2007, 100% of cash was transported with IBNS in Belgium and since then, no attacks of CIT operations have been recorded.
Source: “How ink staining/IBNS eradicated Cash In transit related crime in Belgium”, Freddy Pourbaix, G4S Cash Solutions Belgium, ICCOS Miami, September 2013.
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