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Chander S Jeena

15 April 2026

1 min read

IOTA to Lead OVD Workshop at Banknote Conference 2026

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.

IOTA (IHMA)

Chander S Jeena

15 April 2026

1 min read

Guatemala to Host HSP Latin America as Registration and Award Entries Open

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.

Events

Chander S Jeena

15 April 2026

4 min read

Holography Exhibitions from the 1980s to Gallery 286

Display holography has always been as much about how it is shown as how it is made. Unlike photography or print, a hologram can’t simply be hung on a wall, leaving the lighting to chance. It must be illuminated, angled and viewed under carefully controlled conditions to reconstruct the recorded wavefront. These physical constraints make the exhibiting of holography as much to do with where it is being shown as it is about what is being shown.

Holography

Chander S Jeena

15 April 2026

2 min read

BRBNMPL Seeks Partners for In-House Colour Shift Pigment Manufacturing

The Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt Ltd (BRBNMPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, has issued an amended global Expression of Interest (EOI/010 (A)/CO/2025-26) to establish a manufacturing facility for colour shift pigments (CSP) suitable for printing banknotes/other security products at its Mysure site. The previous bid was for colour shift pigment/films and thread.

Strategy

17 March 2026

2 min read

Holograms and QR Codes Drive Telangana’s Road Safety Push

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.

Authentication Strategy

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

New Colombian Passport Features Holographic Security

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.

ID & Secure Documents

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

IOTA Sets 2026 Strategy with New Board Appointments

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.

IOTA (IHMA)

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Q&T Hi-Tech Raises Standards with INTERGRAF 15374

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.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

PEAR-FINCH: A New Breakthrough in 3D Holographic Imaging

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.

Medical Imaging

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Diamond Dust is a Label’s Best Friend

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.

Brand Protection

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Demax Launches Thin Single Layer Motion for Banknotes and ID

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.

Technical Features

Francis Tuffy

17 March 2026

5 min read

A Walk Through the World’s Largest Hologram Showroom

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.

AR & VR

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Next-Gen Banknotes and Optical Innovation at the HSP EMEA Awards

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA Awards continue to be the region’s premier platform recognising excellence in banknote and ID design and innovation. This year’s awards took place on 10 February in Rabat, Morocco. In our last edition, we covered the ID awards; now we focus on the best innovation in banknotes.

Awards Free Free

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Fibarcode Secures Funding to Scale Photonic Fibre

Fibarcode, a materials science startup spun out of the University of Michigan, has secured a $1.5 million Fast-Track grant from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance its work on textile labelling for authentication, traceability and recycling.

Sustainability

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Covestro Navigates Headwinds with Strategic Shifts and Industrial Expansion

Covestro, a German materials science company, has concluded a challenging 2025 fiscal year, despite a persistently testing market environment. Volatile geopolitical dynamics, sustained weak global demand, and intense competitive pressure, coupled with the impact of the fire at the Dormagen Chempark, weighed heavily on the group’s economic development.

Companies Free Free

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

3 min read

Editorial – Changing the Picture: Women in Optical Security and Authentication

On International Women’s Day (8 March), we celebrate the female researchers, engineers, and leaders who have helped shape the optical and security printing industry.

Editorial

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Labels That Authenticate… Then Dissolve

Researchers at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed an eco-friendly smart security label that combines colour-based verification with holographic authentication. This sustainable alternative to conventional security labels can dissolve completely in water, leaving no trace.

Authentication Strategy

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

4 min read

News in Brief

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru has introduced an updated version of the 200 soles banknote, first issued in 2023 and the highest value in the current series.

News

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2026

2 min read

Crane NXT Results Highlight Rising Demand for Micro-Optic Banknote Security

Recent financial results from Crane NXT highlight growing global demand for advanced authentication technologies, especially micro-optic security features in banknotes. The company reported strong performance for the fourth quarter and full year ending 31 December 2025, reflecting wider adoption of its currency and security solutions by central banks worldwide.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2026

2 min read

The Hybrid Frontier: Examining the Security Industry’s Dual Strategies

Back in our November 2025 editorial for Holography & Optical Technology News™, we said that collaboration was becoming a smarter strategic pathway than aggressive acquisitions, which appeared to have reached a natural peak. This shift encouraged more agile partnership models, offering companies a faster route to innovation in the rapidly evolving anticounterfeiting landscape.

Editorial

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