Abstract: There is described a printing press adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate, in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a substrate feeding device for feeding the substrate to be treated, at least a printing unit designed to print a first side and/or a second side of the substrate and a delivery unit for receiving the treated substrate. The printing press in the conveying path for the substrate between the feeding device and the delivery unit further comprises an in-line casting device adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of the second side of the substrate and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure in the layer of material acting as optical medium, wherein the printing unit comprises a first printing group comprising a printing cylinder and being adapted to print at least one printed pattern on the first or second side of the substrate in register with the micro-optical structure.

Abstract: There is described a printing press (100***; 100****) adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) designed to print a first side (I) and/or a second side (II) of the substrate (S). The printing press (100***; 100****) further comprises an in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of a first side (I, II) of the substrate (S) and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure (L) in the layer of material acting as optical medium.

Abstract: There is described a method of manufacturing a security article, said method comprising the steps of: introducing into a printing device a discrete sheet of transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose; disposing an opacification layer on at least a portion of at least one surface of said film by a first printing step; and disposing printed information on at least a portion of said opacification layer by a second printing step wherein said second printing step is an offset printing step.

Abstract: There is described the use of a transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose in the manufacture of a security article exhibiting printed information, wherein said transparent film is the material on which printed information and optionally one or more other security feature(s) is disposed, and wherein said transparent film exhibits one or more, and preferably all, of the following properties: haze of no more than 10%, preferably no more than 5%, preferably no more than 4%, preferably no more than 2.5%; birefringence of from about 400 to about 800 nm; a surface energy of at least about 38 dynes, preferably at least about 40 dynes, preferably at least about 42 dynes, and preferably no more than from about 60 dynes; and a water vapour permeability in the range of from about 20 to about 40, preferably from about 25 to about 35, preferably from about 28 to about 32 g/m2/24 hours at 25° C.

Abstract: There is described a method of manufacturing a security article, said method comprising the steps of: introducing into an offset printing device a transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose; disposing an opacification layer on at least a portion of at least one surface of said film by a first offset printing step; and disposing printed information on at least a portion of said opacification layer by a second offset printing step.

Abstract: There is described a method of manufacturing a security article, said method comprising the steps of: introducing into an offset printing device a transparent film comprising a non-fibrous substrate layer of regenerated cellulose; and disposing printed information on at least a portion of said transparent film by an offset printing step, wherein said transparent film introduced into said offset printing device further comprises an ink-receptive layer on at least one surface of said substrate layer.

Abstract: There is described a sheet-fed stamping press (10*) comprising a foil application unit (2*) designed to allow transfer or lamination of foil material onto successive sheets (S), which foil material is fed to the foil application unit (2*) in the form of a foil carrier (FC) supplied by means of a foil feeding system (3). The foil application unit (2*) comprises a stamping cylinder (21) at least one circumferential stamping section (210) provided on a circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and comprising successive stamping segments (211 *; 211 **) distributed one after the other about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21), the stamping cylinder (21) also acting as sheet-transporting cylinder and comprising multiple sheet holding units (21a) distributed about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and designed to hold successive sheets (S) against the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21).

Abstract: There is described a security element (EL) or document (BN), such as a banknote, comprising (i) a substrate (S) with first and second sides (I, II) and exhibiting at least one window region (W) made of a substantially transparent material, (ii) a micro-optical structure (OP) provided on the first side (I) of the substrate (S) and extending over at least a part of the window region (W), and (iii) a printed feature (P1-P3) printed on the second side (II) of the substrate (S) over at least a part of the window region (W), the printed feature (P1-P3) being provided in register with the micro-optical structure (OP) to produce an optically-variable effect (EF) upon looking at the printed feature (P1-P3) from the first side (I) of the substrate (S) through the micro-optical structure (OP) and the window region (W).

Abstract: There is described a sheet-fed printing press (1000; 1000*) comprising at least two printing units (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) located one after the other, each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) being adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets (S) and including two printing cylinders (105, 106) cooperating with one an other and forming a printing nip, the two printing cylinders (105, 106) each collecting ink patterns from at least two associated plate cylinders (15A, 15B, 16A, 16B) wherein the two printing cylinders (105, 106) are located one above the other such that the sheets (S) travel laterally through each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) from a first lateral side (201 a; 201 a*) located upstream of the printing nip to a second lateral side (201 b; 201 b*) located downstream of the printing nip, wherein a number of at least two sheet transfer elements (110, 120, 95) is provided downstream of the printing nip of a first one (200.1; 200.

Abstract: There is described a printed security element (10; 10*; 10**) comprising a rainbow feature (15; 15*; 15**) exhibiting, at least in part, a gradual transition from a first colour (C1) to a second colour (C2) distinct from the first colour (C1), wherein the rainbow feature (15; 15*; 15**) extends over a colour-gradient area (A) of the printed security element (10; 10*; 10**) where first and second printed patterns (P1, P2) are partly superimposed or juxtaposed, each of the first and second printed patterns (P1, P2) comprising a first, respectively second set of linear or curvilinear elements (20, 30; 20*, 30*), the first and second printed patterns (P1, P2) being printed in register one with the other by means of two distinct printing plates (PP1, PP2) so that the first and second sets of linear or curvilinear elements (20, 30; 20*, 30*) are partly superimposed or juxtaposed in the colour-gradient area (A) and thereby generate the rainbow feature (15; 15*; 15**), the first printed pattern (P1) exhibiting the fi

Abstract: There is described a sheet-fed stamping press (10*) comprising a foil application unit (2*) designed to allow transfer or lamination of foil material onto successive sheets (S), which foil material is fed to the foil application unit (2*) in the form of a foil carrier (FC) supplied by means of a foil feeding system (3). The foil application unit (2*) comprises a stamping cylinder (21) with at least one circumferential stamping section (210) provided on a circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and comprising successive stamping segments (211*; 211**) distributed one after the other about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21), the stamping cylinder (21) also acting as sheet-transporting cylinder and comprising multiple sheet holding units (21a) distributed about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and designed to hold successive sheets (S) against the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21).

Abstract: An inking system for inking an intaglio printing cylinder of an intaglio printing press is designed to perform a selective transfer of ink to one or more intaglio printing mediums by way of a selective inking cylinder provided in at least one device. The selective inking cylinder carries a selective inking plate that receives ink supplied by an associated inking unit. The selective inking plate comprises a coating that is selectively structured to exhibit ink-repellent portions and perform selective transfer of ink at locations corresponding to engraved areas of the one or more intaglio printing mediums that are to be inked with the ink supplied by the associated inking unit. The selective transfer of ink is performed indirectly from the selective inking cylinder to the one or more intaglio printing mediums via an ink collecting cylinder and/or via a chablon cylinder carrying a chablon plate.

Abstract: There is described a method of creating a transparent polymer window (W) with a field of lenses (L) in a security paper substrate (1), the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a security paper substrate (1), (ii) forming an opening (10) into the security paper substrate (1), (iii) laminating a transparent film (5; 5*) onto a first side (I) of the security paper substrate (1) in such a way as to close the opening (10) at one end, and (iv) filling the opening (10) with transparent polymer material (2). In one embodiment, the transparent film (5) comprises a field of lenses (L) and is laminated onto the first side (I) of the security paper substrate (1) in such a way as to form lenses (L) on the first side (I) of the security paper substrate (1) in register with the opening (10).

Abstract: There is described an installation (01; 02) for recycling wiping solution of one or more intaglio printing presses (10) comprising a flocculation tank (12) for inducing flocculation of ink constituents contained in waste solution coming from the one or more intaglio printing presses (10), a processing tank (14) for pre-treating the waste solution for subsequent filtering, and a filtering unit (15), preferably a filter press unit, for filtering the waste solution coming from the processing tank (14) and producing recycled solution at an output of the filtering unit (15), which recycled solution is recycled to produce fresh wiping solution for use by the one or more intaglio printing presses (10). According to one embodiment, the installation (01) further comprises a centrifugation unit (13) for separating the waste solution coming from the flocculation tank (12) by centrifugation into precipitate and centrifuged supernatant, which centrifuged supernatant is fed to the processing tank (14).

Abstract: There is described a process of measuring print-to-print register of a multicolour print (A-D) provided in an effective printed area (EPA) of the surface of printed material, which multicolour print (A-D) is formed on the printed material by means of one or more printing presses and includes at least a first pattern (A) and a second pattern (B) distinguishable from the first pattern (A), the effective printed area (EPA) being provided with a matrix arrangement of individual imprints (P) which are each provided with the multicolour print (A-D) and are repeated over the surface of the effective printed area (EPA) along a pattern of rows and columns.

Abstract: There is described a method of checking producibility of a composite security design of a security document, in particular of a composite banknote design, on a line of production equipment, the composite security design being the product of a combination of multiple sets of design features that are to be provided on a substrate as a result of a plurality of successive production operations carried out by means of the line of production equipment.

Abstract: There is described a color control pattern (CP) for the optical measurement of colors printed on a sheet or web substrate (S) by means of a multicolor printing press, especially by means of a multicolor security printing press, which substrate (S) exhibits an effective printed region (EF) having a multicolor printed image comprising a plurality of juxtaposed colored areas (A-H) printed with a corresponding plurality of printing inks of different colors, wherein the color control pattern (CP) is located in a margin portion (Im) of the substrate (S) next to the effective printed region (EF). The color control pattern (CP) comprises one or more color control strips (a-d) extending transversely to a direction of transport (T) of the substrate (S), each color control strip (a-d) comprising a plurality of distinct color control fields (CF, CFA to CFH) consisting of printed fields of each relevant printing ink that is printed in the effective printed region (EF).

Abstract: There is described a combined printing press (10) for the production of security documents, in particular banknotes, comprising a screen printing group (3) and a numbering group (4) adapted to process printed substrates in the form of individual sheets or successive portions of a continuous web. The screen printing group (3) is located upstream of the numbering group (4) and comprises at least one screen printing unit (32-33) designed to print a pattern of optically-variable ink, which optically-variable ink contains flakes that can be oriented by means of a magnetic field. The screen printing group further comprises a magnetic unit (36) located downstream of the screen printing unit (32-33), which magnetic unit (36) is designed to magnetically induce an optically-variable effect in the pattern of optically-variable ink applied by the screen printing unit (32-33) prior to drying/curing of the optically-variable ink.

Abstract: There is described an intaglio printing press comprising (i) a stationary machine frame (01) supporting an intaglio printing cylinder (07) and an impression cylinder (06) contacting the intaglio printing cylinder (07), (ii) an inking system (12, 13, 16) for inking the intaglio printing cylinder (07), which inking system (12, 13, 16) comprises an ink-collecting cylinder (12) designed to contact the intaglio printing cylinder (07) and at least one inking device (13, 16) for supplying ink to said ink-collecting cylinder (12), and (iii) at least a first mobile carriage (11) supporting the ink-collecting cylinder (12), which first mobile carriage (11) is adapted to be moved with respect to the stationary machine frame (01) between a working position where the ink-collecting cylinder (12) contacts the intaglio printing cylinder (07) and a retracted position where the ink-collecting cylinder (12) is retracted away from the intaglio printing cylinder (07).

Abstract: There is described a method of creating a transparent window (W*) in a security, especially paper, substrate (1) for security printing applications, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a security substrate (1), (ii) forming an opening (10*) into and through the security substrate (1), and (iii) filling the opening (10*) with transparent material (2) thereby forming the transparent window (W*). The filling of the opening (10*) with the transparent material (2) is carried out in a state where the opening (10*) is open on both sides of the security substrate (1) and extends through the security substrate (1), the filling of the opening (10*) including the application of a first side (I) of the security substrate (1) against a supporting surface (21A) of a supporting member (20?, 21) in such a way as to block one side of the opening (10*), while the transparent material (2) is applied inside the opening (10*) from the other side (II) of the security substrate (1).