Intaglio printing remains the key security element in banknote printing until today, providing the characteristic feel and tactility recognized by the public. Traditionally, platemaking for this very specific process was done by an electroforming process that involved multiple production steps and manual retouching. We have developed a machine to manufacture these printing plates by direct laser engraving into a metallic substrate. The first machine has recently been put into live banknote production at our premises. We describe the changeover to this novel technology and give a comparison of our findings on print-quality, plate stability and the workflow with conventional platemaking. Results include -Mechanical analysis of the new plate material before and after printing, -Measurements of plate elongation during the printing -Investigations on print-quality We conclude with actual data on engraving time and platemaking lead-times and an overview of the design possibilities using this new approach.
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