Victoria-based Securency Pty Ltd has won the prestigious AusIndustry Emerging Exporter Award at the 2000 Australian
Export Awards in Sydney.
Securency is recognised as the world leader in polymer substrate technology. It supplies a range of unique substrates
which are used for printing banknotes and other security documents.
A record 67 finalists were selected for the awards including Securency, Austal Ships, Caterpillar Elphinstone, BRL Hardy
and CEA Technologies, who are all customers of the Commonwealth Government's business unit, AusIndustry and receive
assistance for innovative R projects.
Securency was formed in 1996 as a joint venture between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and UCB Films, a Belgian
multi-national film, chemical and pharmaceutical company.
The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin said the Commonwealth Government, through
AusIndustry, was proud to support awards events like the 2000 Australian Export Awards which recognised innovation and
commitment to international marketplace development.
"Australia has a strong focus on innovation but the benefits for the national economy come when we commercialise our R efforts and export it to the world.
"In conjunction with the RBA, UCB and Note Printing Australia (NPA), Securency has developed a range of polymer
substrates for security applications. These enable central banks and other government authorities involved in issuing
banknotes and other security products to address the challenges they are continually facing, especially the increasing
threat of counterfeiting.
"One of the main reasons for introducing the polymer notes was to combat the counterfeiting issue. The clear window
cannot be scanned or copied using reprographic equipment making the production of counterfeit money more difficult and
time consuming," Senator Minchin said
Several countries are in the process of planning for the introduction of polymer notes, and Securency has participated
in many successful printing and processing trials around the world.
"Its vast experience enables it to offer a wide variety of services not available through other suppliers", Senator
Minchin said.
Securency reinvests almost 10 per cent of its turnover back into research and development, which it considers is
critical to its ongoing success.
The AusIndustry Emerging Exporter Award recognises outstanding export achievement by an enterprise in an industry sector
which has been exporting goods and services for three years less.
Through its Customer Service Managers network across Australia, AusIndustry delivers around 28 products and services
with a total value of around $1.8 billion to about 18,300 customers annually.
Further information on AusIndustry products and services can be obtained by visiting the website at
www.ausindustry.gov.au
To make further enquiries
click on www.australia.org.nz.