Yekaterinburg, 2017

Yekaterinburg, 2017

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About 250 participants representing more than 100 companies from 20 countries took part in the 7th International Conference on Security Technologies and Solutions Watermark Conference-2017. 

The conference traditionally takes place every two years in different cities of Russia. This time the unofficial capital of the Urals was chosen as its venue.

From 4 to 6 July in Hyatt Regency Yekaterinburg Hotel, hundreds of industry professionals – representatives of national banks, security industry, public services – demonstrated the latest achievements in the field of production of security products, thereby consolidating the status of Watermark Conference as one of the most prestigious international business venues for business communications.

The conference programme 2017

Session 1. Main trends in the development of security technologies industry

Topic 1: Welcome address to the particiants of the Watermark Conference-2017
Topic 2: Cash circulation – the modern reality and tomorrow
Topic 3: Cash cycle optimisation is the key to a successful banknote industry
Topic 4: Efficient Security – How innovative technology supports the high-security printing industry

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Session 2. Banknotes

Topic 1: New conceptual solution for durable banknotes
Topic 2: Combining Processes and Technologies – The Way Forward in Banknote Printing
Topic 3: Global trends: payments landscape and cash in circulation
Topic 4: Full Color UV Images
Topic 5: Mobile Readable Banknote Security Feature

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Session 3. ID documents

Topic 1: Combatting Counterfeit Identities: Securing the Nation with Trusted Identities and Secure Transactions
Topic 2: ID document and physical security
Topic 3: Increasing beauty of polycarbonate documents through enhancing their protection
Topic 4: The perfect passport

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Session 4. Technologies of information security

Topic 1: Modern Electronic Document – more than ID
Topic 2: Authenticity identification of goods in Track&Trace system for security printing products
Topic 3: Watermarks on digits – documents security in blockchain environment
Topic 4: Blockchain. Opening new possibilities
Topic 5: Digital blockchain-based features of anti-counterfeiting security are a promising way of broadening the service range of a modern company

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Session 5. Holograms. Security features

Topic 1: Holograms for Currency: State of the Industry and Latest Trends
Topic 2: From iris surface-relief to volume-phase photopolymer hologram: the evolution of holographic optical elements in security printing
Topic 3: Evolutions of the DID™ technology or how to be one step ahead counterfeiters
Topic 4: Secure printing technologies of IQDEMY Holding

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Session 6. Security features

Topic 1: Durasafe – the platform for secure and durable banknotes
Topic 2: Tax stamps of Republic of Belarus: production, prospects and innovations
Topic 3: Counterfeited banknotes and forms of documents submitted to investigation to the forensic divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in 2016
Topic 4: Devices and technologies for laser personalization of high security ID documents
Topic 5: Advanced Technology for the Examination of Questioned Documents

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Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2017

Sochi, 2015

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The Sixth International Scientific and Practical Conference on Security Printing Watermark Conference-2015 got the work done in Sochi. It is the only security printing conference held on the territory of Russia every two years, in different cities of Russia. This year Watermark Conference was held on 22-24 September on the Black Sea coast. 

More than 300 delegates from 27 countries participated in the conference. Together with the conference, there was an exhibition, where leading world and Russian companies presented their developments in the field of security of documents. Watermark Conference is held for professionals, however the topics that are discussed there are familiar to everyone: banknotes, passports, identification documents, plastic cards and technologies for their protection. 

The Experts from the Bank of Russia, national banks of near and far abroad, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the Russian Ministry of Finance, the Federal Migration Service of Russia, Forensic Center of Interior Ministry of Russia, banknote and printing factories holographic companies and other manufacturers of security printing products from around the world attended the conference. 

The first session began with a presentation by Alexander Yurov, Director of the Cash Handling Department of Bank of Russia, who told about the situation with cash and non-cash payments in Russia and how the exchange rate impacted the purchasing power of citizens. Arkady Trachuk, Director General of Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Goznak”, made a presentation about serious changes in the field of security printing. According to his words, “the security printing itself as an industry has ceased to be such. It comes into the field of secure environment where the document is an important carrier of information, but it is included into a complex environment”. Many documents are translated into digital formats, additional databases appear. There are also changes with payment systems, and sometimes cash money does not play an important role anymore. Participants of the conference called this presentation fundamental not only for this certain conference, but also for the development of security printing market as a whole. 

Current market trends affected the program of Watermark Conference-2015. A new session dedicated to brand protection was formed. It included presentations about necessity and possible ways of protection of the most frequently counterfeited products (pharmaceutical products, alcohol and clothing) and presentations about tracking and verification of goods marked with special labels. The session aroused great interest among conference delegates. Other sessions of the two-day conference were devoted to the latest developments of Russian and foreign companies in sphere of protection of banknotes and documents, to equipment of determination of authenticity of security products and to other topics. For the first time in the history of Watermark Conference a special session, devoted to modern methods of protection and innovative printing technologies for postage stamps in member countries of the Universal Postal Union, was held in Sochi. 

On September 24, the Awarding Ceremony of WATERMARK BANKNOTE AWARDS was held in the framework of Watermark Conference-2015. This is the only competition in Russia for circulating banknotes of countries all over the world, put into circulation in the period from 2013 to 2015. Developments were evaluated in three categories, and names of winners were announced at the Ceremony. 

In the category of “Modifications of security threads, stripes or patches with optical and kinetic effects” experts awarded victory to the research work of Giesecke & Devrient, called RollingStar®LEAD, which consists of a wide laminated stripe that combines elements of RollingStar (micromirrors) and holographic elements. 

The winner of the category of “Modern modifications of optically variable printed features” became a technology Sicpaprotect®Dew, a protective coating for banknotes created by SICPA. 

The winner of WATERMARK BANKNOTE AWARDS in the category of “Substrate modifications for banknotes” became the Trans-Dniester Republican bank for the issuing of composite coins made by “Plamet” technology. Goznak has developed the “Plamet” technology, and coins made of composite materials in denominations of 1, 3, 5 and 10 rubles, that combine the best features of banknotes and coins, nowadays have no analogues in the world.

Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2015


St. Petersburg, 2013

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The Fifth International Security Printing Conference – Watermark Conference-2013 – took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 25-27 June 2013.

 

More than 330 delegates from 130 companies and 28 countries participated in the conference. 

The Watermark Conference is the only security printing conference held on the territory of Russia every two years. 

For the venue of the Watermark Conference we traditionally choose the most interesting Russian cities. The first conference was in St. Petersburg, and then the delegates were welcomed in Suzdal, Kazan and Rostov-on-Don. By popular requests of the delegates the fifth conference was held in St. Petersburg again. 

The organizer of the conference is the Russian publishing house – Water Mark issuing the magazine about security products – “Vodyanoy Znak” (and its English Digest Watermark) and the magazine about coins and medals “Gold Chervonets”. Water Mark Ltd. is also the organizer of the international conference on commemorative coins COINS and the international Coin Constellation Contest held annually for mints and coin distributors from all over the world. 

The Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Goznak”, Russia, became the General Sponsor of the Fifth Watermark Conference. The Honourable Sponsors were KBA-NotaSys and SICPA from Switzerland. The Silver Sponsor was Atlas-kard, Russia. Among the Sponsors: HoloGrate (Russia), Krypten (Russia), Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga – Security Papers (Russia), Gleitsmann Security Inks (Germany), Double V (Russia), Leonhard KURZ (Germany), OVD Kinegram (Switzerland), ARCONVERT (Italy). 

The media partners of the conference were: the Watermark Magazine, the Analytical Banking Magazine, InterCrim-press Publishing and Printing House, the Banks and Business World Magazine, Carte Blanche Magazine, PLUS Journal, the National Banking Journal, Currency News. 

Among the topics of the working sessions were the following: the development of security printing and banknotes manufacture industry; the development of banknote security complex; ID-documents and plastic cards; fighting counterfeiting and security features; security printing equipment; devices for banknote counting, packaging, and authentification. 

The awarding ceremony of Watermark Banknote Awards was organized for the first time. It is the only contest of circulating banknotes in Russia. 

The expert council of the Awards has evaluated the banknotes issued between 2011 and 2013 in 3 nominations: The Best New Currency Series, Harmony and Design showing the national character. The National Bank of Angola became the winner of the nomination The Best New Currency Series. The award for the best design showing the national character was given to the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus. Banque du Liban won in the nomination Harmony. 

The delegates of the conference marked the information richness and distinct thematic structure of the 5th Watermark Conference. Each presentation not only covered the topic announced but also logically continued the presentations made before building a comprehensive information picture. 

At the first session Arkady Trachuk, Director General of Goznak, told about the history of Goznak’s development through the prism of security features development. His presentation was called «From watermark to digital signature (to mark the 195th anniversary of Goznak)». On this occasion Goznak issued a commemorative banknote demonstrating the latest developments in security printing industry. This banknote was displayed at the exhibition organized within the conference. At Goznak’s booth one could see the plastic cards produced by the company, including the universal electronic card. 

Goznak also represented its “non-printing” products, particularly the awarding medals of XXVII World University Summer Games (Kazan, July 2013) minted by the St. Petersburg Mint. The participants of the Watermark Conference could also buy Olympic badges “Sochi-2014”. 

There were 15 booths at the exhibition of the 5th Watermark Conference. 

Not only Goznak but also the following companies showed their developments at the booths: KBA-NotaSys (Switzerland); SICPA (Switzerland); HoloGrate (Russia); Double V (Russia) and its partners – ARCONVERT (Italy), Leonhard KURZ (Germany) and OVD Kinegram (Switzerland); Krypten (Russia); Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga – Security Papers (Russia); Gleitsmann Security Inks (Germany); Petrel (France); Optaglio Group (Czech Republic); Kugler-Womako (Germany); Cryptotech (Republic of Belarus); ART-Line Projekt (Germany) and Melzer Maschinenbau (Germany). The media partners and Water Mark Publishing House had their own booths at the exhibition. 

Traditionally the Watermark Conference is notable for both rich working programme and cultural one. Many participants liked the place of the 5th Watermark Conference and Welcome Cocktail in the Summer Garden as well as the world famous Hermitage Museum and Peter and Paul Fortress where the delegates had a wonderful Gala Dinner on the occasion of the conference closing and the 195th anniversary of Goznak.

Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2013


Rostov-on-Don, 2011

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The Fourth International Scientific and Practical Conference on Security Printing Watermark Conference-2011 took place on June 21 – 23, 2011 in Rostov-on-Don (Russia).

More than 260 delegates fro 23 countries took part in the conference: representatives of national banks of different states, Russian regional banks, banknote factories, printing and minting works, printing and holographic companies; also officials from the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Forensic Science Institute of Federal Security Service of Russia, the Federal Tax Inspectorate of Russia, the Federal Migratory Service of Russia, the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia, the Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulations, the Federal Agency for State Property Management, the Central Election Commission of Russia and other governmental organizations. 

Among the participants of Watermark Conference-2011: Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, Banknote Printing and Minting Works of the National Bank of Ukraine, National Bank of Austria, National Bank of Kyrgyz Republic, National Bank of Ukraine, National Bank of Belarus, AK BARS Bank (Russia), Sberbank of Russia, Banking Innovation Systems(Russia), Regula (Belarus and Latvia), SP Holography (Ukraine), Trans-Dniester Republican Bank, Russian Association of Motor Insurers, Cryptotech (Belarus), Belarusian Printing House, Minsk Print Factory of Goznak (Belarus), Central Bank of the Netherlands, Forensic Science Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, ArjoWiggins Security (Франция), ART-Line Projekt (Германия), Atlantic Zeiser (Германия), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Филиппины), Bayer MaterialScience (Германия), Centro Grafico (Италия), Currency Research (США) and many others. 

The conference was held with the support of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the Association of Regional Banks of Russia. The Russian Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Goznak” traditionally became the general sponsor of Watermark Conference-2011. 

The honored sponsors are KBA-NotaSys (Switzerland) and SICPA (Switzerland). 

The following nine companies have also sponsored the event: Double-V Group of Companies (Russia), EAST Industry Engineering Company (Russia), HoloGrate (Russia), Krypten (Russia), Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga-Security Papers (Russia), Gleitsmann Security Inks (Germany), Leonhard KURZ (Germany), OVD Kinegram (Switzerland), SAP (Russia). 

More than 30 presentations were made during both days of the conference in Don-Plaza Hotel. The first session was devoted to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Orlov, the inventor of the Orlov printing. However the presentations were mainly about not the history but modern development of the banknote printing industry. The highest interest was caused by the presentation by Goznak general director Arkadiy Trachuk who spoke about trends of Printed security in the digital age. Alexander Yurov, Director of Cash Handling Department of Bank of Russia, in his presentation “Organization of anti-counterfeiting work in the Bank of Russia“ cited the statistic data: «At year-end 2010 there were 128 700 counterfeit banknotes of Bank of Russia revealed, which is by 17% less comparing to the data of year 2009. In the first quarter of 2011 there were 22795 counterfeit banknotes revealed which is by 38% less than the comparable index in 2010». 

Next there were presentations about design and strategy of banknote security system, fighting counterfeiting. One of the sessions was dedicated to ID-documents and plastic cards. The speakers also represented modern secure technologies, equipment and methods of secured products identification. 

Many companies demonstrated their latest developments at Watermark Conference. For instance, the representative of the Swiss company OVD KINEGRAM made a presentation about the development of the next generation – KINEGRAM®RFID. Bayer MaterialScience showed the latest version of Bayfol®HX photopolymer film, which allows to get a full color volume hologram. Michal Forejt from Optaglio told about the last child in OVMesh™ family – Kristall™ protective element, which has a transparent layer and is installed into the card structure of an ID-document. 

Each delegate was especially all ears while listening to what’s of most personal interest. However in general the references about the held conference were unanimously positive. «We took part in Watermark Conference for the first time and we are very glad about it – said Michal Forejt. – The conference was very successful for us. We will surely participate in the next Watermark”. «It was a perfect conference which brought together the companies playing huge roles at the market of security products. Thus we had very useful and interesting negotiations», – shared his opinion Ian Smith from the German company Leonhard KURZ. «My expectations were realized, – said Igor Tverdokhleb, the expert of the company «SP Holography», – there were a good number of useful presentations and expositions». 

Sixteen companies took part in the exhibition. The organizers said that those wishing to take part in the conference and exhibition in particular were more than the planned number. However the confidentiality of the conference topic (secured products) and the previously declared number of delegate packages obliged organizers to stop the acceptance of applications for participation a month before the conference. 

Rostov-on-Don – the venue of the Watermark Conference-2011 – had no small part in its success. The city with an interesting history, diverse architecture and numerous green parks excited the participants of the conference who visited the capital of Rostov region and the city of Azov. «The conference became a nice platform for information exchange and discussions, – said Vladimir Finogenov from the Bank of Russia, – and Rostov-on-Don is a perfect meeting place. Watermark Conference gives Russian and foreign delegates a great opportunity to see the country, its most diverse cities». 

It is necessary to underline that Watermark Conference is the only conference on security printing in Russia. This also generates a great interest shown by the companies from all over the world. Many foreign companies hope to strengthen the relations with the Russian companies and star their activity in the Russian market. 

The organizer of the conference is the Russian publishing house – Water Mark issuing the magazine about security products – “Vodyanoy Znak” (and its English Digest Watermark) and the magazine about coins and medals “Gold Chervonets”. Water Mark Ltd. is also the organizer of the international conference on commemorative coins COINS and the international Coin Constellation Contest held annually for mints and coin distributors from all over the world. 

The media partners of the Fourth International Security Printing Conference “Watermark Conference-2011” were the Russian and foreign specialized publications: Vodyanoy Znak Magazine, Banking Technologies Magazine, Currency News PLUS Magazine, Carte Blanche Magazine, and the publishing house “InterCrim-press”.


 

Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2011

Kazan, 2009

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According to the participants’ estimates, the Third Watermark Conference, which took place on 23-25 June in Kazan is the most successful over its history. The highly topical conference programme blended well with ample opportunities for rest and the excellent infrastructure of the Korston hotel complex which specializes in holding large-scale forums made the conference participants’ stay in Kazan maximally comfortable. 

236 participants from 25 countries arrived in Kazan, in spite of the world financial crisis, which made many companies to change their plans for conference-exhibition activities. 

For the third time Goznak became the General Sponsor of the Watermark Conference. The Honourable Sponsors were also traditional: KBA-GIORI and SICPA (both companies from Switzerland) supported the first conference in St. Petersburg and the second in Suzdal. Among the conference’ sponsors were the leading enterprises in the security printing industry: Gleitsmann Security Inks (Germany), Drent Goebel (the Netherlands), Petrel (France), Leonhard KURZ (Germany), OVD Kinegram (Switzerland), Double V (Russia), Krypten, HoloGrate (Russia), EAST Industry Engineering Company (Russia), Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga-Security Papers (Russia). 

This time there was the opportunity to extend the exhibition area and in the exhibition, which accompanied the conference, except the sponsors the following companies took part: Lodvila (Lithuania), Madras Security Printers (India) and The Department of State Marks of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus. 

During two days of the conference sessions the participants made 24 presentations, which discussed all the issues of present interest for the industry. These are the modern technologies for banknote production; fighting counterfeiting and authentication technologies; ID-documents and RFID; equipment, materials and security technologies; instrumental quality control and identification of security products. 

But each conference (especially Watermark Conference) consists not only of presentations. The conference programme includes also meetings, communication at the exhibition booths and new contacts. All these were in Kazan. 

Besides there was an intensive cultural programme – the welcome cocktail reception in the Kazan city hall (former Noble Assembly) and the gala dinner in one of the best restaurants in Kazan. And certainly during the tour of Kazan all the participants had an opportunity to visit the well-known Kremlin of Kazan.

Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2009

Suzdal, 2007

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The Second conference on security printing took place from 27 till 29 of June in Suzdal (Russia). 

239 delegates from more than twenty countries attended the conference. 

The General sponsor of the conference – Goznak (Russia), the Hounarable sponsors – SICPA and KBA-GIORI. 

The sponsors of the conference – Drent Goebel, Gleitsmann Security Inks, OpSec Security, Группа Group of companies “Double V”, Leonhard KURZ, OVD Kinegram, First Print Yard, Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga – Security Papers, ROSAN and Krypten. 

The exhibition of the developments of the participating companies was organized during the conference.

Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2007

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St. Petersburg, 2005

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“Traditions are not born, they are created”, – has declared, George Luntovsky, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, opening the first International Watermark Security Printing Conference. Also has expressed his hope to hold such meetings on the regular basis. Today, when the Watermark conference-2005 has already become a history, we can positively state for sure that we laid the foundation of the tradition to hold such conferences in Russia that will unit the manufacturers and the customers of security products. 

For three days the Baltic star hotel, that is situated on the territory of the National Palace of Congresses at Strelna (the suburb of Saint Petersburg), hosted the conference. The work was in full swing. In a conference hall one plenary session replaced another, on exhibition stands were crowded with lots of people, the details of the future contracts were discussed in the rooms for negotiations, and participants struck up an acquaintances during coffee – breaks. 

The Watermark conference has collected about two hundred visitors from Russia, the Republics of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, the Great Britain, Germany, the republic of South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia and other countries. The representatives of the Central Banks, the largest companies – manufacturers of protected production were among the participats. In fact that Watermark conference is focused first of all towards the Russian market and the markets of the countries CIS, organizers tried to invite the leading specialists worldwide to participate in it. 

The concept every year all becomes wider than “protected production” – today protection require not only traditional banknotes, documents, securities, but many goods of daily use. This tendency has found reflection in subjects of reports of the conference: on plenary sessions were discussed also new technologies of protection of banknotes, and prospects of development of electronic documents, and ways of struggle against falsification of products, and opportunities for protection of brands. 

Except for reports, meetings and negotiations, participants Watermark conference were waited with rather sated cultural program – in fact conference passed in one of the most beautiful cities of the world, moreover during the white nights … 

A welcome cocktail in Konstantin’s Palace with the subsequent walk on palace park and coast of gulf of Finland; a trip along the rivers and channels – all over again on a gulf from Konstantin’s mooring of a palace up to a mooring on the English quay, and then on the rivers and channels of Petersburg; excursion to Petrodvorets, a supper in the Throne hall, start – specially for participants Watermark conference! – well-known Peterhof fountains… 

During a supper rewarding sponsors and partners of conference has taken place – specially for this purpose kilogram silver commemorative medals have been rapped out. 

Last action Watermark conference became excursion on Petersburg “Goznak” enterprises – a paper-mill and the Mint.

Photo-report of Watermark Conference - 2005