What Note Printing Australia does

Note Printing Australia (NPA) is a high-security printer and 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, headquartered in a 40,000m² purpose-built facility at Craigieburn, Victoria. Operating since 1913 and formally constituted as an RBA subsidiary in 1988, NPA is the pioneer and sole globally dedicated producer of polymer substrate banknotes and the originator of the world's first circulating polymer banknote (the 1988 $10 Bicentennial). Its product set spans three lines: polymer banknotes for central banks across 50+ countries, Australian ePassports for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under long-term supply agreement, and secure life-event certificates for Australian state registries. Notable proprietary capabilities include CAD-based design and prepress, intaglio plate making, the first globally implemented clear top-to-bottom polymer window, and a tactile accessibility feature developed via NotaEmboss press technology. The Craigieburn precinct uniquely co-locates NPA with CCL Secure's Guardian® polymer substrate plant and Innovia Films' polymer film production, covering every stage of polymer banknote manufacturing in one site.

NPA operates an enterprise field-sales model with no agents or intermediaries, selling exclusively to central banks and government agencies under multi-year Long-Term Supply Agreements. Revenue is generated through banknote production contracts, passport manufacturing, life-event certificate production, and design/advisory services for central bank customers. The company holds ISO 9001/14001/45001 certifications, is BnEI accredited, and is governed by an RBA-approved charter that designates Australian banknote production as its 'primary function' with export banknotes and passports as secondary mandates. Customer concentration is anchored by RBA and DFAT domestically, with a diversified export book spanning central banks across Southeast Asia, Oceania, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and South America.

Recent activity through 2024-2026 evidences an active new-business pipeline: the Philippines polymer series launched January 2025, a Vanuatu LTSA was signed September 2025, a Craigieburn solar installation went live in July 2025 delivering 100% green power, the GTO Training Room opened October 2025 to expand apprenticeship intake, and BPNG's commemorative 50 Kina note won the IACA 2026 Excellence in Currency Award. With 251-500 employees and average tenure above 15 years, NPA combines mature operating scale with ongoing capital reinvestment, captured in the A$130M Print Hall overhaul completed 2008-13.

Name

Note Printing Australia

Legal name

Note Printing Australia Limited

Website

https://noteprinting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Note Printing Australia (NPA) is a high-security printer and 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia producing polymer banknotes for central banks across 50+ countries, Australian ePassports for DFAT, and secure life-event certificates for state registries, operating from a purpose-built Craigieburn facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Craigieburn

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Banknote Production Services: Production and supply of polymer banknotes to central banks and currency issuing authorities worldwide under long-term supply agreements. Services include design consultation, production, and recycling support throughout the banknote lifecycle.
2. Passport Manufacturing: Production of Australian ePassports for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under long-term supply agreement. Includes current R series passport production and development of future T series.
3. Life Event Certificates: Design and production of Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages certificates for state governments.
4. Design and Advisory Services: Expert consultation services for central banks on optimal high security document solutions, design services for future note families, banknote quality improvement programs, and staff training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Note Printing Australia (NPA) manufactures high-security polymer banknotes for the Reserve Bank of Australia and overseas central banks, produces Australian ePassports for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and prints life event certificates (births, deaths, marriages) for Australian state and territory registries. Operating from a 100,000m² secure precinct in Craigieburn, Victoria, NPA provides an end-to-end service spanning design, substrate production, printing, finishing, and destruction/recycling.

Product overview

Note Printing Australia operates as a high-security printing organization with three core product lines: Banknotes (polymer banknotes for central banks worldwide), Passports (chip-enabled ePassports for the Australian Government), and Life Event Certificates (Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages certificates). The company is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia and produces Australian banknotes as its primary function under an RBA charter, with banknote production for other issuing authorities and passport/secure document production as secondary roles. NPA offers the complete polymer banknote lifecycle from concept design through manufacturing to recycling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polymer Banknotes High-security polymer banknotes produced for the Reserve Bank of Australia and central banks/government authorities in over 25 countries, incorporating advanced anti-counterfeit features such as Clear Top-to-Bottom Windows, Tactile Embossing, DOVIDs, and hologram-based elements on Guardian™ substrate.
• Australian ePassport ICAO-compliant electronic passports produced for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, featuring a polycarbonate data page with laser-engraved personalisation, embedded contactless chip, and holographic security elements.
• Life Event Certificates Tamper-evident birth, death, and marriage certificates printed on security paper for Australian state and territory registries of births, deaths and marriages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12-15 year minimum banknote lifespan with counterfeit resistance and durability
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hall and WilcoxminorOthers · 23 October 2023Law firm engaged by NPA for contract terms review and update in line with ethical sourcing and sustainability initiatives.
• Reserve Bank of AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPA is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, operating under a charter approved by the RBA Board. The charter defines producing Australian banknotes as NPA's 'primary function', with producing banknotes for other issuing authorities and developing passports as secondary roles.
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPA works closely with DFAT in producing e-passports for Australia under a long-term supply agreement. NPA won the contract to manufacture whole Australian passports in 2004 and in 2024 entered new agreement retaining manufacturing including work on next T series.
• Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPA is an accredited member of BnEI, an international initiative focused on prevention of corruption and compliance with competition laws within the banknote industry. As an accredited member, NPA adheres to BnEI's strict Code of Ethical Business Practice.
• KPMG (FairCall Hotline)minorOthersKPMG runs the FairCall service providing NPA employees with an independently monitored, external, anonymous service to report concerns of possible fraudulent or unethical conduct. Toll-free hotline 1800 500 965.
• Ernst & YoungminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEY conducted Safety Maturity Assessment across NPA on behalf of the RBA, measuring safety culture across five areas: Strategy and Plan, People and Engagement, Assurance and Reporting, Risk and Opportunity, and Systems and Structures.
• CCL SecurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCL Secure's polymer substrate production facility is located at the Craigieburn site. CCL Secure produces Guardian® polymer substrate - one of only two sites in the world.
• Innovia FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovia Films' production plant is located right next to NPA's Craigieburn site, manufacturing the polymer film for CCL Secure's Guardian® polymer substrate.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• De La Rue: UK-headquartered, the world's largest commercial banknote printer and a major passport producer; competes head-to-head with NPA in central bank and government tenders across both banknote and identity-document categories.
• Bundesdruckerei: German government-linked national printer producing ePassports, ID documents, and banknote-related services; comparable to NPA as a sovereign-chartered security printer serving both domestic and export markets.
• IDEMIA: French identity and secure transaction specialist producing ePassports, national ID cards, and driving licences for governments globally; directly comparable to NPA on the polycarbonate ePassport and secure-document production side.
• Veridos: Joint venture between Giesecke+Devrient and Bundesdruckerei producing passports, ID cards, and border-control solutions; competes with NPA for national passport tenders worldwide.
• Giesecke+Devrient: German family-owned security printer producing banknote paper/substrate, banknotes, ePassports, and ID documents; directly comparable to NPA across currency and secure identity portfolios.
• Crane NXT (Currency): US-based supplier of currency substrates (cotton and polymer), micro-optics, and authentication features; competes with NPA/CCL Secure stack on substrate supply and increasingly on note series execution.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Mint (Royal Mint Ltd): UK sovereign-owned producer of coins and precious-metal products that has expanded into currency-related services; provides sovereign-chartered comparator dynamics to NPA's RBA ownership, though focused on coinage rather than polymer banknotes.
• HID Global (Assa Abloy): US-headquartered provider of secure identity solutions including ePassport chips, government ID credentials, and authentication; adjacent to NPA's ePassport production through chip supply and broader identity-document system integration.

Others

• CCL Secure: Australia-based producer of Guardian® polymer banknote substrate operating from NPA's Craigieburn precinct; co-located upstream supplier (one of only two global Guardian substrate producers) and partner, not a competitor in finished-banknote production.
• SICPA: Swiss-headquartered supplier of security inks, taggants, and authentication features used in banknotes and identity documents globally; complements NPA's printing operations through shared end-customers rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/155009941204691

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Note Printing Australia