Highlink™
Oberthur Fiduciaire (France)
Type: Durable banknote substrate — latex-reinforced 100% cotton paper with enhanced internal cohesion
Overview
Highlink™ is a patented durable banknote paper developed by VHP Security Paper, the banknote paper mill of Oberthur Fiduciaire, based in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. It is a 100% cotton substrate that achieves significantly enhanced mechanical strength and soiling resistance through a novel bulk-integrated latex technology, without altering the fundamental cotton fibre composition that underpins the security feature compatibility and public acceptance of conventional banknote paper. Highlink™ is a crumpling-resistant and highly cohesive banknote fibrous substrate comprising a bulk-integrated flocculated latex, with a +70% longevity index in comparison to notes printed on standard banknote paper.
Technology & Construction
The defining innovation of Highlink™ is the point and method of durability intervention. Rather than applying a surface treatment or laminate after the paper is formed — as is the case with varnish-based solutions or composite technologies such as EverFit® — Highlink™ introduces its reinforcing agent during the papermaking process itself. A flocculated latex solution is added to the substrate as the paper begins to form. The latex catalyses the bonding process and acts as a structural adhesive within the fibre matrix, increasing cohesion and strengthening the bonds between the cotton fibres throughout the full depth of the paper. The result is a 100% cotton paper with a highly durable latex fibre-bonded structure that has measurably greater mechanical strength than standard cotton paper.
Comparative laboratory data published by VHP demonstrates the performance gains across key durability parameters:
| Parameter | Standard Cotton PVOH Paper | Highlink™ Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Strength (% min) | 25 | 40 |
| Bendtsen Porosity (ml/min max.) | 25 | 15 |
| Bendtsen Porosity after 8× crumpling (ml/min max.) | 150 | 70 |
| Scott Bond internal cohesion (J/m² min) | 1,000 | 1,700 |
These improvements translate directly into circulation performance: lower porosity means less dirt and moisture penetration; higher wet strength means the note retains integrity when wet; and higher Scott bond strength is the critical metric for delamination resistance.
Delamination Resistance
A specific and significant benefit of Highlink™ is its resistance to delamination — a failure mode particularly relevant to two-ply cotton banknote paper constructions. Banknote paper is formed as two layers of pulp laid back-to-back, with the security thread integrated between them before the layers are laminated together. In circulation, mechanical stress can cause the two plies to separate — either through natural wear or deliberate damage. The higher internal cohesion delivered by Highlink™'s latex-bonded fibre matrix prevents any delamination or splitting, significantly extending the structural integrity of the note throughout its service life.
Security Feature Compatibility
Because Highlink™ is a 100% cotton paper produced through the standard banknote papermaking process — with the latex reinforcement integrated at the formation stage rather than applied post-print — it is fully compatible with the complete range of security features embedded during paper manufacture: multi-tone and portrait watermarks, security threads, and coloured fibres. All standard banknote printing processes applied downstream — intaglio, offset, screen printing, hot-stamping of foils and patches — are equally unaffected. Highlink™ is compatible with all the common security features.
Combination with Ultra™ Varnish
VHP positions Highlink™ as the foundation of a layered durability strategy. For central banks requiring maximum protection against both soiling and mechanical wear, Highlink™ is designed to be combined with VHP's Ultra™ high-performance varnish applied post-print — a combination VHP describes as the best cotton-based resistant solution available on the banknote market. The substrate and the varnish address complementary failure modes: Highlink™ improves internal structural strength and delamination resistance from within the paper, while Ultra™ varnish provides an additional barrier against surface soiling and abrasion.
Market Positioning
Highlink™ is positioned as a cost-effective, low-disruption durability upgrade for central banks printing on cotton paper. It requires no changes to the banknote printing process, no public education campaigns, and no ATM or cash handling equipment adjustment — it is, from the perspective of all downstream stakeholders, a conventional cotton paper note. VHP describes it as a highly cost-effective way to increase banknote longevity, with its primary economic benefit being a direct reduction in the frequency and volume of replacement print orders.
Notable Deployments
Specific central bank deployments of Highlink™ are not publicly disclosed by VHP Security Paper or Oberthur Fiduciaire, consistent with standard practice in the banknote paper supply industry. DataVault entries referencing Highlink™ on individual banknotes should be treated as the primary source of deployment evidence.
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