SAFEGUARD® Magnetics™

Type

Machine Readable Pattern (MR-magnetics) — printed magnetic thread effect for polymer banknotes, combining Level 1 visual functionality with Level 2b machine-readable magnetic encoding, integrated with CLEARTEXT™ demetallisation.

Overview

SAFEGUARD® Magnetics™ is a printed machine-readable thread effect developed by De La Rue for application to its SAFEGUARD® polymer banknote substrate. Rather than embedding a conventional foil-based security thread, the feature is created by modifying gravure inks to incorporate magnetic machine-readable elements directly into the banknote design. The result is a thread-like printed band that delivers magnetic encoding for sorting and authentication while retaining full design flexibility in shape, width and positioning. The feature is positioned by De La Rue as an ideal crossover element when migrating a banknote design from paper to polymer substrate, offering equivalent functionality and the same level of machine readability as the MAGFORM™ feature used on paper-substrate banknotes.

Technology & Effects

The feature is built on a modification of standard gravure inks to include magnetic machine-readable components, allowing the magnetic encoding to be printed in any shape, pattern or width that the design requires rather than being constrained to the geometry of a conventional embedded thread. Integrated within the printed band is De La Rue's CLEARTEXT™ demetallisation effect, which appears as positive or negative text revealed in transmission against a transparent window in the polymer substrate. The combination produces a Level 1 visual effect — the printed thread shape and Cleartext text visible in reflection and transmission — alongside a Level 2b magnetic signature readable by sorting equipment. Effect types: MR-magnetics (primary), Demetallised (via integrated CLEARTEXT™).

Form Factors & Application

SAFEGUARD® Magnetics™ is applied as a printed feature on SAFEGUARD® polymer substrate, using gravure printing with the modified magnetic ink system. The thread effect can be printed in a variety of widths and can take different shapes and patterns surrounding the CLEARTEXT™ demetallised window, giving designers significantly more freedom than a fixed-geometry embedded thread. As an ink-based feature applied during banknote printing rather than a substrate-embedded component, it is integrated at the printing stage and does not require any additional thread insertion or foil application steps.

Security Levels

• Level 1 (public): Visible printed thread effect with integrated CLEARTEXT™ demetallisation, the latter appearing as text revealed when the banknote is viewed in transmission against a light source.
• Level 2b (cash handler / sorting machine): Machine-readable magnetic signature delivered by the modified gravure ink, enabling high-speed sorting and authentication on equipment configured for magnetic detection. Equivalent in machine-readability terms to the paper-substrate MAGFORM™ feature.

Name

SAFEGUARD® Magnetics™

Category

Security Feature

Effect Types

Machine readable magnetics

Company

De La Rue
Company Website

Product Page

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Linked Features

5 security features