July 22 2020 - Melbourne Solomon Island’s new polymer $5 has won a Gold Medal in the 2020 Print Industry Craftsmanship Awards (PICA), an Australian Print & Visual Communication Association industry competition. This award was in the Specialty category for printers applying new innovative and current technologies in unique ways. Entries included promotional printing, 3D printing, letterpress, architectural printing, glass printing, screen printing, laser etching and textile printing.
The Solomon Islands new polymer $5 banknote has become the Central Bank of Solomon Island’s (CBSI) ‘silent ambassador’ in signalling important areas of focus for the nation as it faces the future.
The Bank’s decision to issue the banknote on UN World Tuna Day (2 May 2019) was an inspired choice that strengthened the message that the Bank and the Government are sending to the public about the future of the Solomon Islands.
“The new polymer $5 note carries the image of the fisheries sector that could contribute significantly to the country’s GDP if extracted and managed sustainably,” says Dr. Luke Forau, Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands. “The Bank is pleased to have partnered with NPA, which has the technical know-how to come up with such a strong technical feature as SUSI Flip – the first of its kind.”
In addition to the world’s first application of SUSI Flip, NPA delivered a very strong entry in presenting the technical attributes of the Solomon Islands’ newest banknote.
“When I was with Governor Forau last May, I made the point that this was a fit-for-purpose note that was designed to highlight the cultural, economic, and social priorities of the nation,” says Note Printing Australia’s CEO, Malcolm McDowell. “Receiving this award now also confirms the technical excellence with which this note was printed. This is a true team effort and I’m extremely proud of all those who contributed to the banknote’s design and production.”
When NPA was engaged to start the design process, incorporating the nation’s plans for long term economic sustainability in the fishing industry and the importance of community and social cohesion were vital inclusions on the banknote.
The Central Bank of Solomon Islands decided to move to polymer substrate after a comprehensive analysis indicated to the Bank that polymer banknotes would deliver a long-term cost saving to the Bank.