{"id":872,"date":"2025-11-30T16:32:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T15:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/?p=872"},"modified":"2026-03-19T14:22:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T13:22:51","slug":"how-are-swiss-banknotes-produced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wie-entstehen-schweizer-banknoten\/","title":{"rendered":"How are Swiss banknotes produced? A look behind the scenes at the SNB."},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question <strong>\u201eHow are Swiss banknotes produced?\u201c<\/strong> The answer is surprisingly complex. Switzerland doesn&#039;t simply produce its banknotes like ordinary paper \u2013 but through a multi-stage, highly secure process that is among the most advanced in the world. The manufacturing process is a combination of artistry, engineering, materials science, and the strictest security measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. The development process: From idea to design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the first note is printed, the development process takes <strong>5 to 10 years<\/strong>.<br>The Swiss National Bank (SNB) determines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Safety requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>new materials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>thematic focus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Artistic design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.swissinfo.ch\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/10\/5dffee591af6389fc78c6cd4aefffc96f8806ec9-90131971.jpg?w=1200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/10\/5dffee591af6389fc78c6cd4aefffc96f8806ec9-90131971.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/assets.bwbx.io\/images\/users\/iqjWHBFdfxIU\/i8b6mKnN2gW8\/v0\/-1x-1.webp?w=1200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"https:\/\/assets.bwbx.io\/images\/users\/iqjWHBFdfxIU\/i8b6mKnN2gW8\/v0\/-1x-1.webp\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snb.ch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.snb.ch<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the current <strong>Series 9<\/strong> The theme chosen was &quot;The Diverse Switzerland&quot;. Designer Manuela Pfrunder won the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. The special material: Durasafe\u00ae \u2013 Swiss technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swiss banknotes are not made of cotton paper, but of... <strong>Durasafe\u00ae<\/strong>, a composite material made of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>two layers of paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a polymer safety layer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>special fibers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coatings against moisture and wear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>longer lifespan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>harder to forge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cleaner contours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>more resistant to tearing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swiss banknotes are therefore among the most robust banknotes in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Security elements are integrated in multiple layers.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland uses over <strong>20 safety features<\/strong>, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Microtexts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Color-changing effects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>transparent windows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Safety threads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tilting films<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UV elements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tactile relief structures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The majority will <strong>not<\/strong> printed, but <strong>incorporated<\/strong> This makes Swiss banknotes extremely difficult to counterfeit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. The printing process: Multiple passes, absolute precision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The printing process takes place in up to <strong>13 work steps<\/strong>, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Offset printing<\/strong> (Background)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Intaglio printing<\/strong> (Relief for the blind and visually impaired)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Special paints<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Color-changing elements<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security windows<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>numbering<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.komori-currency.com\/img\/products\/001.jpg?w=1200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.komori-currency.com\/img\/products\/001.jpg\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/banknote\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/banknote<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each note passes through machines that detect deviations of less than <strong>0.1 mm<\/strong> tolerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Quality control: Every single grade is checked.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swiss banknotes are considered a quality benchmark because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each note is scanned by machine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Incorrect grades are immediately sorted out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Samples will be checked manually<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serial number systems prevent counterfeiting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rejection rate is comparatively low \u2013 a sign of precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Storage, transport and distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After production:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The banknotes are kept in high-security vaults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distributed to banks and PostFinance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Distributed via ATMs and counters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Invalid notes are destroyed in secure facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answer to <strong>\u201eHow are Swiss banknotes produced?\u201c<\/strong> shows:<br>This is not simple printing, but a highly scientific, artistic, and extremely controlled production process. Each banknote is a technological product designed for maximum security, durability, and protection against counterfeiting.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Die Frage \u201eWie entstehen Schweizer Banknoten?\u201c l\u00e4sst sich erstaunlich komplex beantworten. Die Schweiz produziert ihre Noten nicht einfach&hellip;","protected":false},"author":274216737,"featured_media":874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_page_reading_time":"","csco_page_toc_navigation":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_volume":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2727],"tags":[2991,2989,2990,2988],"class_list":{"0":"post-872","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wirtschaft","8":"tag-banknoten-schweiz-herstellung","9":"tag-schweizer-noten-produktion","10":"tag-snb-banknoten-entstehung","11":"tag-wie-entstehen-schweizer-banknoten","12":"cs-entry","13":"cs-video-wrap"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/schweiz.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20251130_1626_Schweizer-Banknoten-Entstehung_simple_compose_01kbanw9mee03v8ccm9q592exb.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgWLwP-e4","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/274216737"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=872"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":876,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872\/revisions\/876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}