Louisenthal

Louisenthal, formally known as the Louisenthal Paper Mill or Papierfabrik Louisenthal, is a German manufacturer of security paper and related substrates used in banknotes and other protected documents. Its production base is in Gmund am Tegernsee in Bavaria, and the company also operates a second manufacturing site in Königstein, Saxony. Louisenthal is part of Giesecke+Devrient, the German security-technology group known for banknote production and other secure-document and payment-related activities. The business traces its origins to a paper mill established in Gmund in 1878. Its role developed beyond ordinary papermaking as banknote manufacturers and issuing authorities required substrates incorporating features that could help authenticate notes and deter counterfeiting. Traditional security-paper techniques included embedded watermarks and security threads. These features are integrated into the substrate during manufacture rather than added only after the sheet has been produced, allowing the paper itself to form part of a banknote's security system. A significant technical milestone came in 1994, when Louisenthal produced what is described as the world's first banknote paper incorporating hologram stripes. The technology was used for Bulgaria's 2,000-leva banknote and demonstrated the company's focus on combining paper substrates with visually dynamic optical security elements. Louisenthal later continued to work on hybrid approaches that sought to combine characteristics associated with paper and polymer banknotes. In 2008, it introduced a banknote substrate intended to bring together advantages of both materials, following the limited market establishment of fully plastic banknotes. The company's capabilities include the production of banknote paper and advanced film elements. These elements can create effects such as apparent color changes and three-dimensional visual impressions when viewed from different angles. Such features are designed to support public recognition and machine authentication while increasing the difficulty of successful counterfeiting. Louisenthal's role is therefore primarily that of a specialist materials and security-feature supplier within the banknote production chain, rather than a consumer-facing financial-services brand. In 2019, Louisenthal created two technologies used in a new series of Bulgarian National Bank banknotes. That series received the Best New Banknote award at the High Security Printing EMEA Conference in Malta. The recognition illustrates how the company participates in national currency projects through substrate and feature development, working alongside central banks, banknote printers, and other security-technology suppliers. The company reported a workforce of approximately 1,100 people in the source material, including about 320 at the Königstein site near Dresden, and annual production of approximately 13,000 tonnes of paper. These figures are historical reference points rather than current financial disclosures. Louisenthal's principal business scope remains specialized industrial production for banknotes and security documents, with its value proposition centered on substrate engineering, embedded security features, optical effects, and manufacturing reliability.

Louisenthal's industrial history begins in 1878, when a paper mill was established in Gmund am Tegernsee, Bavaria. Over time, the mill became associated with the production of security paper rather than general-purpose paper. This specialization reflected the needs of banknote and secure-document manufacturers, for whom the paper substrate is an important part of a document's authentication and anti-counterfeiting architecture. Early security-paper practices included the incorporation of genuine watermarks and security threads. Because these characteristics are embedded during paper production, they are difficult to reproduce accurately through ordinary printing or surface treatment. The mill's work consequently sits at the intersection of papermaking, document security, and currency manufacturing. In 1964, Louisenthal became a subsidiary of Giesecke+Devrient. The ownership change connected the paper mill with a wider German group active in banknotes and secure documents. Louisenthal retained a specialized manufacturing role within that broader structure, supplying substrates and security elements that can be used by banknote printers and issuing authorities. The company expanded its physical manufacturing footprint after German reunification. In 1991, it acquired a second factory in Königstein, Saxony. The Königstein site, near Dresden, became an important part of the company's production network. Source material identifies approximately 320 employees at that site out of a total Louisenthal workforce of around 1,100, although these figures should be treated as period-specific rather than current statistics. Louisenthal's technological profile became especially visible in the 1990s. In 1994, it produced banknote paper with hologram stripes, described as the first banknote paper of its kind. The material was used for Bulgaria's 2,000-leva banknote. This development illustrated a shift from security features based mainly on traditional paper construction toward combinations of paper engineering and optically variable elements. The company also investigated alternatives to conventional paper and fully polymer substrates. After plastic banknotes failed to establish themselves broadly across the market, Louisenthal introduced a banknote in 2008 that combined selected advantages of paper and polymer materials. The approach sought to preserve familiar paper-based handling and production characteristics while adding some of the durability or security potential associated with polymer technology. In 2019, Louisenthal supplied two technologies for a new set of Bulgarian National Bank banknotes. The series won the Best New Banknote award presented by the High Security Printing EMEA Conference in Malta. This recognition linked Louisenthal's materials innovation to a complete national currency program and demonstrated the importance of substrate and optical-security design in modern banknote production. By 2020, the company presented itself as a leading supplier of advanced film elements used as security features. These elements can generate color shifts and apparent three-dimensional effects that change according to the viewing angle. Such technologies support both public authentication and automated verification. Louisenthal's documented history therefore shows a long transition from traditional security papermaking to integrated paper, film, and optical technologies for contemporary currency and secure documents.

• 2019

  Technologies used in award-winning Bulgarian banknotes

  [1]Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org

  Two Louisenthal technologies were incorporated into a new Bulgarian National Bank banknote series, which won the Best New Banknote award at the High Security Printing EMEA Conference.

• 2008

  Hybrid paper-polymer banknote substrate introduced

  [1]Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org

  Louisenthal brought a banknote substrate to market intended to combine advantages associated with paper and polymer banknotes.

• 1994

  Hologram-stripe banknote paper introduced

  [1]Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org

  Louisenthal produced banknote paper with hologram stripes, used for Bulgaria's 2,000-leva banknote.

• 1991

  Königstein factory acquired

  [1]Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org

  The company acquired a second factory in Königstein, Saxony, after German reunification.

• 1964

  Becomes a Giesecke+Devrient subsidiary

  [1]Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org

  Louisenthal became part of Giesecke+Devrient, linking the paper mill to a major German banknote and security-technology group.

• 1878

  Paper mill established in Gmund

  [1]Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org

  A paper mill was established in Gmund am Tegernsee, providing the historical foundation for the Louisenthal Paper Mill.

A specialist B2B supplier of secure substrates and optical security elements for banknotes and other protected documents, positioned around anti-counterfeiting performance, substrate engineering, and cooperation with currency issuers and banknote producers.

• Banknote substrate

  Banknote security paper

  Louisenthal manufactures paper substrates for banknotes in which security characteristics can be integrated during papermaking. Documented features include genuine watermarks and security threads. These elements make the paper itself part of the authentication system and are intended to support both public inspection and professional anti-counterfeiting controls.

• Optically variable banknote substrate · 1994

  Hologram-stripe banknote paper

  Introduced in 1994, this substrate incorporated hologram stripes into banknote paper. The technology was used for Bulgaria's 2,000-leva banknote and represented an early combination of conventional paper security and visually dynamic holographic effects.

• Hybrid banknote substrate · 2008

  Hybrid paper-polymer banknote substrate

  Introduced in 2008, this banknote material was designed to combine selected benefits of paper and polymer substrates. It emerged as an alternative approach after fully plastic banknotes had not achieved broad market adoption.

• Security film

  Advanced film elements

  Louisenthal supplies advanced film elements used as security features. Depending on the viewing angle, these elements can produce color shifts and apparent three-dimensional effects, helping documents provide recognizable visual authentication and more complex barriers to counterfeiting.

• 2008

  Launch of a hybrid paper-polymer banknoteProduct launch

  Background

  Fully polymer banknotes had not achieved broad market acceptance, while issuers continued to seek stronger and more flexible security materials.

  Action taken

  Louisenthal introduced a banknote intended to combine advantages of paper and polymer substrates.

  Aftermath

  The product represented Louisenthal's hybrid-material response to the limited adoption of fully plastic banknotes.

  Source

• 1994

  Launch of hologram-stripe banknote paperProduct launch

  Background

  Traditional banknote security paper was increasingly being supplemented by optically variable security features.

  Action taken

  Louisenthal produced banknote paper incorporating hologram stripes and supplied it for Bulgaria's 2,000-leva banknote.

  Aftermath

  The development established a documented milestone in the integration of holographic elements with paper banknote substrates.

  Source

• 1991

  Expand manufacturing through the Königstein siteStrategy

  Background

  Following German reunification, Louisenthal had an opportunity to expand its production network in eastern Germany.

  Action taken

  The company acquired a second factory in Königstein, Saxony.

  Aftermath

  Königstein became the company's second documented manufacturing location and an important employment and production site.

  Source

1. 1Louisenthal Paper Millen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Louisenthal official websitelouisenthal.com