Canadian Bank Note Company Limited and De La Rue Form Strategic Partnership to Bring British Passport Manufacturing Back to the UK
Canadian Bank Note Company Limited (CBN), a global leader in the manufacture of secure identity solutions including the Canadian Passport has today announced a strategic joint venture with De La Rue (DLR), the British security printing specialist, which will bid to return the manufacture of British passport books to the United Kingdom, following a decade of production overseas.
The joint venture will combine CBN’s extensive expertise in digital and physical identity solutions with DLR’s UK manufacturing capabilities and security document heritage. CBN is one of the world’s leading passport manufacturers. It is the largest supplier of passports to the Commonwealth, providing passports to fourteen nations within the association, including those for Canada and New Zealand, which are widely recognized as among the world’s most secure.
The two companies will harness cutting-edge technology to deliver a passport book with state-of-the-art features, reinforcing the UK’s national security. In addition, relocating the manufacturing of the passport book to British soil will ensure full sovereignty over the critical supply chain, and bolster border security.
The onshoring of passport manufacturing will also represent a significant investment in the UK’s manufacturing sector, creating skilled jobs and delivering meaningful economic benefits. The joint venture will also explore the possibility of bidding for passport and other government identity contracts for further jurisdictions in the future, thereby creating a global manufacturing hub within the UK.
“CBN has a long history of delivering highly secure passports for trusted governments around the world. Our identity products have won multiple awards for technological advancement, security, design and durability,” said Marilou Arends, CEO of Canadian Bank Note. “Partnering with De La Rue allows us to offer the UK a passport that the British people deserve, strengthening the country’s national security and leveraging the use of Canadian technology innovation to deliver a passport solution that represents the best value to the British taxpayer.”
“The British passport is more than a travel document; it is a symbol of our national identity. By combining De La Rue’s UK heritage with Canadian Bank Note’s world-leading passport technology, we have a unique opportunity to bring passport manufacturing back to Britain, where it belongs,” said Clive Vacher, CEO of De La Rue. “This venture brings together two companies with similarly storied histories, a combined track record of high-quality delivery across over a hundred jurisdictions, and great compatibility when it comes to security, technology and a customer-centric philosophy.”
For more information, please contact:
Mark Houlton, CEO,
CBN DLR Identity Group
Phone: +1 (613) 722-6607
Email: mhoulton@cbnco.com