The manufacturing of security document paper represented a core business activity at Stowford Paper Mill. This was particularly so in the latter decades, where it represented around half of the product portfolio, with the mill recognised as a world leading supplier.
Security papers can be categorised as any document designed to deter fraudulent activity, the illicit alteration of a genuine document, or combat counterfeit activity, the illicit reproduction of a document to pass as a genuine one, (a fake), by the incorporation of special features.
Protecting documents from fraud can be tackled in several ways, often in a complementary approach between paper manufacturer and security printer. As fraud commonly entails the removal or alteration of print or pen ink, such as the amount on a cheque or perhaps attained grades on an exam certificate, the paper must incorporate features that demonstrate tamper evidence. To combat counterfeiting, the paper must incorporate features that can serve to identify or authenticate that a document is an original.
The Security Paper sector includes cheque papers, bonds, passports and other identity documents, lottery tickets and sweepstakes, share certificates, gift vouchers, excise stamps, ballot paper and academic exam certificates to name but a few. It also includes important legal documents, such as birth, marriage and death certificates, vehicle registration documents and driving licences.
Watermarks have historically proved to be an excellent method of verifying the authenticity of a document, particularly as everyone is familiar with the concept. The ability to produce high quality watermarks was a recognised strength of Stowford Paper Mill and provided the basic foundation for practically all security documents. Should a watermark be insufficient in isolation, the paper could be enhanced by the addition of other obvious (overt) features, or hidden (covert) security inclusions, or indeed a combination, to best suit the end-use.