History

Today, SICPA is owned and managed by the third generation of the Amon family, which embodies the company's values of excellence and entrepreneurship with the same pioneering spirit and sense of responsibility of their father and grandfather.

Throughout its history, SICPA has dedicated itself to helping governments, central banks, high-security printers and industry find comprehensive solutions to widespread security issues.

In a world where no document or product is immune to counterfeiting, alteration or smuggling, our business has expanded from protecting most of the world’s currency to providing secured identification, traceability and authentication solutions and services.

SICPA inaugurated its unlimitrust campus in the presence of Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, President of the Vaud State Council Christelle Luisier, and SICPA's Chairman and CEO, Philippe Amon. 

Embodying SICPA’s purpose of providing governments and industries with solutions that enable trust in transactions, interactions and products, this campus has been created to bring together innovation players in one single community. It aims to accelerate the creation of technologies and solutions which contribute to the emergence of an Economy of Trust on a global scale. 

A solution designed for document issuers such as educational institutions, government bodies, notaries, local authorities and businesses to swiftly secure printed documents and digital certificates used by holders and verifiers.

Progressive release of the euro series “Europa” (5€ in 2013; 10€ in 2014) with SICPA security inks and features.

Implementation of SICPATRACE® for example in Morocco (tobacco, alcohol and soft drink products), in Massachusetts (tobacco products), in Albania (tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical products), in Georgia (tobacco and alcohol products) and in Kenya (alcohol and tobacco products).

1st SPARK® ink technology applied on banknotes: in China to celebrate the Olympic Games and in Kazakhstan to mark the 15th anniversary of the national currency.

SICPA was one of the world’s biggest producers of printing inks for the packaging industry, operating branches and production plants in 36 countries all around the globe.

Participation in the development of the first series of euro notes. SICPA will then provide security inks for the new euro launched in January 2002.

First ink supply contract with the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

On its own initiative, SICPA defined standards for the print quality and the chemical and physical resistance of the inks in order to ensure that printed banknotes were suitable for circulation in the most demanding climatic and cultural conditions. This work, monitored by the Lausanne University Institute of Criminology, was endorsed by Interpol in 1969. The norms it established were adopted by banknote printers worldwide and are still valid today.

SICPA produced its first supplies of security inks in the 1940s for the Spanish peseta banknotes. Under the leadership of Maurice's son, Albert Amon (1916-2010), the company earned a reputation for stability based on a long-term vision.
A gifted and charismatic communicator, Albert Amon succeeded in forging long-term partnerships with industry leaders and is recognised as one of the pioneers who raised the security inks industry from the banknote-crafting model of the 1950s to its current level of professionalisation and sophistication.

Founded by Maurice Amon (1880-1959), the Swiss company started by supplying the agricultural and food industries with its main product, a special fat used in the milking of cows. The quality of Swiss milk and cream was already internationally appreciated and used in Switzerland’s famous chocolate and cheeses. Originally meaning “Société Industrielle et Commerciale de Produits Alimentaires” (Industrial and Commercial Food Products Company), the acronym SICPA was subsequently used as the company name.