What the OeNB Test Center Does

The tasks of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank’s Test Center include equipment testing of

• Banknote authentication devices with and without counting capability;
• Customer-operated cash-in machines:
• Customer-operated cash recycling machines,
• Staff-operated cash recycling machines;
• Banknote sorting machines; and
• OEM components. 

as well as cooperation with international manufacturers, national partners and the European Central Bank (ECB).

• Performance of equipment tests in accordance with ECB specifications;
• Special tests of equipment which has passed the counterfeit detection test; such equipment is regularly tested using the most recent counterfeits;
• Tests of customer- and staff-operated machines on the manufacturers’ premises; and
• Evaluation of the equipment tests and preparation of the results for release on the Internet. 

• Tests of new banknote authentication sensor technology in cooperation with the R&D department at the Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruck GmbH (OeBS) and with leading sensor technology manufacturers.
• Cooperation with national authorities (e.g. the Federal Ministry of the Interior).
• Participation in ECB working groups, in particular the Banknote Committee (BANCO), the Issue Working Group (IWG), Used Banknote Sorting Group (UBS) and working groups on the second euro series.
• Monitoring with the aim of keeping abreast of banks’ and other professional cash handlers’ banknote recycling activities at all times. This information helps in assessing the quality of banknotes in circulation and in deciding to take appropriate measures to improve this quality if necessary.