De La Rue Malta has opened a new €27 million product authentication facility, a project which started two years ago.

The facility will produce tax stamps, authentication and brand protection products, including brand protection labels for Microsoft, one the world’s most famous brands. This segment has been showing significant 16 per cent year-on-year growth, with order intake figures for the year of €608 million.

De La Rue’s Malta factory, which employs 567 staff operates in three portfolio areas: currency, identity and brand protection. 

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat opened the new facility, in the presence Economy Minister Chris Cardona, De La Rue International’s chief operating officer Bryan Gray and De La Rue Malta director Edward Chetcuti.

De La Rue's links with Malta stretch back 40 years. Last month it signed an agreement with the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, to collaborate on new training programmes in printing and secure printing.