World 1st for Australia and New Zealand with ice-skating lenticular stamps

The eye-catching stamps of Dutch Olympic skaters were produced for TPG Royal Dutch Post and have proved a smash hit in Holland with the entire 650,000 sheetlet issue sold out in 24 hours during the Torino Winter Olympics.

The groundbreaking project is a coup for the Australian security and specialist printer, which along with New Zealand lenticular printer Outer Zone, is now recognized as leading the world in the field. Lenticular printing involves the combination of ridged lens material and images processed through a computer algorithm. The printing is on the reverse side of the lenticular lens material, as this is where the focal point is, allowing the images to be replayed back to the human eye as the viewing angle changes.

According to Mark Reid, managing director of SEP Sprint, the key to the success of the project is the company’s customized remote secure proofing system, Securus.

“We used our leading edge web-based collaborative proofing system, Securus, to conquer the challenge of dealing with project partners in different time zones, on different continents,” he said. “This project required special substrate suppliers from the US, prepress software and special lens printing from New Zealand [Outer Zone], and security printing, die-cutting, finishing, binding and special packaging at our plant.

“The skill of our people took this complex project from conception to delivery in just four and a half months. This success demonstrates how effectively we can compete from our base in Melbourne.”

The two stamps feature 1972 Olympic triple gold medalist, Ard Schenk and 1988 Olympic triple gold medalist, Yvonne van Gennip. Images of the Dutch skating legends were originated from video footage from the time of their triumphs, which presented the designers with additional challenges. Auckland-based Outer Zone used its closely guarded patented technology to produce 12 images of each skater in combination on the lenticular film. The company is considered to be one of the leading lenticular printers in the world.

The film was then shipped from New Zealand to SEPS in Melbourne where it was transformed into stamps and inserted into the presentation books under conditions of extreme security. In their final shipping format the stamps are presented in a prestige book format favored by serious philatelic collectors.

While other postal authorities have used the web-based collaborative proofing system, it was the first time for the Dutch postal organization. Boudewijn Rip, Supply Chain Manager who managed the project for TPG Post says, ”We used planned conference calls to cater for the time difference, and the web-based collaborative proofing system to overcome the geographic distance. It was surprisingly easy to deal with SEP over this distance.

“The result is an excellent product about which we are all excited. It has received huge press coverage here in The Netherlands including a story on the nine o’clock news. Perhaps best of all, the entire 650,000 “sheetlet” issue sold out in 24 hours.”

SEP produces a large percentage of Australia’s postage stamps, and exports to postal authorities in New Zealand, Asia and Europe from its factory in Mount Waverley where 100 people are employed. It also produces a range of printed security products and is soon to open a new Innovation and Technology Centre as the focus of its R&D programme.


SEP is now busy preparing for the Commonwealth Games, for which Australia Post immortalises every Australian gold medal winner with their own stamp – produced and available within 24 hours. “We did this with for every winter and summer Olympics since Sydney. Securus allows us to achieve excellent results in even tighter time frames to support Australia Post's unique "Instant Stamp" programme," said Reid.
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