The historic papermaker said the newly refurbished Mould Office and associated equipment would give Bathford the capability to produce the high-resolution watermarks demanded for the security papers used in passports and government certificates.

Bill Priestley, director of Portals’ owner Epiris, cut the ribbon to the new facilities in Autumn 2023.

1 February 2024 marked the formal and official opening of the facilities, with everything in there now fully operational after the site’s functionality and capabilities were carefully phased up over the previous couple of months.

Portals managing director Andrew Nash said: "As one of the leading manufacturers of high security watermarked papers in the world, here at Portals, we are 100% committed to consistently enhancing, improving and further developing our approach and processes, to ensure the very best watermark definition, clarity, consistency, accuracy, quality and precision is achieved every time and in every sheet we make."

Employing 10 staff – out of 110 working across the whole site – the Mould Office is where the watermark design is physically turned into the engraved embossing plates and embossed mesh sections that form the cylinder mould that is used to create the actual watermark on the paper machine.

At the outset, it was identified that the project would require procurement, engineering, mechanical, electrical, control, hydraulic, and pneumatic workstreams all to be managed in tandem in order to successfully upgrade, refit, and install the new facilities.

As a part of the project, Portals upgraded a number of key items of equipment and machinery. These included a new design plotter, autopress robotics, and laser systems, which the company said would advance both watermark origination precision and design accuracy while also improving environmental and health and safety procedures.

This upgrade has also seen the installation of extra-large laser safe viewing windows to enhance the customer experience and aid on-site training and education.