CBN was established in 1897 to supply security-printed products to the Canadian government, which it has done continuously ever since. The supply of Canadian currency, passports and postage stamps are three important activities entrusted to the Company. CBN has expanded from this base to the supply of the same and similar products to many other countries and today more than half of CBN's sales originate outside of Canada. In the 1980's CBN expanded into the Lottery Systems business area and today is active in supplying and managing lottery games in many countries with a special focus on the Caribbean as well as Latin, Central and South America. CBN has highly secure facilities containing technologically advanced, specialized manufacturing equipment for the printing of products such as banknotes and passports, which require the latest in anti-counterfeiting techniques. To design and originate these products, CBN employs highly skilled artists, designers and engravers. Complementing and building on these skills are hundreds of computer software and hardware experts who are required for the design of the issuing, reading and control systems, and hardware that make these products, as well as lottery systems, more effective. CBN also employs the many craftsmen, manufacturing experts and support people who are required for the production of these sophisticated products.