Prestige. Distinction. Acclaim.

The Élan Awards have their rewards...Do your cards deserve recognition?

Entry Deadline: May 3

CLICK HERE to view the 2012 Élan Award Winners!

CLICK HERE to view the 2011 Élan Award Winners!

New Category Announced for Personalization & Fulfillment Members!
See below

Every year, the prestigious ICMA Élan Awards cast a spotlight on the best of the best in the global card industry, honoring world-class achievements in both card design and technological innovation. Widely acknowledged as the most renowned showcase for card excellence, the coveted Élan Awards distinguish ICMA manufacturer, supplier and personalization/fulfillment members before peers and customers as industry leaders. The Élan Awards celebrate ICMA members’ commitment to the design quality and technical advances that drive the future of the global card industry, which is ultimately the true winner in this acclaimed program.

Deadline: May 3, 2013

A Renowned Showcase for the World’s Best Cards and Technology

Now in its 16th year, the ICMA Élan Awards gather entries from around the world to recognize innova tive card designs, technologies, and other criteria that establish the global vanguard for card manufacturing. The distinction of an Élan Award offers significant promotional opportunities for high-profile industry recognition and visibility.

Open to ICMA members only, the Élan Awards will be presented at the ICMA EXPO Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. on June 6, 2013. With the exception of the People’s Choice award, an independent panel of card industry experts recognize one winner and two finalists for each award category. Awards are bestowed upon and issued to both winning manufacturers and their card customers.

MANUFACTURER CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA:

Financial Card – Includes branded cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay or other recognized secure issuers. The card can be magnetic stripe and/or smart chip with credit, debit or prepaid, as long as it bears the branding logo of one of the above secure issuing organizations.

Gift Card – Any type of gift card is eligible. Gift cards have a prepaid value usually initiated at checkout that are for use at a retail establishment and are given as gifts. Cards must be printed on card stock of 24 to 30 mil. thickness.

Retail/Gas Card – Includes branded cards from retailers and gas and oil companies. The card can be magnetic stripe, chip card or dual interface card; and credit, debit prepaid or stored value.

Government Identification Card – Cards used for government identification services including security standards and other government needs. Examples: drivers license, passport card, national identification and government benefits or healthcare cards. Cards may or may not have photo identification.

Loyalty & Promotional Card – Includes such cards as airline, hotel, car rental and grocery store loyalty programs. The purpose of these cards is to reward customer loyalty. Promotional cards include discount cards or event themed cards that are intended for promotion, discounts, prizes or awards.

Transportation Card – Cards used for transit fares on buses, rail, subways, ferry boats, etc. They can be closed loop issued by the transit company or open loop issued by a financial institution. The card must be printed on card stock of 24 to 30 mil. thickness.

Access Control/ID Card – Cards used for access control such as hotel door keys, facility access badges, etc. These cards are used for access/entry. Cards may or may not have photo identification.

Unique Innovation – Most innovative technical achievement in card functionality (multi-application, dual interface card, biometric, optical card, alternative material card, environmentally friendly materials, innovative cardholder features, etc.) that demonstrates novel, unique or expanded functionality in response to customer application requirements.

CARD MANUFACTURER JUDGING CRITERIA

Graphical Design: Creative, attractive design elements and layout to convey information or create an effect.

Printing: Utilization of litho and silk screening and other specialized printing techniques and processes to obtain maximum impact relevant to the card’s graphic design.

Complexity: Utilization of the multiple manufacturing steps, processes, materials and components available including printing, lamination, die cutting/card reduction, hot stamping, embedding and other processes.

Technology: The application of science, knowledge, tools and methods in the development and creation of the card.

Quality: Overall card manufacturing quality including printing, lamination, die cutting, magnetic stripe positioning, foiling, signature panels, holograms, photos, chips or any other enhancement.

Innovation: The utilization of a new technique, method, process or material to develop cards that have been produced and accepted in the marketplace.

Uniqueness: Attributes that enable the card to be the only type of its kind. It should be without an equal, unparalleled and special.

Practicality: Useful, workable and sensible attributes which facilitate market use and acceptance.

Security (If applicable): Application of visible and covert techniques for human verification or instrument or lab verification of a card’s authenticity.

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NEW THIS YEAR: PERSONALIZATION & FULFILLMENT (P&F) CATEGORY AND CRITERIA

Best P&F New Product, Service or Project – P&F bureaus nominate your own new product, service or project that was launched into the card market this year.

P&F JUDGING CRITERIA

The application of science, engineering, knowledge, tools and methods in the development and creation of the new product, service or innovation. Must have useful, workable and sensible attributes which facilitate market use and acceptance.

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SUPPLIER CATEGORY AND CRITERIA

Best Supplier/Vendor New Product, Service or Innovation – Associate members nominate your own new product, service or innovation that was utilized in the card industry this year.

SUPPLIER JUDGING CRITERIA

The application of science, knowledge, tools and methods in the development and creation of the new product, equipment or material. Must have useful, workable and sensible attributes which facilitate market use and acceptance.

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ONSITE CATEGORIES

Judges’ Choice – The Élan Judges will select their favorite from all of the entries received in any of the categories.

People’s Choice (selected by ICMA EXPO delegates) – Attendees at the EXPO (exclusive of spouses or guests) will select their favorite card from all of the entries received in any of the above categories. These entries will be displayed face-up without identification of the entrant.

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ENTRY RULES:

• ICMA reserves the right to re-ca tegorize entries and review submissions to ensure they meet eligibility requirements.
• Eligible cards must have been manufactured and issued after March 16, 2012. Issued cards are branded and being utilized in the marketplace. Only cards that are manufactured for an issuer customer and issued into the marketplace are eligible (i.e. cards used as product samples or prototypes are not eligible).
• Entrants must be current 2013 ICMA members.
• Eligible cards must have been manufactured by the entrant and eligible Personalization & Fulfillment services performed by the entrant.
• There is an entry fee of $125 (USD) per entry.

• All cards become the property of ICMA unless security rules require them to be returned to the entrant. If so, please write on the back of the entry “return to entrant” and include a self addressed envelope for return. Note that card manufacturers are responsible for return shipping costs.
• Customer authorization for submitting the cards is the responsibility of the entrant. Please use the sample letter on the ICMA website and type it onto your own letterhead with the card-specific information to obtain any necessary customer approval. ICMA is not responsible for any action relating to any unauthorized duplication, copyright infringement, etc. that may arise from the award contest.

ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS:

The Entry Form is located online at www.icma.com. All entries must be filled out and payments submitted via this online form.

Step one: Fill out the necessary information on the Entry Form for each individual entry and make payment. Entries for multiple cards can be done in one step.

Step two: Prepare your cards to ship and arrive at ICMA by the May 3, 2013 deadline.

Once you have filled out the online form, each entry will be assigned an Entry ID number which will be e-mailed to you and also maintained in your online company account. This number should be clearly labeled on the back of each card being sent in. Please do not use clear labels.

Cards that are not labeled will be disqualified. For each entry, submit three identical cards, with the three cards per entry in their own individual plastic sleeve. Send to ICMA Élan Awards, 191 Clarksville Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 USA.

Include with the cards, on company letterhead, a list of the cards being entered using the following format:

• Name of Card / Customer of Card / Entry number assigned by ICMA
• Name of Card / Customer of Card / Entry number assigned by ICMA
• Name of Card / Customer of Card / Entry number assigned by ICMA

Contact person: NAME, PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS

Credit card payments via the online Entry Form are preferred. If you must submit payment by wire transfer, please contact ICMA Headquarters at info@icma.com. A $50 processing fee will be added for paying by bank wire. If payments are not received by May 17, your entry will be disqualified.

Issuer Authorization

Authorization for submitting the cards is the responsibility of the card manufacturer entrant. Please use the sample letter below and type it onto your own letterhead with the card-specific information to obtain any necessary customer approval. Note: All cards become the property of ICMA unless security rules require them to be returned to the entrant. If so, please write on the back of the entry “return to entrant.” ICMA is not responsible for any action relating to any unauthorized duplication, copyright infringement, etc. that may arise from the award contest.

Sample Letter to Issuers

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The Elan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence were announced at the ICMA EXPO in Miami, Florida on April 17, 2012. The winners and finalists are listed below.

Congratulations to these companies for their achievement.

Best Gift Card:

Winner: Travel Tags, Inc.
For the Stained Glass Manger Scene Card
Manufactured for First Data / Walmart

Finalist: Production Services Associates (PSA)
For the Walgreens Flower Card
Manufactured for Walgreens

Finalist: Production Services Associates (PSA)
For the Walgreens Beauty Profile Card
Manufactured for Walgreens

Best Retail/Gas Card:

Winner: CPI Card Group
For the Stein Mart Style Card
Manufactured for GE Capital Retail Bank

Finalist: VCT-NJ
For the Citi Drive Card
Manufactured for Citibank

Finalist: VCT-NJ
For the Staples Rewards Card
Manufactured for Citibank

Best Government Identification Card:

Winner: Placard Pty, Ltd.
For the Marine Licence Indicator Card
Manufactured for the Government of Queensland Department of Transportation & Main Roads

Best Loyalty and Promotional Card:

Winner: Variuscard
For the Diamond Card
Manufactured for Becker Mail and Intersport EYBL

Finalist: ABnote North America
For the Foxwoods Royal Red card
Manufactured for Foxwoods

Finalist: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd.
For the Marina Bay Sands Paiza Chairman Card
Manufactured for Marina Bay Sands Singapore

Best Transportation Card:

Winner: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For the Zhuhai Public Transportation Card, Kung-Fu Rabbit
Manufactured for Zhuhai Public Transportation Group Company Ltd.

Finalist: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
For the Circular Crystal Card of the Year Dragon
Manufactured for Shandong City Card

Finalist: ABnote Canada
For the I-Ride Card
Manufactured for Niagara Falls Transit Commission

Best Access Control & ID Card:

Winner: Bristol ID Technologies
For the 2011 Little League World Series Card
Manufactured for Lenel Systems International, Inc.

Finalist: Plasticard-Locktech International
For the Superbowl XLVI Card
Manufactured for the NFL

Finalist: ABnote North America
For the JW Marriott Card
Manufactured for JW Marriott Resorts

Unique Innovation:

Winner: CompoSecure, VCT-NJ
For the Ritz Carlton Rewards Visa Signature Card
Manufactured for Chase

Finalist: VCT-NJ
For the Chase Disney Tinkerbell card
Manufactured for Chase

Finalist: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For the Visa Infinite Dual Currency Card
Manufactured for China Citic Bank

Best Secure Financial Card:

Winner: VCT-NJ
For the Chase Disney Sorcerer Card
Manufactured for Chase

Finalist: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For the Ultima Visa Infinite EMV Card
Manufactured for Citibank

Finalist: BioSmart
For the Diamond Card
Manufactured for ICICI Bank

Judges Choice:

Winner: CompoSecure, VCT-NJ
For the Ritz Carlton Rewards Visa Signature Card
Manufactured for Chase

Finalist: Travel Tags, Inc.
For the Stained Glass Manger Card
Manufactured for First Data / Walmart

Finalist: Placard Pty, Ltd.
For the Marine Licence Indicator Card
Manufactured for Government of Queensland Department of Transportation and Main Roads

People’s Choice:

Winner: Placard Pty, Ltd.
For the Marine Licence Indicator Card
Manufactured for Government of Queensland Department of Transportation & Main Roads

Finalist: Dz Card (International) Ltd.
For the Master Diamond Card
Manufactured for SFX Cinema

Finalist: Cupola Plastic Cards Limited
For the GTCreat8 E-savers Card
Manufactured for Guaranty Trust Bank

Best Vendor New Product, Equipment or Material:

H.W. Sands Corp.
For their UV Cure Screen Inks

Best Gift Card

Winner: Production Services Associates
For: the Cohn Restaurant Group Card
Manufactured for: First Data/Cohn Restaurant Group

Finalist: Jet
For: the Target Gift Coins Card
Manufactured for: Target

Finalist: Travel Tags
For: the Marmaduke DVD Gift Card
Manufactured for: 20th Century Film Corporation and Cinemark Holdings

Best Government Identification Card

Winner: Canadian Bank Note Company Limited
For: the Saskatchewan Identification Card
Manufactured for: Saskatchewan Government Insurance

Finalist: Trüb AG
For: the e-ID Estonia Card
Manufactured for: Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia

Finalist: LaserCard Corporation
For: the U.S. Permanent Resident Green Card
Manufactured for: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Best Loyalty & Promotional Card

Winner: CPI Card Group
For: the Southwest Companion Pass Card
Manufactured for: Southwest Airlines

Finalist: Teraco Inc.
For: the MyPanera Card
Manufactured for: Panera Bread

Finalist: Travel Tags
For: the GameStop Power Up Rewards Card
Manufactured for: Ceridian Stored Value Solutions/Game Stop

Best Access Control & ID Cards

Winner: Plasticard Locktech International
For: the Super Bowl XLV 5-Card Mix
Manufactured for: NFL

Finalist: Plasticard Locktech International
For: the Westin 8-Card Mix
Manufactured for: Starwood Hotels and Resorts

Finalist: Bristol ID Technologies
For: the ASI Trade Show Hotel Key Card
Manufactured for: ASI

Unique Innovation

Winner: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For: the Metropolis Shell Debit Card
Manufactured for: Industrial Bank Co. Ltd, Dalian Branch

Finalist: VCT-New Jersey
For: the Southwest Airlines Classic Card
Manufactured for: Chase

Finalist: Dynamics Inc.
For: the Hidden Card

Best Secure Financial Card Design

Winner: Oberthur Technologies America Corp.
For: the Miss Kitty Card
Manufactured for: China Merchants Bank

Finalist: VCT-New Jersey
For: the Chase INK Business Bold Card
Manufactured for: Chase

Finalist: CPI Card Group
For: the Chase Slate Card
Manufactured for: Chase Bank

Best Value Based Secure Card

Winner: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
For: the Crystal Card of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Manufactured for: Nanjing City Card Co. Ltd.

Finalist: Placard Pty. Ltd.
For: the Betstar Membership Card
Manufactured for: Betstar

Finalist: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For: the Public Transportation Mid-Autumn Festival Translucent Contactless IC Card
Manufactured for: Hangzhou Public Transport Group Co. Ltd.

Best Vendor New Product, Equipment or Material

Winner: Bayer MaterialScience
For: its versatile hard coated overlay film for cards

Judges’ Choice

Winner: Production Services Associates
For: the Cohn Restaurant Group Card
Manufactured for: First Data/Cohn Restaurant Group

Finalist: Oberthur Technologies America Corp.
For: the Miss Kitty Card
Manufactured for: China Merchants Bank

Finalist: Canadian Bank Note Company Limited
For: the Saskatchewan Identification Card
Manufactured for: Saskatchewan Government Insurance

The People’s Choice Award was selected by on-site delegates. The recipients are as follows:

People’s Choice

Winner: ABNote Canada
For: the Air Canada Super Elite Luggage Tag Card
Manufactured for: Draft FCB Montreal

Finalist: Sustainable Cards
For: the Scandic Card
Manufactured for: Scandic Hotels

Finalist: CPI Card Group
For: the Chase Slate Card
Manufactured for: Chase Bank

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The Elan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence were announced at the ICMA EXPO in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 4, 2010. The winners and finalists are listed below.

Congratulations to these companies for their achievement.

Best Gift Card

Winner: CPI Card Group
For: Gift a Tron Card
Manufactured for: Target

Finalist: Perfect Plastic Printing
For: Maggiano’s Little Italy Gift Card
Manufactured for: Optimum Card Solutions

Finalist: CPI Card Group
For: the Toys R Us Robot Card
Manufactured for: Stored Value Systems

Best Government Identification Card


Winner: Canadian Bank Note Company Limited
For: Permanent Resident Card
Manufactured for: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Finalist: Oberthur Technologies
For: Registro Nacional de Las Personas de Guatemala Card
Manufactured for: The Republic of Guatemala

Best Loyalty & Promotional Card

Winner: Plantaplast GmbH
For: Strawberry Tour 2010 Smelling Card
Manufactured for: Extra Golf Promotional Tour

Finalist: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
For: China Unicom VIP Card
Manufactured for: China Unicom

Finalist: Versatile Card Technology
For: Ameristar Casino ACE Gold Card
Manufactured for: Ameristar Casino

Best Access Control & ID Cards

Winner: Vanguard ID Systems
For: LDM CompuWeigh UHF RFID embedded Biodegradable card
Manufactured for: CompuWeigh

Finalist: Plasticard Locktech International
For: W hotels RFID 3-D Card
Manufactured for: W Hotels

Finalist: Plasticard Locktech International
For: Jelly Belly ID Card
Manufactured for: National Confectioners Association

Unique Innovation

Winner: Oberthur Technologies
For: Citi One Piece Mobile Payment Tag Card
Manufactured for: Citi

Finalist: CPI Card Group
For: Nutrisystem Starter Card
Manufactured for: Stored Value Systems

Finalist: VCT - NJ
For: Business Exclusive Rewards Card
Manufactured for: Chase

Best Secure Financial Card Design

Winner: Future Card
For: Masraf Al Rayan Visa Gold Card
Manufactured for: Masraf Al Rayan

Finalist: VCT-NJ
For: Cash Charcoal Visa
Manufactured for: Chase

Finalist: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
For: Yi Card
Manufactured for: Agricultural Bank of China

Best Other Secure Card Design

Winner: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
For: Plum Blossom Card
Manufactured for: Nanjing Citizen Card Co. Ltd.

Finalist: Placard Pty. Ltd.
For: Crowne Shareholder Card
Manufactured for: Crowne Melbourne LTD

Finalist: VCT-NJ
For: 76 Commercial Card
Manufactured for: Citi Card

Best Vendor New Product, Equipment or Material

Winner: JDSU Authentication Solutions Group
For: Holofuse Card

Finalist: Blumer Maschinenbau
For: Tool Adapter

Finalist: Bayer MaterialScience AG
For: Transparent Holographic Film for Colored Holograms in Cards

Judges’ Choice

Winner: Versatile Card Technology
For: Best Buy Blinking Tree Gift Card
Manufactured for: Best Buy

Finalist: Oberthur Technologies
For: Ecount Clear Black Stored Value Card
Manufactured for: Citi Prepaid

Finalist: Versatile Card Technology
For: Best Buy Mother’s Day Gift Card
Manufactured for: Best Buy

The People’s Choice Award was selected by on-site delegates. The recipients are as follows:

People’s Choice

Winner: CPI Card Group
For: Lenticular Snowboarder
Manufactured for: Visa & Royal Bank of Canada

Finalist: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card
For: Plum Blossom Card
Manufactured for: Nanjing Citizen Card Co. Ltd

Finalist: Plantaplast GmbH
For: Historical Hungarian Coin Card
Manufactured for: Fotografica Hungary

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