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THE INTERNATIONAL CARD MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (ICMA) ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ANNUAL ÉLAN AWARDS

ICMA Members Recognized for Card Design, Outstanding Member Service and Community Involvement

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, October 23, 2007 — Recognizing the latest advancements and achievements in plastic card design, the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) is proud to announce the winners of the organization’s annual Élan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence. Also unveiled this year were best booth design, Spiritus award and outstanding member service award. The awards ceremony was held this month at the annual ICMA EXPO, in San Diego, California.

The ICMA Élan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence are the pinnacle of design innovation and technical achievement in the plastic card industry.

Judges of the Élan Awards were Fredy Yiap, CardsNow!Asia & PassAGENow!; Annette Gormly, Kappus Plastic Co.; and Brad Paulson, Thor Engineering and ICMA standards representative. Entries were judged solely on the card features since entries were not identified by company.

Winners and finalists were chosen in each of the following award categories:

Best Non-Secure Card

Winner: JC Penney Golf Ball
Manufacturer Entrant: Plastag
Customer for Card: JC Penney

Finalist: Composite Card Mailer
Manufacturer Entrant: Ward/Kraft
Customer for Card: Ward/Kraft

Finalist: Gene Juarez Salon and Spas
Manufacturer Entrant: Jet
Customer for Card: Gen Juarez Salons, Inc.

Best Secure Financial Card

Winner: Scotiabank Business
Manufacturer Entrant: Versatile Card Technology, Inc.
Customer for Card: Scotiabank

Finalist: Citi Cash Returns
Manufacturer Entrant: Oberthur Card Systems
Customer for Card: CITIGROUP

Finalist: Tactile Titanium Gold Card
Manufacturer Entrant: Gemalto Goldpac Secur-card Ltd.
Customer for Card: Hua Xia Bank

Technical Achievement

Winner: Credit Card Embedded Authentication Device
Manufacturer Entrant: Innovative Card Technologies
Customer for Card: EMUE Technologies

Finalist: MagTag Card
Manufacturer Entrant: Vanguard ID Systems
Customer for Card: Passport Technologies, Inc.

Finalist: Composite Card Mailer
Manufacturer Entrant: Ward/Kraft
Customer for Card: Ward/Kraft

Best Gift Card

Winner: Stained Glass Flower
Manufacturer Entrant: UV Color, Inc.
Customer for Card: Target Corporation

Finalist: Target - Baby Bottle
Manufacturer Entrant: VCT-NJ
Customer for Card: COMDATA

Finalist: Punch-Out Puppy
Manufacturer Entrant: Travel Tags
Customer for Card: Target

Best ID Card

Winner: Laser Pass Access
Manufacturer Entrant: Lasercard Corporation
Customer for Card: Tesla Motors

Finalist: Distrito Federal License
Manufacturer Entrant: CPI Card Group
Customer for Card: Distrito Federal, Mexico

Finalist: 2007 Republican National Committee Presidents Club
Manufacturer Entrant: VCT-NJ
Customer for Card: USA Direct

Unique Innovation and Design

Winner: Nintendo Wii Edgelit Gift Card
Manufacturer Entrant: Americhip, Inc.
Customer for Card: Target Financial Services

Judges Choice

Winner: Credit Card Embedded Authentication Device
Manufacturer Entrant: Innovative Card Technologies
Customer for Card: EMUE Technologies

Finalist: Laser Pass Access
Manufacturer Entrant: Lasercard Corporation
Customer for Card: Tesla Motors

Finalist: Pink Cell Phone
Manufacturer Entrant: Travel Tags
Customer for Card: Target

The delegates onsite selected the People’s Choice Award. The recipients are as follows.

People's Choice

Winner: Victoria’s Secret – I Love You Card
Manufacturer Entrant: CPI Card Group
Customer for Card: Limited Brands

Finalist: Private Bank
Manufacturer Entrant: VCT-NJ
Customer for Card: JP Morgan Chase

Finalist: MagTag Card
Manufacturer Entrant: Vangaurd ID Systems
Customer for Card: Passport Technologies, Inc.

Best Vendor New Product, Process or Material

Winner: CCS-310 Card Cutting System
Manufacturer Entrant: Blumer Maschinenbau

Finalist: Recycled PVC Sheet
Manufacturer Entrant: GOEX Corporation

Finalist: Makrofol – Poly carbonate film with increased chemical resistance and flexibility
Manufacturer Entrant: Bayer Material Science

Additionally, the Élan Award for Best Exhibit Design was presented to Guangdong Chutian Dragon Smart Card Co., Ltd., based in China for their extraordinary booth design. This year ICMA recognized the ID Ideas Badge Design contest winner ABnote Australasia, and finalists VCT and Eastcompeace for their card submissions.

Also announced was ICMA’s outstanding member service award for ICMA members who have demonstrated exemplary support of the organization. This year’s winners were Bill Crawford of Waytek and Mike Swiecicki, past president of ICMA and founder of ProCard Group LLC.

“Bill Crawford is deserving of this award, he showed exceptional leadership and support of the organization via his participation in this year’s workshop as the ICMA chairperson by bringing in new ideas, and added creativity to the program,” said Jeffrey Barnhart, Founder and Executive Director of ICMA. “I am very please to bestow this award to Michael as he was instrumental in helping with conference programming to reviewing materials and providing industry guidance,” Barnhart further states.

ICMA also recognizes member companies that have implemented outstanding community service programs through its Spiritus award. This year’s winner of the Spiritus award was Jet for their contributions to their community in 2007.
For information on becoming a member of ICMA, contact Lynn McCullough at 609-799-4900 or email at LMccullough@icma.com.

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About Élan Awards
In the global arena of world-class cards, the ICMA Élan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence are the pinnacle of design innovation and technical achievement. Past recipients have included leading manufacturers from around the globe.

Winners of this prestigious competition tap the power of industry recognition and promotional opportunity.

About ICMA
Based in Princeton Junction, NJ, ICMA is a non-profit association comprised of plastic card manufacturers, personalizers and related industry participants. With more than 200 members globally, the ICMA acts as a clearinghouse for industry issues, including the production, technology, application, security and environmental issues of plastic cards.

Editor’s Note: JPEG images are available upon request. Please contact Stacy Flint at 609-799-4900 or email: SFlint@icma.com.

 




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