ADVANCES IN PERSONALIZATION, CARD MATERIAL CHALLENGES, ICMA ACADEMY WORKSHOP

- Attendees Learn the Latest Issues and Applications in Card Manufacturing and Production -

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, June 2, 2005 —The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) recently kicked off its Spring Academy Workshops. The first was held May 4-5 in Dallas, Texas, USA; and the second was held June 1-2 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The theme of both workshops was “Playing the Right Cards: Practical Solutions for Plastic Card Production,” and session topics ranged from card materials challenges, RFID technology, engineering design and personalization to biodegradable card materials, European drivers licenses, e-passports and tachograph technology. Speakers also address the future of magnetic stripe technology,

According to conference chairman Dean Warner, executive vice president of operations, Oberthur USA, “The workshops were very comprehensive, providing a much-welcomed forum and unique learning opportunity for ICMA member companies and their employees. People were asking and getting answers to their questions in a very relaxed environment, yet one that also promoted networking and improved production techniques.”

Reflecting industry trends in the U.S. market, other session topics included pre-press, Six Sigma, standards and holomagnetics, as well as a special session on mag stripe analysis for early quality detection of stripe application and lamination problems.

Offering solutions to the current industry challenges, participating speakers included representatives from Bürkle GmbH, Card Based Information Technologies, DuPont Teijin Films, Eclipse Labs, First National Bank of Omaha, HP, Klöckner Pentaplast of America, Inc., Naujokas & Associates, NBS Card Technology, Oberthur Card Systems, Personix, Plastag, Rocheux, Spartanics and Transilwrap.

First-time attendee, Chris Green, customer service manager for U.S.-based card manufacturer Didier Printing, found the workshops highly beneficial. “I really enjoyed attending the workshop,” said Green, who is based in Fort Wayne, IN. “The session topics were timely and the speakers were very thorough. I came away with a great deal of knowledge that I can easily apply to my business."

Additional highlights of this year’s workshop were special table top displays, where suppliers were able to show off their products and gain more exposure to potential clients.

Following each day of sessions, ICMA hosted two networking receptions designed to directly connect members of the card market segment with personalizers and potential clients. “The networking events are very successful and are a great way to meet your peers and ideally increase your business,” added Warner.

Geared towards all card manufacturing and personalization production managers, supervisors, executives and line workers, the Spring ICMA Academy Workshops are open to ICMA members only. The next workshops will be held June 29-30 in Milan and August 31-September 1 in Seoul, Korea.

To register for the Spring ICMA Academy Workshops or learn more about becoming an ICMA member, please visit www.icma.com, contact Lynn McCullough at LMccullough@icma.com, or phone 1-609-799-4900.

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About ICMA

Based in Princeton Junction, NJ USA, ICMA is a non-profit association comprised of plastic card manufacturers, personalizers and related industry participants. With more than 220 members globally, representing more than 35 countries, ICMA acts as a clearinghouse for industry issues, including the production, technology, application, security and environmental issues of plastic cards. Visit the ICMA website at www.icma.com.