GLOBAL INDUSTRY ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ADDRESSED AT ICMA’S ANNUAL CARD MANUFACTURING EXPO

- Results of Global Market Survey to be Revealed, Association to Celebrate 15 th Anniversary -

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, July 1, 2005 —With seminar topics ranging from contactless technology, card design and personalization trends to advanced ID technologies, card materials and China’s effect on worldwide commerce and manufacturing, the International Card Manufacturers Association’s (ICMA) Annual EXPO promises to deliver a host of educational and networking opportunities. It will be held October 16-19, 2005, at the Renaissance Eden Roc Resort in Miami, Florida USA.

This premier card manufacturing event also marks ICMA’s 15 th Anniversary as an association. “The card manufacturing industry continues to undergo much evolution and change,” said Jeffrey Barnhart, co-founder and executive director, ICMA. “Yet throughout the years, the ICMA EXPO has remained an ideal forum to provide industry representatives with the necessary education for them to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and to provide the tools they need for continued success,” he added.

Olympic swimmer John Naber will serve as keynote speaker for the ICMA EXPO. In his presentation, titled “Awaken the Olympian Within,” John will share with attendees his knowledge, methods and key ingredients that encourage and often lead to successful innovation. John earned five Olympic medals in 1976 and was subsequently inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. In addition to his athletic achievements , he is also a network television and radio sports broadcaster who—throughout his 26-year professional career—has helped countless business and political leaders achieve their personal and professional goals .

Other program highlights include a panel discussion on the impact of Visa’s new card design, as well as sessions on ID fraud, Federal Common ID, upcoming business models for dual interface cards and the evolution of PVC card bodies.

Participating speakers include representatives from 509 Technologies, Arthur Blank & Co., Austria Card, Cocaso, CP Petrochemical Business Group, Datacard, Digimarc, Dreifus Associates, Folien Wolfen, Gemplus, Giesecke & Devrient, ID Technology Partners, Intech Direct, Narboni S.A.S., Personix and VCT/Qualteq Division, among others.

In addition to the main conference program, ICMA will also reveal the results of the Annual ICMA Global Market Survey, which statistically details how the card manufacturing industry has evolved over the past year and identifies major trends for the future. The Annual EXPO also serves as the venue for presenting the association’s annual Élan Awards, which are given out in multiple categories for outstanding card design; and the Spiritus Award, which goes to one member company that has implemented noteworthy, community-based programs designed for the betterment of society. ICMA will also award one person for their Outstanding Member Service, and distinguish one exhibitor with an award for Best Booth Design.

“Since 1990, ICMA has worked to fulfill its mission of promoting the plastic card industry and the value of its products and services. We are very appreciative of our members’ support and dedication, and encourage everyone to join us for this fundamental educational and networking event,” said Barnhart. “More importantly, we invite everyone to celebrate ICMA’s 15 th anniversary, and help us continue to make a world of difference in the plastic card industry.”

Providing additional company exposure and enhanced networking opportunities, the ICMA EXPO will once again feature an exhibition of suppliers of card manufacturing and personalization equipment, materials, components and services.

Exhibiting companies include American Bank Note Company, Apollo Colours, Associated Pacific Machine Corp., Barnes International, Boltaron, Blumer Maschinenbau AG, Challenge Card Design Plastikkarten GmbH, CFC International Digicard, Dynetics Engineering Corp., De La Rue Holographics, Freeman Company, Functional Materials, Goex, Hewlett-Packard Co., INEOS Films (formerly EVC Films), Kappus Plastic Company, Klockner Pentaplast of America, Kora-Packmat Maschinenbau GmbH, Kurz Group, Melzer Maschinenbau GmbH, Metronic AG, New Hampshire Plastics, Oasys Technologies Limited, Pittsburgh Embossing Services, Prime Factors, Robert Bürkle GmbH, Q-Card Company, RPC Cobelplast Montonate S.R.L., Spartanics, Technical Machine Products and Transilwrap Company, among others.

For more information on the ICMA Annual EXPO–-exhibiting, registration or sponsorships, or to learn how to become an ICMA member, contact Lynn McCullough at (609) 799-4900; e-mail lmccullough@icma.com or visit the ICMA website at http://www.icma.com.

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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.