The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA)
Announces Winners of the 2008 Élan Awards
PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, April 9, 2008 — 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. The awards ceremony was held April 8, 2008 at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Florida.
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!; Henry Dreifus, Dreifus Associates Ltd.; 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: Rogers Star Rewards Card
Manufactured by: Quatro Card Technology
For: SVS/Comdata
Finalist: Bloomingdale’s Black Croc Card
Manufactured By: Travel Tags
For: Macy’s
Finalist: Dressbarn Preferred Card
Manufactured by: Versatile Card Technology
For: ADS
Best Secure Financial Card
Winner: ASE Credit Union
Manufactured by: Oberthur
For: Harland Clarke
Finalist: Diamonds Preferred Rewards
Manufactured by: VCT-NJ
For: Citibank
Finalist: Banco Popular Visa Indigo
Manufactured by: VCT-NJ
For: Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Technical Achievement
Winner: BRIT Award Mastercard PayPass
Manufactured by: ID Data
For: The Brit Awards/MasterCard
Finalist: Target Flower Card
Manufactured by: Jet
For: Target
Finalist: Powered Blinking-Light Sears Gift Card
Manufactured by: Versatile Card Technology
For: Sears
Best Gift Card
Winner: Blockbuster Spiderman
Manufacturer by: Premier Card Solutions
For: Blockbuster
Finalist: Target Flower Card
Manufactured by: Jet
For: Target
Finalist: Gator Gift Card
Manufactured by: Premier Card Solutions
For: Target Corporation
Best ID Card
Winner: eID Card Design Matrix
Manufactured by: Bundesdruckerei
For: BIS International
Finalist: Ontario Driver’s License
Manufactured by: G&D Canada
For: Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Finalist: SOLEL Membership Card Ellis Island
Manufactured by: VCT-NJ
For: Com-Pak Services
Unique Innovation and Design
Winner: Speed Racer Jump Drive Gift Card
Manufactured by: Americhip
For: Target Financial Services
Finalist: Birthday Balloon Gift Card
Manufactured by: Americhip
For: Target Financial Services
Finalist: Puppy Playing Cards Gift Cards
Manufactured by: Americhip
For: Target Financial Services
Best “Free Form” Design
Winner: Apple iTunes Spring Gift Card
Manufactured by: Travel Tags/IGH Solutions
For: Apple
Finalist: Citic Student Key Ring Series Gift Card
Manufactured by: Gemalto Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
For: All Students
Finalist: Tag and Ribbon
Manufactured by: Premier Card Solutions
For: Target Corporation
Judges’ Choice
Winner: Woods Coffee Speedbean
Manufactured by: Vanguard ID Systems
For: Accelitec/The Woods Coffee
Finalist: Nighty Night Light Gift Card
Manufactured by: Americhip
For: Target Financial Services
The delegates on site selected the People’s Choice Award. The recipients are as follows.
People's Choice
Winner: Sprint Daytona 500 Series
Manufactured by: Plasticard Locktech International
For: Sprint
Finalist: AT&T Universal SpectraFlair Card
Manufactured by: Perfect Plastic Printing
For: Citibank
Finalist: Nordstrom Forrest Friends
Manufactured by: Travel Tags
For: Nordstrom
Best Vendor New Product, Process or Material
Winner: Q-Card
For: Card Durability Tester
Additionally, the Élan Award for Best Exhibit Design was presented toCrown Roll Leaf for their extraordinary booth design. This year ICMA recognized theID Ideas Badge Designcontest winner Bristol ID Technologies, and finalists Versatile Card Technology and Placard for their card submissions.
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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