GSN_May_FINAL_Yumpu
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
HID Global and prime contractor DLRS Group win Best ID<br />
Document Award for new Irish Passport card; credit-card<br />
sized card is first and only passport deployed in Europe for<br />
border crossing<br />
DUBLIN, Ireland and AUSTIN, Texas<br />
<strong>May</strong> 10, 2016 – DLRS Group,<br />
Ireland’s leading security printer and<br />
HID Global®, a worldwide leader in<br />
secure identity solutions, today announced<br />
that the new Irish Passport<br />
Card has won the Regional Best ID<br />
Document of the Year Award 2016<br />
by Reconnaissance International at<br />
this year’s High Security Printing<br />
Conference in Bucharest, Romania.<br />
The programme’s prime contractor<br />
DLRS Group joined forces with<br />
HID Global, Absolute Graphics, and<br />
Purple Pod to design and produce<br />
Europe’s first passport card, which<br />
has been in circulation since October,<br />
2015. The award was presented<br />
to Ireland’ Passport Service Department<br />
of Foreign Affairs and Trade.<br />
The credit-card sized card is the<br />
first and only passport card deployed<br />
in Europe for border crossing. It allows<br />
Irish citizens to travel across<br />
Europe without their traditional<br />
passports. The award recognizes<br />
the Passport Card for its innovative<br />
design, the combination of state-ofthe-art<br />
technologies and a unique<br />
mobile application process. Citizens<br />
can obtain the card by applying online<br />
or through a smartphone app<br />
that allows the applicant<br />
to submit a compliant<br />
photo from a mobile device.<br />
Payments are made<br />
through a secure payment<br />
gateway.<br />
Cardholders benefit<br />
from the card’s state-ofthe-art<br />
technologies and<br />
innovative security features. The card<br />
is the first to combine optical security<br />
media and an ICAO-compliant<br />
chip, which together provide ultrahigh<br />
levels of protection against attempts<br />
at fraud and counterfeiting.<br />
Other innovations optimizing the<br />
card’s reliability, durability and security<br />
include a highly secure personalized<br />
embedded hologram photo;<br />
a unique anti-crack technology that<br />
protects the card from daily wear<br />
and tear; and direct bonding, which<br />
minimizes the space required for<br />
the RFID chip, allowing the unique<br />
combination of security features.<br />
Other security features on the<br />
passport card include the holder’s<br />
signature, a Kinegram overlay featuring<br />
a 12 string harp, specific tactile<br />
features, optically variable and<br />
thermochromic inks plus a covert<br />
diffractive image.<br />
16<br />
The new Irish passport card fits<br />
thematically with the new Irish ePassport,<br />
using some of the same imagery,<br />
representing the culture, history<br />
and people of Ireland.<br />
The Irish security printer DLRS,<br />
was the lead company in the management<br />
and delivery of the card<br />
project, partnering with HID Global<br />
Ireland, Absolute Graphics and Purple<br />
Pod. It was also the producer of<br />
Ireland’s new ePassport, which was<br />
introduced in 2013.<br />
HID Global designed and manufactures<br />
the card and also supplies<br />
the personalization software and<br />
Fargo Laser Engraving equipment<br />
– the high security personalization<br />
systems used to print and issue the<br />
cards.<br />
Austin Gormley Director of Passport<br />
Services, Department of Foreign<br />
Affairs and Trade Ireland said,