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Inkjet, Laser, Digital, Thermal, Graphics, Wide Format Printing Systems
News Release from: Zetes
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 February 2006
Zetes Acquires Belgian Smart Card
Producer
Zetes Industries has acquired the cards division of the Belgian company Idoc, which specialises in the production of secured identity documents.
Zetes Industries has acquired the cards division of the Belgian company Idoc, which specialises in the production of secured identity documents The deal means that the Zetes Group now covers the entire smart card production chain - with or without contact - at its Zetes Cards operation, producer of the Belgian electronic identity cards (eID) and social identity cards (SIS) in particular
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 3 Oct 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Personal authentication is a booming market in which the Zetes Group has established a strong position over the past five years with its Zetes PASS competence centre (Personal Authentication and Security Services) and Zetes Cards, its secured smart card production plant (embedding, personalisation, distribution), said the company.
The investments undertaken in these services and production operations proved worthwhile in Belgium (where the group was awarded the eID and SIS contracts) and then on the international scene, including the successful implementation of the project to produce biometric registration kits for voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on behalf of the United Nations, added Zetes.
To expand its activities and increase its competitiveness on the personal authentication market and in the smart card production sector in particular still further, Zetes decided to acquire the Cards division of Idoc.
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The resources acquired through the takeover complement those of Zetes Cards in terms of equipment and research and development, claimed the company.
Thanks to the takeover, Zetes Cards can now add lamination and cutting equipment and skills for the production of smart cards with and without contact (RFID).
The conmapny has also gained digital printing equipment in colour and secured applications, resulting in a wider, more diversified product range in personalised cards for private and public customers, such as in the emerging countries.
The Idoc Cards division will be transferred to Zetes Cards.
All the members of staff concerned - a total of 14 people (operators, IT specialists, account managers) will join the 64 employees at Zetes Cards.
The deal also includes the handover of Idoc's private and public customers.
Idoc has a number of references in the public sector in particular, including the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry (cards for diplomats and for Belgian residents abroad) and the Luxembourg Government (national identity cards).
The acquisition of the Idoc Card division represents an investment of Euro1.9 million (IFRS).
It encompasses the handover of equipment, production software tools, staff and the installed base.
The division will be consolidated in to the accounts of Zetes Industries from 15 February.
Production equipment will be integrated in the secured infrastructure of the croup on April 1.
Zetes Group chief executive officer, Alain Wirtz, commented: "Already being a leader in the field of card production and personalisation services in Belgium and Luxembourg, Zetes is planning to expand and increase its range on the international market for personal authentication and the production of secured electronic identity documents in Europe and the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
By controlling the entire production chain for these documents, we will be able to increase the added value on contracts, expand our customer base and, more generally, improve our competitiveness on a market where few players can boast such a comprehensive range of equipment and know-how." And he added: "Moreover, this acquisition is the first concrete step in our strategy aimed at the selective acquisition of technological skills in the field of personal authentication, as announced at the time of our recent IPO.".
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