DLRS Group, Ireland’s leading security printer and HID Global®, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, today announced that the new Irish Passport Card has won the Regional Best ID Document of the Year Award 2016 by Reconnaissance International at this year’s High Security Printing Conference in Bucharest, Romania. The programme’s prime contractor DLRS Group joined forces with HID Global, Absolute Graphics, and Purple Pod to design and produce Europe’s first passport card, which has been in circulation since October 2015. The award was presented to Ireland’s Passport Service Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The credit-card sized card is the first and only passport card deployed in Europe for border crossing. It allows Irish citizens to travel across Europe without their traditional passports. The award recognises the Passport Card for its innovative design, the combination of state-of-the-art technologies and a unique mobile application process. Citizens can obtain the card by applying online or through a smartphone app that allows the applicant to submit a compliant photo from a mobile device. Payments are made through a secure payment gateway.  

Cardholders benefit from the card’s state-of-the-art technologies and innovative security features. The card is the first to combine optical security media and an ICAO-compliant chip, which together provide ultra-high levels of protection against attempts at fraud and counterfeiting. Other innovations optimising the card’s reliability, durability and security include a highly secure personalised embedded hologram photo; a unique anti-crack technology that protects the card from daily wear and tear; and direct bonding, which minimises the space required for the RFID chip, allowing the unique combination of security features.

Other security features on the passport card include the holder’s signature, a Kinegram overlay featuring a 12 string harp, specific tactile features, optically variable and thermochromic inks plus a covert diffractive image.

The new Irish passport card fits thematically with the new Irish ePassport, using some of the same imagery, representing the culture, history and people of Ireland. 

The Irish security printer DLRS, was the lead company in the management and delivery of the card project, partnering with HID Global Ireland, Absolute Graphics and Purple Pod. It was also the producer of Ireland’s new ePassport, which was introduced in 2013.

HID Global designed and manufactures the card and also supplies the personalisation software and Fargo Laser Engraving equipment – the high security personalisation systems used to print and issue the cards.

Austin Gormley Director of Passport Services, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland said, “We are delighted to receive this prestigious international award, which recognises the quality and innovation of the card, and the benefit it delivers to our citizens. It is also a tribute to the technical capabilities within Ireland.”

The award was accepted by Austin Gormley, Director of Passport Services, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland as well as David O’Connor of DLRS.

The Regional ID Document of the Year award aims to promote the best in security printing, system infrastructure and implementation of a government passport, identity or other security card scheme. The conference organisers, Reconnaissance International, recognised the pioneering use of many new high security printing technologies and techniques deployed in the Irish passport card.

“DLRS and our team of partners take great pride in delivering the new Irish passport card that is making the lives of Irish citizens easier,” said David O’Connor, Sales Director, DLRS. “Our goal was to deliver the highest quality and most innovative card imaginable, within budget to the government of Ireland. This award recognises our success in doing so.”

“Congratulations to Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs on this exciting award,” said Rob Haslam, Vice President Government ID Solutions, HID Global. “DLRS successfully spearheaded this award-winning project by bringing together the right team of experts, ideas and technologies. It is rewarding that HID Global’s daily focus on innovation has helped to deliver this unique project.”