Muehlbauer selected for pilot Spanish Electronic Identity Card project
14 December, 2005
category: Biometrics
Muehlbauer, which created its own market segment it calls “TECURITY,” has landed a trial project to produce the Spanish ID Card. Its “Express Solution” will allow Spanish police to produce fully operational security documents or ID Cards on-site. In minutes the card could be optically and electronically equipped with personal information, as well as a fingerprint and picture.
The Muehlbauer technology company, independent advisor and manufacturer of innovative security solutions for the TECURITY market, announced the selection of Muehlbauer’s ‘Express Solution’ CLP54 for the pilot phase of the Spanish Identitiy Card project. Muehlbauer is one of the strategic partners of Indra, the prime contractor of the General Directorate of State Heritage to set up a decentralized infrastructure for the personalization of ID Cards.
The Muehlbauer ‘Express Solution’ CLP 54 enables Spanish police authorities to produce fully operational and top-quality security documents or ID Cards on-site. Within minutes the card intended for personalization will be optically and electronically equipped with personal – also biometrical data like finger print, photography and signature – and issued to citizens without delay. Long waiting times from applying until receiving the ID Card are now a thing of the past.
Since the beginning of this year, Muehlbauer has passed all high-level performance tests for the world’s first decentralized ID Card project in an impressive manner. Indra, as well as the Spanish police forces as contracting authority, is fully convinced of the CLP 54 potential. A strong argument apart from its reliability was the system’s security concept. After the centralized pre-personalization, the magazines will be sealed and transported to the police stations. An operator for equipping the magazines with the already ‘hot’ cards is no longer required. This results in an enormous reduction of time and increased security.
A total of more than 35 machines have already been ordered from Muehlbauer. The machines are already scheduled to be delivered at the beginning of 2006. After completing the official pilot phase in May 2006, the Spanish government intends to equip up to 350 police stations with decentralized personalization solutions country wide. At the end of 200 the installation of the world’s first and complete decentralized infrastructure for personalizing ID cards is set to be completed.
In cooperation with Indra, Muehlbauer is already very well prepared and positioned for implementing the entire project. The Muehlbauer personalization system has already been qualified through the Spanish police and is considered to be the most suitable one. Muehlbauer has many years of experience in technologically innovative security solutions and benefits from the experience of more than 30 ID projects in the past, such as the Spanish Immigration Card. The company meets with the highest authority standards. Muehlbauer is the only company world-wide capable of realizing turn-key and complete solutions for the card industry from a single source, and thus meeting all customer requirements in its segment.
Muehlbauer is a global independent consultant and manufacturer of technologically innovative security solutions in a market segment termed by the company as the “TECURITY-market”. With about 1,500 employees in 26 locations on five continents, Muehlbauer is the leading supplier of production equipment for the Smart Card industry. These solutions enable clients to manufacture any type of Chip Card, including ID Cards, ePassports, eVisa, Contact and Contactless Cards, Dual Interface, as well as Multimedia Cards and Smart Labels for access control, supply chain management, tracking of textiles and applications for the retail industry.
Information on Muehlbauer is available on the Internet at www.muehlbauer.de.