The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA)’s represent companies that are innovating and leading the global transaction card industry. Honoring world-class achievements in card design, technological innovation and other categories, the Élan Awards have established the global vanguard for card manufacturing excellence for more than 30 years. ICMA Founder and Executive Director Jeffrey Barnhart revealed the 2023 Élan Award winners during a ceremony at ICMA’s Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Orlando, Florida on May 17.
“Widely acknowledged as the most renowned platform for card excellence, the coveted Élan Awards distinguish ICMA manufacturers, suppliers and personalization/fulfillment members before their peers and customers as industry leaders,” said Barnhart. “Winning an Élan Award stimulates brand awareness, prestige and new business opportunities. Plus, it offers significant promotional opportunities for high-profile industry recognition and visibility.”
Élan Award Categories and Criteria
Open to ICMA members only, Élan Award winners are selected from more than 100 entries from North America, MEA, Asia, Europe and other areas of the world. This year, ICMA received the most entries in the competition’s history.
The award categories include:
- Feature Cards
- Secure Payment Cards
- Loyalty, Promotional and Gift Cards
- ID Cards
- Access Control Cards
- Unique Innovation
- Personalization & Fulfillment (Product, Service or Project)
- Best Supplier/Vendor for a New Product, Service or Innovation
- People’s Choice
To determine the winners, the Élan Award judges use a quantifiable scoring system, based on criteria including graphical design, printing, complexity, technology, quality, innovation, uniqueness, practicality and security (if applicable).
Élan Award Winners
Here are the 2023 ICMA Élan Award winners.
Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited
Category: Manufacturer – ID Cards
Card Name: Possession Acquisition Firearms Licence
Manufactured for: Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Canadian Firearms Program
Chutian Dragon Co., Limited
Category: Manufacturer – Access Control Cards
Card Name: BOC e-CNY Hardware Wallet of CIIE themed badge
Manufactured for: Bank of China
Ellipse (Tie)
Category: Supplier/Vendor – New Product, Service or Innovation
Card Name: EVC All-In-One Micromodule
Manufactured for: ELLIPSE, SPS, ABCorp
SPS IN Groupe (Tie)
Category: Supplier/Vendor – New Product, Service or Innovation
Card Name: EVC All-In-One by Ellipse, SPS, ABCorp Dual Interface
Manufactured for: Ellipse, SPS, ABCorp
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) (China) Technologies Co., Ltd.
Category: Manufacturer – Loyalty, Promotional, Gift Cards
Card Name: Starbucks Classic Winter-Collection Gift Cards – Christmas-Wish Gift Card for Starbucks
Manufactured for: Starbucks
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) (China) Technologies Co., Ltd.
Category: Manufacturer – Secure Payment Cards
Card Name: Agricultural Bank of China Year of the Rabbit Credit Card
Manufactured for: Agricultural Bank of China
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) (China) Technologies Co., Ltd.
Category: Manufacturer – Unique Innovation Prototype
Card Name: Dual-Interface Ceramic Card
Goldpac Limited
Category: Personalization & Fulfillment – Product, Service or Project
Card Name: Bank of Ningbo Diamond Credit Card
Manufactured for: Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd.
Hengbao Co., Ltd.
Category: Manufacturer – Unique Innovation
Card Name: Heart Music Gift
Manufactured for: Hengbao Co., Ltd.
ICK International Inc.
Category: Feature Card – Metal
Card Name: EcommBx Visa Card
Manufactured for: EcommBx Ltd.
Swiss Wood Solutions AG / Copecto GmbH/Germany
Category: Feature Card – Environmentally Friendly
Card Name: TIMBERCARD
Manufactured for: GLS Bank/Germany
Thomas Greg & Sons Mexico
Category: People’s Choice
Card Name: Mexican Consular ID
Manufactured for: Talleres de Impresión de Estampillas y Valores
More Insights on Card Trends
For more than 30 years, ICMA has represented the interests of the card manufacturing industry—which includes manufacturers, personalizers, issuers and suppliers—as its leading global association.
Throughout the year, ICMA members have the opportunity to share insights and knowledge by giving presentations during ICMA webcasts and events. The association’s main event is its annual Card Manufacturing & Personalization EXPO.
ICMA offers regular educational opportunities, including ACE-Manufacturing, ACE-Personalization and ACE-Advanced Technologies training and exams at the ICMA EXPO. ICMA also offers virtual ACE-Commercial training, which provides sales, marketing, customer service and other key personnel at ICMA member companies with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of card manufacturing. In 2023, ACE-Commercial trainings will take place on September 6 and November 1.
Learn more about the benefits of ICMA membership.