Best of the Best in Global Card Industry Recognized During EXPO

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J.—May 22, 2024—The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA), a global trade association for card manufacturers, personalizers, issuers and suppliers, has announced the winners of the prestigious Élan Awards of Excellence, which celebrate the pinnacle of design innovation, security and technical achievements in the global card industry. Jeffrey Barnhart, ICMA founder and executive director, revealed the winners during a ceremony at ICMA’s Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Orlando, Florida on May 15.

“The esteemed Élan Awards distinguish ICMA card manufacturing suppliers, card manufacturing personalizers and fulfillment members as leaders in the industry before their peers and customers,” said Barnhart. “Élan Award recipients benefit greatly from heightened industry prestige, positive branding, increased visibility and new business growth opportunities.”

With entries from North America, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and other areas of the world, the Élan Awards of Excellence competition drives innovation within the global card industry.

The Élan Awards of Excellence winners are:

Best Personalization & Fulfillment Product, Service or Project

• Winner: Goldpac Limited for the HengTong Black Gold Card for SHUNDE RURAL COMMERCIAL BANK
• Finalist: CompoSecure for the NBCBANQ card for NBCBANQ
• Finalist: Placard Pty Ltd. for the citro card for Hay Limited and citro

Manufacturing Excellence Awards

Loyalty, Promotional and Gift Cards

• Winner: G+D (China) for the Starbucks Intangible Cultural Heritage Dragon Year Gift Card for Starbucks
• Finalist: CompoSecure for the TACO BELL card for TACO BELL
• Finalist: G+D (China) for the Starbucks Cherry Blossom Gift Card for Starbucks

Best Secure Access Control Cards

• Winner: Goldpac Limited for the HiPhi NFC Key Card for Human Horizons
• Finalist: Hengbao Co., Ltd. for the Bank of Communications (Jiaozi) Birth Millennium Commemoration Theme E-CNY Hardware Wallet for the Bank of Communications
• Finalist: Wuhan Tianyu Information Industry Co. LTD for the “Happy live in Hainan” shape card for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Best ID Cards

• Winner: Canadian Bank Note Co. Ltd. for the State of Wisconsin Driver License for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Finalist: Thales for the Washington, DC Driver License for the Washington, DC Department of Motor Vehicles
• Finalist: Placard Pty Ltd for the Heavy Vehicle Driver Licence for the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads

Unique Innovation

• Winner: Hengbao Co., Ltd. for the Bank of Communications CIFTIS 2023 E-CNY Hardware Wallet for the Bank of Communications
• Finalist: Goldpac Limited for The Chinese Zodiac Gold Metal Sticker Credit Card for the Bank Of Communications Credit Card Center, which is a finalist for its laser material and pure gold foil in the pattern of the Chinese Zodiac
• Finalist: G+D (China) for the China Everbright Bank Customized Number Card (Panda) for China Everbright Bank

Best Secure Payment Card

• Winner: CompoSecure for the INDUSIND BANK AVIOS VISA INFINITE CREDIT CARD for Indusind Bank
• Finalist: Wuhan Tianyu Information Industry Co. LTD for The Year of the Loong Zodiac Card for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• Finalist: Hengbao Co., Ltd. for the Bank of Hunan – Hunan Embroidery Card for the Bank of Hunan
• Finalist: Hengbao Co., Ltd. for the Jiangsu Rural Credit Union Association- Bookish Card (Dark Blue) for the Jiangsu Rural Credit Union Association

Unique Innovation Prototype

• Winner: EASTCOMPEACE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. for the Light of Technology card
• Finalist: CompoSecure for the LUX Glass card
• Finalist: G+D (China) for the Colored Ceramic Card—Blue and White Porcelain Edition

Feature: Metal Cards

• Winner: CompoSecure for the BMW PRECISION CARD for BMW
• Finalist: ICK International Inc. for the Billionaire Visa Infinite card for Insignia Bank

Feature: Environmentally Friendly Cards

• Winner: CompoSecure for the ROGERS card for ROGERS
• Finalist: Wuhan Tianyu Information Industry Co. LTD for the low-carbon version of the “Love the universe” card for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• Finalist: Goldpac Limited for the New Energy Vehicles Owners Credit Card (Gold Card) for the BANK OF SHANGHAI

People’s Choice

• Winner: CPI Card Group for the LED Cards
• Finalist: Composecure for the Lux Glass Card
• Finalist: EASTCOMPEACE TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. For the ICBC Zodiac Dragon Debit IC Standard Card for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Judging encompassed three categories: card suppliers, personalization and fulfillment and card manufacturing. David Tushie, ICMA standards representative, Brian Summerhayes of Barnes International and Dori (Skelding) Rombola of Infineon Technologies served as this year’s judges.

The next Élan Awards competition will open in January 2025 and winners will be announced during ICMA’s 2025 Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO. The in-person EXPO will take place from May 12-15, 2025, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. To learn more about submitting an entry into next year’s competition, email info@icma.com. To learn more about the benefits of ICMA membership, visit ICMA.com.

About ICMA
The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) is the leading global card association for card manufacturers and personalizers supported by suppliers and other industry participants. For more than 30 years, ICMA’s annual Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO has served as the world’s only transaction card-focused conference and exhibition. The association maintains several industry-leading training and education programs including the Advanced Card Education program, which is the global standard of recognition for advanced knowledge of the card manufacturing industry. ICMA officially participates in the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). For more information, visit ICMA.com.