ICMA Reveals 2024 Élan Award Winners
ICMA’s Élan Awards of Excellence honors companies that are at the forefront of the worldwide transaction card industry. For more than 30 years, the Élan Awards have established the global standard for card manufacturing excellence by recognizing world-class achievements in card design, technological innovation and other categories.
ICMA Founder and Executive Director Jeffrey Barnhart revealed the 2024 Élan Award 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.”
Award Criteria
This year’s Élan Award winners were chosen from more than 130 entries from North America, MEA, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world.
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). ICMA would like to thank David Tushie, ICMA standards and technical representative, of Magellen Consulting; Brian Summerhayes, an ICMA board member, of Barnes International; and Dori Rombola, an ICMA board member, of Infineon Technologies, for serving as judges this year.
The 2024 Winners and Finalists:
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
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
Access Control
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
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
Feature: 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
Award Submission Details
The ICMA Élan Awards of Excellence are open to members only. The 2025 Élan Awards will be presented at the ICMA Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Orlando, Florida next May.
To learn more about submitting an entry into next year’s competition, email info@icma.com.