Barnes EMV Training (March 2026, Miami)  

Barnes International is offering EMV Training, taking place in Miami, Florida from March 23–26. The three-day interactive course led by an EMV expert is designed to equip payment professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to implement EMV card and mobile payment solutions. Covering topics such as EMV fundamentals, transaction flows, Visa and Mastercard applications (both contact and contactless), cryptography and key management and card personalization and testing, the training empowers participants to confidently manage EMV rollouts. Barnes has trained hundreds of professionals globally through its public and in-house programs. 

For more information, visit barnestest.com. 

From Ashes to Innovation: A New Chapter Begins at VTT Langenhagen  

Just 10 months after a devastating fire destroyed VTT’s production hall in Langenhagen on New Year’s Day 2025, the company celebrated the topping-out ceremony for a brand-new, state-of-the-art 1,700 m² facility — 250 m² larger than the original. Thanks to exceptional teamwork and rapid construction progress, the expanded hall features enhanced technical capabilities and comprehensive fire-protection measures, positioning VTT to even better serve ID and passport manufacturers with innovative solutions. Production is set to return to Langenhagen in March 2026, ending a productive temporary relocation to Hanover. CEO Marshall Haldane of parent company Cardel Group called the new building “a symbol of resilience, unity and a bright future ahead,” while expressing deep gratitude to customers and partners for their unwavering support throughout the recovery. 

For more information, visit cardel-group.com. 

CompoSecure to Acquire Husky 

CompoSecure announced a business combination with Husky Technologies Limited, a global manufacturer of engineered equipment and aftermarket services, valuing the merged entity at approximately $7.4 billion. Husky, founded in 1953, is renowned for developing technologies that support essential industries worldwide—particularly in plastics manufacturing—focusing on sustainability through material reuse, medical-grade polymers and circular economy solutions. Under the deal, Husky will continue to operate independently under its current leadership while leveraging CompoSecure’s partnership to enhance innovation and growth. Executives from both companies highlighted the combination’s potential for technology expansion, operational strength and long-term value creation. The transaction, advised by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval. 

For more information, visit composecure.com. 

CPI Card Group Partners with Karta to Deliver Digital Security for Prepaid Cards  

CPI Card Group Inc. has formed a strategic partnership with and made a minority investment in Karta, an Australia-based prepaid program manager, to enhance prepaid card security through Karta’s SafeToBuy technology. The innovation removes printed card details and embeds secure payment data within an EMV chip, preventing prepaid card fraud such as balance draining. As Karta’s exclusive U.S. supplier, CPI will produce contactless, chip-enabled gift cards that can be activated by tapping a phone, linking a digital experience with physical cards. The collaboration strengthens CPI’s position in secure payment card solutions while setting a new standard for fraud prevention and consumer trust in prepaid programs. 

For more information, visit cpicardgroup.com. 

Ellipse Achieves Mastercard’s Card Quality Management Certification for its Los Angeles Facility  

Ellipse announced that its Los Angeles facility has earned ICMA member Mastercard’s rigorous Card Quality Management (CQM) certification, marking a major milestone in the company’s advancement of smartcard technology. The certification validates the quality, reliability, and interoperability of Ellipse’s EVC micromodules, which enable battery-free, EMV-based dynamic security codes (dCVC/dCVV) on payment cards. This achievement ensures seamless integration within Mastercard’s global network of suppliers and reinforces confidence among card issuers and consumers in the everyday performance of EVC-ready cards. CTO and co-founder Sebastien Pochic praised the team’s dedication in achieving this key milestone, which follows previous CQM certifications for Ellipse’s Shenzhen and Shanghai facilities and represents the company’s first CQM certification in the United States. 

For more information, visit ellipse.la. 

Germany Presents Proof-of-Concept for Quantum-Secure ID Card  

Germany has successfully demonstrated the country’s first quantum-resistant national ID card through a proof-of-concept led by state-owned Bundesdruckerei Gruppe in collaboration with G+D and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). The project integrates post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms—covering both encryption and authentication—onto ID chips manufactured by ICMA member Infineon, which feature a new design supporting PQC standards, with the software deployed by G+D. This milestone aligns with the EU’s roadmap to adopt PQC in high-risk applications by 2030 and follows Germany’s two-stage plan to protect personal data with quantum-resistant digital signatures first, then achieve full quantum-secure ID cards, ensuring protection against future quantum computer attacks that could break current encryption. BSI President Claudia Plattner emphasized that by 2030, quantum computers are expected to threaten today’s cryptography, making the transition urgent. 

For more information, visit gi-de.com. 

Graph-Tech USA to sell Trimatt Systems CardLine 7000 in the Americas 

Graph-Tech USA (GTUS) has announced a partnership with Australia-based Trimatt Systems that authorizes GTUS to sell the Trimatt CardLine 7000 solution throughout the Americas. The CardLine 7000 is an award-winning system used to produce personalized and packaged SIM cards, gift cards, and similar products. 

The partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies, rooted in decades of collaboration within the card industry. Trimatt Systems, founded by Matt Johnson, is known for advanced automation and print solutions, while GTUS—founded by Markus Portmann—specializes in controllers, card personalization systems and inkjet printers. 

Under the agreement, GTUS will market the CardLine 7000 integrated with its own controller technology and eZ-Inkjet 100 printer. Both companies emphasize that the collaboration aims to address growing demand for secure, modern card personalization and packaging solutions, particularly as legacy suppliers shift focus elsewhere. 

The CardLine 7000 has already become a standard solution in regions such as Australasia and the Middle East, with growing adoption in Europe, and the partners expect strong market uptake in the Americas. 

View a video of the Trimatt Systems CardLine 7000 solution here. 

IDEMIA Public Security to Launch New State Driver’s Licenses and IDs  

IDEMIA Public Security North America has begun issuing all new driver’s licenses and identification cards for the State of California, featuring a secure and visually distinctive design developed in partnership with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The new cards incorporate advanced security technologies—including a digital signature and anti-tampering features—ensuring compliance with AAMVA and REAL ID standards while resisting counterfeiting and extending card durability to 10 years. Alongside these enhancements, the design celebrates California’s natural beauty with imagery of its coastline, redwoods and poppies. Rob Gardner, CEO of IDEMIA Civil Identity, emphasized the company’s commitment to elevating identity protection and trust through innovation. As the nation’s leading producer of secure physical and mobile IDs, IDEMIA continues to deliver mission-critical biometric and credentialing solutions to government agencies across the United States.  

For more information, visit idemia.com.  

Infineon Launches Secured Prepaid Tag Solutions for Gift Cards  

Infineon Technologies AG has launched two secured prepaid tag solutions to enhance the security of gift cards—one for open loop cards using EMV standards and another for closed loop retailer-specific cards. These new cards replace vulnerable elements like visible codes, barcodes and magnetic stripes with cryptographically protected NFC chips, allowing consumers to tap their phones to activate, check balances and redeem securely. Developed with Karta Gift Card Ltd., the system uses AES encryption and dynamic authentication to prevent cloning, skimming and replay attacks. Fully compatible with existing smart card and payment infrastructures, Infineon’s prepaid solutions aim to drastically reduce gift card fraud, which currently accounts for a significant portion of consumer scams and merchant losses. 

For more information, visit infineon.com. 

U.S. Bank and Mastercard Debut BNPL Alternative ‘Split Card’  

U.S. Bank has launched the Split World Mastercard, a new credit card that automatically converts every purchase into a three-month, interest-free installment plan with no annual fee, offering a built-in alternative to traditional “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services. For larger purchases over $100, users can extend payments to six or 12 months for a small fixed fee. Marketed as a flexible budgeting tool, the card targets Gen Z and other consumers seeking both the convenience and protections of a credit card and the predictability of structured payments. Research by PYMNTS Intelligence shows younger consumers are increasingly adopting card installment options, with 14% of millennials and Gen Z using them for short-term plans and favoring them for categories like travel, experiences and groceries—areas once dominated by BNPL products. 

For more information, visit mastercard.com. 

Monadnock Announces Passing of Chairman and CEO   

Monadnock Paper Mills and Monadnock Non-Wovens announced the passing of longtime Chairman and CEO Richard G. Verney, who died on September 10, at age 79. A second-generation leader who joined the company in 1969 and became CEO in 1978, Verney transformed Monadnock into a global leader in specialty and sustainable papermaking, founding Monadnock Non-Wovens in 1998 and earning top sustainability honors such as a 2024 Platinum EcoVadis Rating. Known for his deep commitment to environmental stewardship, community service and ethical leadership, Verney served on numerous nonprofit boards and was recognized with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of New Hampshire. Operations will continue seamlessly under new CEO Andrew Manns, a longtime company advisor and former CFO, who pledged to uphold Verney’s legacy of innovation, integrity and social responsibility. 

For more information, visit mpm.com.