Artificial intelligence is challenging established business models. New materials are opening opportunities for more sustainable and distinctive cards. Security and identity technologies continue to advance. And as banking becomes increasingly digital, the physical card remains an important part of how consumers experience brands, payments and trusted credentials.
For card industry professionals, keeping pace means more than following individual trends. It means understanding how these developments intersect and what they could mean for the future of the card ecosystem.
CardTREX 2026, an International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) event, brings industry professionals together October 27–28 at the Lohmann TEC Center in Neuwied, Germany, to explore those connections.
Chaired by Joël Besnier of BG INGENIERIE, CardTREX creates a focused European forum for professionals across payments, identity and access, security, loyalty and gift cards, manufacturing and personalization and other areas of the global card ecosystem.
Over two days, attendees will gain insights from industry experts, experience technologies firsthand and build relationships with professionals tackling many of the same opportunities and challenges.
Here are three reasons to be there.
1. Gain Insights into the Technologies Shaping What’s Next
CardTREX brings together experts from across the industry to examine developments influencing how cards and credentials are designed, manufactured, personalized, secured and experienced.
Aubrey Collins of CPI Card Group will open the education program with Visualizing Innovation: Card & Packaging Trends. Collins will explore premium materials, specialty finishes, interactive packaging and sustainable solutions, along with how 3D visualization can help bring concepts to life before they reach production.
Rico Kerstan of KR Krisensicher Risikoberatung GmbH will examine artificial intelligence from a business strategy perspective during Artificial Intelligence and Business Model Uncertainty: Building the Digital Twin of Your Organization. Moving beyond AI as simply a productivity tool, Kerstan will explore how AI and agentic systems can expose vulnerabilities, reshape workflows and challenge established business models.
Sustainability and material innovation will also be a major focus. Thomas Steinbrecher of Eastman Chemical Company will present High-Performance Polymers Enabled by Advanced Recycling Processes, exploring how advanced molecular recycling can transform difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into virgin-quality materials.
Uwe Adamczyk of Linxens will turn the focus toward differentiation with Advanced Card Customization and Integrated Features. Attendees will learn about technologies including logo etching, metallization color options, transparent windows, Heavylam solutions and an all-in-one dual-interface module.
Closing out Day One’s education, Edith Dangeard of HID Global will present Composite Card Constructions in the Smart Card Industry, examining materials and construction approaches designed to advance smart card durability and performance.
Day Two continues with Cornelia Hoss and Tom Schümchen of Lohmann, who will present Co-Creating Innovation: Transforming Ideas into Business Impact. Their session will explore how collaboration among customers, partners and innovation networks can help move ideas from concept toward commercial success.
Security and identity protection take center stage with Alessandro Vidale and Samuele Scozzai of Enigma S.r.l. during Nanotech Inks: The New Frontier in Document and Identity Protection. The session will introduce an anti-counterfeiting system that uses nanotechnology to create unique chemical fingerprints that can be authenticated at the molecular level.
As financial services become increasingly digital, Ashwini Pandey of Copecto GmbH and Florian Reithmeir of Raiffeisendruckerei GmbH will explore the enduring importance of tangible experiences in The More Invisible Banking Becomes, the More Valuable Physical Experiences Become. Their presentation will examine how premium experiences, sustainability, trust and authenticity are influencing the continued role of physical payment cards.
Hal Panabaker and Ethel Bermejo of Bixby International will add a data-driven perspective to the sustainability discussion, comparing card body materials based on performance, carbon impact, durability, recyclability and other factors.
Finally, Ursula Schilling of Infineon Technologies will present How to Deliver a Premium Card Experience for Issuers and Customers, examining how premium payment cards are evolving to deliver stronger customer engagement, brand differentiation, sustainability, seamless security and trusted experiences in an increasingly AI-enabled payments landscape.
Together, the sessions offer a concentrated look at developments across AI, advanced materials, sustainability, security, identity, customization and premium card design, giving attendees insights they can take back to their organizations.
2. See Innovation in Action
CardTREX goes beyond presentations by creating opportunities for attendees to see, experience and discuss technologies firsthand.
During the Speed Share, tabletop exhibitors will take the stage for brief presentations highlighting featured products, services and technologies. Attendees can then continue those conversations directly with exhibitors in the Exhibit & Networking Area and vote for the Speed Share presentation they consider the most innovative.
CardTREX participants will also have an opportunity to experience the partly live production and personalization of the official CardTREX event card, offering a firsthand look at manufacturing and personalization technologies in action.
The experience continues with an extensive tour of host Lohmann’s TEC Center, where attendees will explore bonding and lamination technologies, pick-and-place bonding, simulation tools, sustainable manufacturing and smart adhesive systems used for cards and identity documents.
The tour includes the Bonding Arena®, Lohmann’s interactive innovation lab, where participants can see real-world bonding applications and explore their potential for improving durability, security and sustainability.
By combining education with demonstrations, exhibits and facility access, CardTREX gives attendees the opportunity to move beyond discussing innovation and see how technologies and ideas can translate into real-world applications.
3. Make Connections Across the Card Ecosystem
The technologies explored at CardTREX are important, but so are the people developing, implementing and advancing them.
CardTREX brings together card manufacturers, personalizers, issuers, suppliers, technology providers and innovators in a focused environment designed to encourage meaningful conversations across different areas of the card ecosystem.
“CardTREX gives our industry a unique opportunity to explore the technologies and ideas shaping the future of cards while building relationships with the people driving that innovation,” said Jeffrey Barnhart, founder and executive director of ICMA. “By bringing together expertise from across payments, identity, security, materials and manufacturing, we can create conversations and connections that strengthen the entire card ecosystem.”
Dedicated coffee breaks, lunches and time in the Exhibit & Networking Area provide opportunities to exchange ideas with speakers, meet exhibitors and connect with colleagues throughout the two-day event.
The networking continues after Day One with an optional guided walk through Andernach followed by an evening dinner at Casino Ahsenmacher, featuring a sensory seminar and live cooking in a relaxed setting.
Following the conclusion of the Day Two program, attendees can also stay for an optional light lunch at Lohmann, providing one final opportunity to continue conversations before departing Neuwied.
Make Two Days at CardTREX Count
Today’s card ecosystem reaches across payments, identity and access, security, loyalty and gift cards, personalization, materials, manufacturing and the technologies connecting them.
CardTREX brings those areas together in one place.
Whether you want to discover emerging technologies, gain new perspectives on industry challenges, find ideas you can apply within your organization or strengthen relationships with peers and potential partners, CardTREX provides two focused days to learn, experience and connect.
Join ICMA October 27–28 at the Lohmann TEC Center in Neuwied, Germany, for CardTREX 2026.
Explore what’s next for the card ecosystem and connect with the people shaping it.
Why ICMA Membership Matters
ICMA remains committed to empowering the global card manufacturing community by helping members lead, innovate and grow. Through a strategic combination of industry marketing support and professional development, ICMA equips organizations and individuals with the tools they need to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
ICMA’s professional development programs are designed to strengthen both technical expertise and leadership capability. Offerings such as on-demand Advanced Card Education (ACE) and the Card Industry Training & Education (CITE) initiative help professionals deepen their knowledge, while flagship events like the EXPO and CardTREX bring together industry leaders to learn, connect and explore emerging innovations.
Members who engage in ICMA’s education programs and events don’t just keep pace with change—they help shape it. From contributing thought leadership to Card Manufacturing magazine to earning industry recognition through the Élan Awards of Excellence, ICMA provides meaningful opportunities for members to elevate their visibility and influence.
For card industry professionals seeking to stay informed, connected and future-ready, ICMA offers a clear path forward through education, exposure and community.
Discover the full value of ICMA membership and join a global network of professionals advancing the card industry.