Sagem Orga and Thames Card Technology have formed a Strategic Manufacturing Alliance to deliver a combined European manufacturing infrastructure of over 650 Million cards per year to service large scale card issuers across Europe.
The Alliance will have a special focus on the mature UK EMV marketplace.
The Alliance is a further extension of the existing collaboration between TCT and the Sagem group that stretches 3 years. The expanded scope of cooperation includes robust contingency and load balancing arrangements between the three primary European hubs in Angoulême (France), Flintbek (Germany) and Rayleigh, Essex (UK). Complementing this will be the sharing of technology and best practice that will deliver resilient and flexible service to Europe's leading Banks.
The Alliance will provide best of breed service to UK financial institutions, European banks and large scale global issuer, by offering a complete EMV product and service portfolio:
- Contact EMV cards adhering to the latest CPS standards
- Online authentication solutions (CAP)
- Contactless smart cards (Paypass, Visa contactless)
- Comprehensive data preparation and key management capabilities including PIN
- High capacity mailing and flexibility fulfillment
- Consultancy, Training and Professional Project Management underpinning the technology
"The Alliance with TCT is another milestone for Sagem Orga. We are already leading providers of EMV card technologies in the substantial markets of France, Turkey and Germany and this agreement gives us greater access to the UK, and the opportunity to expand more rapidly into central Europe." comments Silvio Stockmann, Head of Business Unit Banking. "We understand that Issuers need increased flexibility from their suppliers; smaller batch sizes, faster turn?around times, simple invoicing and pricing models. The Alliance has the experience and agility to meet and exceed these needs with the most attractive commercial terms.", Stockmann adds.
"We are delighted to be part of such an important partnership. I believe this strategic alliance brings to the UK banking arena a truly credible alternative to the ever decreasing UK base of card manufacturers. With our wealth of experience in both card production and personalisation and with Sagem Orga's technical expertise we will make a dynamic change to this well established market sector." notes Paul Underwood, Managing Director of Thames Card Technology Ltd.