Packaging
ASK-intTag is born, the US JV between ASK and WS Packaging
Friday 02. January 2009 - WS Packaging Group, Inc. and ASK, a France-headquartered company with worldwide customers, have formed ASK-intTag, a joint venture that will manufacture and market contactless cards and tickets for U.S. and Canadian markets.
The new company will be the first RFID manufacturer in the U.S. to print silver-based inlays on paper, the composition of which is highly resistant to forgery. ASK-intTag will produce a range of products for markets involving food, healthcare, gaming, event ticketing, secure identification, financial bankcards and mass transit, among others. Initial production will focus on secure identification, financial bankcards and mass transit.
ASK is the leading global manufacturer of contactless microprocessor smart cards, contactless cards and paper tickets, and RFID smart paper labels with over 120 million products in circulation worldwide. Contactless cards and tickets developed by ASK are already being used in transportation networks in several large U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Philadelphia.
“Combining ASKs position as a world leader in contactless technology with our capabilities as one of the largest printing and label converting operations in North America enables our two companies to bring our respective experiences and expertise together to become a major factor in contactless technology and its application in North America,” said Terry Fulwiler, chief executive officer for WS Packaging.
“ASK has been dedicated to contactless technology since its creation in 1997 and we are very excited to be joining with such a prominent expert in RFID,” Fulwiler said.
ADD ONE, WS Packaging joint venture
“Combining our long experience and expertise in printing and packaging with ASKs patented RFID technology is a perfect marriage that is designed to meet the increasing demand for contactless products in U.S. and Canadian markets.”
Headquartered in Sophia-Antipolis, France, ASK also operates sales offices in Singapore and Culver City, Calif. ASK-intTag will be operated as a separate company. Potential U.S. manufacturing locations are under review, but expect to be finalized by January 2009.
“As a leading manufacturer of labels, WS Packaging Group was the perfect partner to boost our activity of RFID tags,” said Bruno Moreau, ASK chief executive officer. “ASK has already strong references in the U.S. with clients involved in mass transit, banking and identity markets. But a joint venture with a U.S. industrial leader will enhance our market presence and contactless technology in the Northern American continent. Furthermore, our clients who requested a domestic manufacturing site will be pleased to benefit from ASK technology and WS Packagings strong market presence.”
The viability of ASKs technology is confirmed by the 54 patents it holds, and is further strengthened by a unique and environmentally friendly technology for printing a silver antenna on paper substrate and die chip attach process. More than 120 million users on all five continents have been served so far in transportation, banking, RFID and identity sectors.
“Bringing the manufacturing to the US, ultimately improves our value proposition in specific vertical markets,” said Wayne Richter, WS Packaging chief manufacturing officer. “It gives us access to RFID technology currently being used, and further allows us to leverage ASKs rich heritage of research and development for custom RFID applications in the future. This arrangement will greatly enhance our position in the RFID market by raising our level of credibility and product scope.”
WS Packaging Group, Inc. has more than 40 years of experience and is one of the largest printing and label converting operations in North America. It operates 18 manufacturing facilities and produces high-quality packaging products for customers ranging in size from small businesses to large, high-volume manufacturers and consumer product goods companies doing business locally, nationally, and in marketplaces worldwide.