This past week MSL Systems Specialist Steven Barrett attended CARTES in North America. CARTES in North America is a new business event designed to promote the smart technologies in the large and dynamic North American market, particularly those related to plastic card production. Attendees saw exhibits featuring cards, devices, data processing equipment manufacturing, software and security systems such as IT security, biometric technologies, identification, authentication, trusted technologies, payment solutions and physical and logical access control. Other conferences and exhibits discussed the potential deployment of EMV standard, the arrival of NFC-enabled mobile phones and the numerous e-government and security applications. Based on the international success and development of the existing CARTES events in France, CARTES in North America provided a high level business event for all involved in the smart security industry or those looking to learn more about it. This year CARTES in NA took place in Las Vegas, NV from March 5-7.
According to CARTES officials:
North America is emerging as an attractive region for the smart card industry. The US and Canada have huge potential, as their governments are taking initiatives to introduce smart cards in various industry segment. Moreover, the contactless smart cards have become increasingly popular in the country over the recent past, the volume of contactless payment cards is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 26% during 2009-2012. The SIM card is the largest segment followed by payment & banking, health & government and access control & pay TV. The fastest growing market sectors are projected to be health & governmental, leisure and payment & banking. (Source: RNCOS “Global smart card outlook” 2010, IMS Research “The Americas market for smart cards and smart cards Ics”2010)
MSL is excited to learn more about the benefits of plastic card production and smart technologies and what they can offer the printing industry. By attending CARTES, Steve has brought back with him greater knowledge of this market, which we in turn will use to help our customers grow their own businesses and expand their revenues.
To learn more about this fascinating market segment, please feel free to contact Steve Barrett at steven@midstatelitho.net or 810.577.5599.
