The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) announced the winners of the Élan Awards for Card Manufacturing Excellence – an honor that recognizes achievements in card design and technological innovation.

The awards dinner was held during the Annual Card Manufacturing and Personalization EXPO in Washington, D.C.

Based upon nine distinct judging criteria, an independent panel of card industry experts spotlight one winner and two finalists in each category, with the awards presented to both winning manufacturers and their card customers. This year’s award ceremony saw the addition of a new category, Personalization and Fulfillment (P&F), where ICMA officials recognize manufacturer, supplier as well as personalization and fulfillment members as industry leaders.

The full list of 2013 finalists and winners are as follows:

Best Government Identification Card:

Finalist: ABnote North America
For the Nicaragua Social Security Card
 manufactured for ABM de Costa Rica

Winner: Arroweye Solutions
For the City of Oakland Municipal ID/Prepaid Card manufactured for City of Oakland, California

 

Best Supplier/Vendor New Product, Service or Innovation:

Winner: Bayer MaterialScience AG
 for its Makrofol ID Superlaser Film

Best Personalization and Fulfillment New Product, Service or Project:

Finalist: Arroweye Solutions
 for the process that created the City of Oakland Municipal ID/Prepaid Card

Winner: CPI Card Group for the process that created the ION Visa Debit Card

Best Financial Card:

Finalist: Goldpac Secur-Card Ltd.
 for the Citibank Premier Miles Card
 manufactured for Citibank

Finalist: CompoSecure LLC
 for the JPMorgan Chase Marriott Rewards Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Winner: CPI Card Group
 for the Discover it Card
 manufactured for Discover Card

 

Best Gift Card:

Finalist: Production Services Associates (PSA)
 for the Sketched Flowers Card
 manufactured for SVS-Target

Finalist: CPI Card Group
 for the Small Animal Multi Card
 manufactured for CVS/Petsmart

Winner: Production Services Associates (PSA)
 for the Holiday Village Card manufactured for Mills Fleet Farm

 

Best Retail/Gas Card:

Finalist: VALID USA-NJ
 for the Saks Fifth Avenue Saks First Diamond Card
 manufactured for Saks Fifth Avenue

Finalist: VALID USA-NJ
 for the Lands’ End Happy Holidays Card
 manufactured for Lands’ End

Winner: Giesecke & Devrient America Inc. for the JPMorgan Chase BP Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase/BP

Best Loyalty & Promotional Card:

Finalist: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd
 for the Marina Bay Sands Paiza Diamond Membership Card
 manufactured for Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Finalist: Signature Card
 for the Alana Jewelry Card
 manufactured for Swipe It Technologies

Winner: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd
 for the Genting Club Card
 manufactured for Resorts World Singapore

Best Transportation Card:

Finalist: Huangshi G&D Wanda Security Card Ltd.
 for the Year of the Snake Crystal Card
 manufactured for Beijing Municipal Administration & Communications Card Co., Ltd.

Winner: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd.
 for the Wonders of Marina Bay Sands Limited Edition EZ-Link Card
 manufactured for Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

 

Best Access Control/ID Card:

Finalist: Signature Card
 for the University Club Card
 manufactured for GESI Hospitality

Finalist: Signature Card
 for the Super Bowl XLVII ESPN VIP Credential Card
 manufactured for Bright Spot Creative, LLC

Winner: Bristol ID Technologies
 for the Little League World Series 2013 VIP Credential Card
 manufactured for Lenel

Best Unique Innovation:

Finalist: VALID USA-NJ
 for the First Citizens Visa Infinite Card
 manufactured for First Citizens Bank Limited

Finalist: Bristol ID Technologies
 for the Venture Express Business Card manufactured for PIP Printing/Dynamark

Winner: CompoSecure LLC
 for the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Judges’ Choice:

Finalist: Smartstripe Marketing Pte Ltd
 for the Genting Club Card
 manufactured for Resorts World Singapore

Finalist: Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc.
 for the JPMorgan Chase BP Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase/BP

Winner: CompoSecure, LLC
 for the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

People’s Choice:

Finalist: Giesecke & Devrient America, Inc.
 for the JPMorgan Chase Liquid Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase

Finalist: CPI Card Group
 for the Discover it Card
 manufactured for Discover Card

Winner: CompoSecure LLC
 for the JPMorgan Chase Palladium Card
 manufactured for JPMorgan Chase