Datacard Group Inventors Honored at 5th Annual Patent Awards Ceremonies.

New inventions reflect a history of innovation and address the emerging needs of financial and government markets

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, today announced that 48 of its employees were named inventors on 21 patents issued to the company and 67 applications filed around the world this year. These inventors were recognized in awards ceremonies that took place near the company's corporate headquarters and its Orleans, France facilities.

"The great importance Datacard places on innovation is evident in its patent portfolio," said Jeff Smolinski, senior vice president of operations for Datacard Group. "With more than 175 current patents and almost another 200 applications filed, this work is critical to our ongoing ability to serve the needs of our customers and maintain Datacard Group's position as a leading provider of security solutions."

The inventions are embodied in a variety of the company's card printers, central issuance systems, passport issuance systems and supplies, including the revolutionary new Datacard[R] Artista[R] VHD Retransfer Color Printing Module and the highly successful Datacard[R] SP75 card printer.

"We are very proud to recognize these inventors," said Dave Pierson, head of technology for Datacard Group. "The intellectual property they create spans our product lines and is truly the lifeblood of this company."

Datacard Group offers the world's best-selling secure ID and card personalization solutions. The company's portfolio includes systems for high-volume card issuance, card delivery and fulfillment, secure ID issuance and passport production, plus extensive service and supply offerings. Datacard Group serves customers in more than 120 countries (www.datacard.com).