The expert of RFID and the expert in packaging share experience to develop contactless in the US market

Paris, Cartes show, November 4, 2008–Today ASK and WS Packaging Group are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement for creation of a Joint Venture based in the United States.

ASK, a world leader in contactless technology, and WS Packaging, one of the largest printing and label converting operations in North America, bring their experience and expertise together to become a major player in contactless technology and its applications in the U.S.

ASK contactless cards and tickets are already implemented in the transportation networks of several large cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, to name a few.

This Joint Venture will address the Secure ID, Mass Transit, and Financial Bank Cards markets in the U.S. and Canada.

“As a leading manufacturer of labels, WS Packaging Group was the perfect partner to boost our activity of RFID tags,” said Bruno Moreau, ASK’s CEO. “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 on the Northern American continent. Furthermore, our clients who requested a local manufacturing site will be pleased to benefit from ASK technology and WS Packaging’s strong market presence,” he adds.

ASK’s turnover abroad accounts for nearly 70% of its total turnover which confirms the global presence of the company in contactless technology implementations. ASK’s 54 patents to date strengthen a unique and environmentally-friendly technology based on a silver antenna on paper substrate and die chip attach process. So far, 130 persons in France have served more than 120 million users on all 5 continents in transportation, banking, RFID and identity sectors.

“We are very excited to join with a prominent expert in RFID technology”, said Terry Fulwiler, WS Packaging’s CEO. “ASK has been dedicated to contactless technology since its creation, and WS Packaging brings in a long experience and expertise in printing and packaging. This is a perfect marriage to meet the increasing demand for contactless products on the U.S. market,” he adds.

About ASK

ASK, with over 120 million contactless products in circulation in more than 50 countries, is a worldwide leading provider of a full range of contactless products including smart cards, smart tickets, smart adhesive labels, readers, inlays for electronic passports or contactless smart cards, and eDocuments. ASK is ISO9001 certified and holds a portfolio of 54 patents to date. ASK, a France-headquartered company with worldwide customers, has wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S. and Singapore, and a Joint Venture in China.

For more information, visit our booth at Cartes, Hall 4, N18.

About WS Packaging

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 including labels, coupons, shrink decorations, flexible packaging, folded cartons, signage and point-of-sale, label application equipment, promotions, games and sweepstakes, and fulfillment. Its customers range in size from small businesses to large, high-volume manufacturers and consumer product goods companies doing business locally, nationally and in marketplaces worldwide.

WS Packaging Group was formed in October 2000 with the merger of Wisconsin Label Corporation, founded in 1966, and Superior Label Systems, Inc., founded in 1970. The merger made WS Packaging one of the top privately owned label and tag manufacturers in the United States.

Media Contacts

ASK
Claire Boyer
Tel: +33 (0)4.97.21.48.56
Cell: +33 (0)6.72.14.01.46
claire.boyer@ask.fr
http://www.ask-rfid.com

WS Packaging
Mark Moorhead
Director of Marketing
Tel: +1 920 487 6344
Cell: +1 920 327 1652
mmoorhead@wspackaging.com
http://www.wspackaging.com

Sales Contacts

ASK
Thierry Burgess
Tel: +1 310 398 1464
Cell: +1 310 666 4365
thierry.burgess@ask-rfid.com
http://www.ask-rfid.com

WS Packaging
Dave Uland
Tel: +1 740 501 0125
Fax: +1 614 283 5062
duland@wspackaging.com
http://www.wspackaging.com