Discover the interview of the company Covestro, exhibitor at TRUSTECH. Covestro is a leader in the ID and security industry with 30 years of experience in material solutions and films that meet extremely high security requirements.
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1) How did your last participation at TRUSTECH go?

Our recent involvement at TRUSTECH proved immensely successful. We saw significant progress compared to previous years, with numerous qualified leads, heightened traffic at the booth, and enthusiastic engagement from customers and visitors in both technical and business realms. The strategic location adjacent to the conference rooms provided a notable advantage, and the event's organization facilitated meaningful conversations. Our innovation stage presentation further captured the interest of industry leaders, contributing to our overall positive experience..

 

2) Could you describe your company as well as the products/solutions that you will be presenting at TRUSTECH 2024?

Covestro, a leader in the ID and security industry, has more than thirty years of experience in material solutions and develops films that meet extremely high security requirements. Covestro offers a broad, high-quality range of technical films based on polycarbonate (PC) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), covering a wide range of properties. Our film solutions enable the integration of a wide range of security features into ID documents such as ID cards, passports, driver's licenses, border crossing cards and other security printing applications. The company focuses on market requirements and provides solutions and innovative technologies for future high security documents.

 

With 2023 sales of EUR 14.4 billion, Covestro is among the world's leading polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative, sustainable solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. In doing so, Covestro is fully committed to the circular economy and is striving to become climate neutral by 2035 (scope 1 and 2). In addition to ID and security printing, its primary industries include automotive and transportation, construction, furniture, electrical and electronics, household appliances, sports and leisure, cosmetics, health, and the chemical industry itself. As of the end of 2023, the company had 48 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

 

This year's TRUSTECH event has our team excited for our participation once again. We're eager to present our innovative film materials that enable the creation of highly secure identification documents and printing.

 

3) In your opinion, what are the current trends that are providing opportunities for your company?

The ID market is evolving dynamically as more and more smart cards are used in major citizen ID programs. The trend to use both physical and digital identities to create highly secure citizen ID documents continues.

 

Key government ID programs aiming for national ID cards, passports, driver's licenses, and border crossing cards require robust carrier materials to protect the physical data on the documents as well as the digital content in the electronic chip.

 

Covestro applies its renowned specialty film solutions and expertise to help card and passport manufacturers produce secure, and robust identity documents that outlast the validity of the programs. Today, more and more ID card and data pages are made from polycarbonate films.

 

4) Why did you choose to participate at TRUSTECH 2024? How is TRUSTECH important for growing your business?

Covestro is committed to actively engaging with industry players from the identity ecosystem, customers, and partners to build brand awareness, promote solutions and provide innovations. The TRUSTECH conference serves as a platform where participants, including exhibitors, speakers, and visitors, come together to share knowledge.

 

We place great emphasis on TRUSTECH being an exceptional venue for networking with key industry institutions and subject matter experts. This allows us to share insights and discuss the latest market trends together. The ongoing trend of merging physical and digital identities to create secure ID documents is a perfect fit for our portfolio of specialty films for the identification segment.

 

This year at TRUSTECH, Covestro will showcase the following specialty film solutions at TRUSTECH for ID document and security printing innovations.

  • Superlaser polycarbonate (PC) film with optimum laser reactivity for enhanced level 2 security features
  • High tactility laser engraving overlay film
  • Thin, highly opaque white PC films for creating intricate clear window designs
  • Color-switching and optical variable PC film with multiple security features
  • Innovative thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) passport cover solution
  • Polycarbonate film contributing to the circular economy
  • Novel passport concepts utilizing PC and TPU films
  • New polymer printing substrate for security printing applications

 

Furthermore, Covestro will conduct presentations on the conference stage to spotlight our ID document film solutions, and especially this year with the new polymer printing substrate for security printing applications offering more robust properties compared to incumbent solutions.

 

It is a dynamic time in the ID document and security printing segment as the market recovers from the pandemic and interest and demand for ID cards and passports, especially those with embedded electronic chips, is on the rise again. With the increase in travel and border crossings, the need for highly secure ID documents is at the forefront.

 

The TRUSTECH conference has always been an important annual event for Covestro. We enjoy the opportunity to exchange ideas with the industry and network with experts and colleagues in the field of identification. It also provides us with a good platform to showcase our latest solutions for ID documents.

 

Although Covestro is not exhibiting with its own booth at TRUSTECH 2024, we will gladly welcome all guests to schedule meetings with us to discuss our new film materials. These materials can support ID document concepts, including scratch- and abrasion-resistant and high-security TPU passport covers, end page solutions, thin, high-opacity white PC films that enable sophisticated clear windows for ID documents, color-changing PC films, and more.

 

5) Where do you intend to grow your business in the future (countries or verticals)?

Covestro has a global presence in identification and security printing solutions and has contributed to numerous citizen ID initiatives over a long period of time with its polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane films. With the ongoing trend toward versatile, multifunctional e-ID cards, e-passports and driver's licenses that leverage both physical and digital identity, Covestro remains committed to supporting the industry. With our recognized specialty film solutions, we have contributed to the creation of identity documents that require a trifecta of attributes: robust security, superior quality, and long-lasting durability. In the future, we will continue to innovate and grow to ensure that our special solutions and new developments enable high-quality documents and security elements to push the boundaries in the field of high-security ID documents and security printing solution.

Visit Covestro website
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