- Background to development
While EMV migration to reduce illicit use of counterfeit payment cards has been completed in most advanced nations, including Australia and countries in Europe, it has been slow in the U.S., where magnetic cards still account for the majority of card-based payments. However, progress has been seen in the adoption of EMV technology in the U.S. since 2014, and the switch from magnetic cards to smart cards is advancing rapidly. Growth is anticipated for dual interface cards with both contact and contactless functions, and the worldwide market is forecast to exceed 1.8 billion cards in 2017.
Dual interface cards combining contact and contactless functions have been used for several years but manufactured by physically connecting the IC module and antenna. This has meant that the connection can be damaged when a card is bent or subject to other external impacts. Other issues, resulting from the need for dedicated equipment for manufacture, include the financial burden required for introduction and subsequent low productivity.
Toppan Printing has now used its inductive coupling technology to resolve these issues and enable the resulting products to be supplied in Japan and overseas.
- Features of SMARTICS-AIR
・Independently developed technology for inductive coupling-based dual interface card
Toppan Printing has employed its patented inductive coupling technology to develop an inductive coupling-based dual interface card.
・MasterCard® certification
The first SMARTICS-AIR product uses IC chips from STMicroelectronics, and MasterCard® certification been obtained. Acquisition of Visa certification within the year is also planned.
・No need for dedicated equipment
No additional investment in equipment is required because SMARTICS-AIR can be produced using conventional manufacturing equipment for contact smart cards.
・Considerable improvement in productivity
Because the production process is much simpler than for conventional dual interface cards with a physical connection, yield and production speed are vastly improved, making reductions in manufacturing costs possible.
・High durability
With conventional dual interface cards employing a physical connection between the IC module and antenna, bending and other impacts can cause the connection to be damaged. This does not happen with SMARTICS-AIR because there is no physical connection, and the durability of the smart card has therefore been improved.
- Future targets
Toppan Printing will expand sales of this product in Japan and overseas with a target of sales of approximately 5 billion yen in fiscal 2019. In order to increase the number of compatible IC chips, Toppan also intends to expand sales to businesses other than financial institutions.
* The names of companies, products, and services featured in this press release are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.
* The information in this press release is current as of the date of publication and is subject to change without notice.
Toppan Inc. (formerly Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.) specializes in printing services. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- information and communication media printing (57.6%): smart cards, identity authentication systems, commercial forms, labels, booklets, manuals, lottery tickets, brochures, calendars, books, dictionaries, magazines, catalogs, etc.;
- packaging and industrial materials printing (28.2%): food packaging, card boxes, papers, interior decoration materials, etc.;
- manufacturing of electronic materials (14.2%): semiconductors, filters and antireflection for screens films, etc.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Japan (72.1%), Asia (15.9%) and other (12%).
TOPPAN INC. 
