Mühlbauer Group presents new personalization technologies

The Mühlbauer Group has recently launched the MB COLOR FAMILY, which consists of three technologies for the color personalization of ID documents. The technologies have been designed to meet the various demands with regard to security, quality, cost efficiency and durability. In order to guarantee an enhanced level of security, Mühlbauer launches the combination of the MB COLOR FAMILY technologies in combination with laser engraving.

Customized high-secure color technologies

Although the launch of grayscale laser pictures on PC cards marked a breakthrough, the technology has yet failed to reach the same level of acceptance in the general public as color personalization. Mühlbauer therefore developed the color personalization technologies MB D2T2 PICTURE, MB ALFRESCO PICTURE and MB EMBEDDED PICTURE with a high-resolution inkjet print of up to 1440 dpi:

• MB D2T2 PICTURE: High-resolution thermo-print using an enhanced printing module
• MB ALFRESCO PICTURE: Inkjet print with colors penetrating the PC surface
• MB EMBEDDED PICTURE: Color picture pre-personalization during card production

The MB COLOR FAMILY offers the complete range for customized solutions. The aim is to provide an individually optimized document, depending on numerous factors such as the chosen card material, the anticipated print resolution, the personalization infrastructure (centralized / decentralized), the cost of consumables, the level of security etc.

Revolutionary concept combining inkjet and laser engraving technology

A higher level of security, however, can be reached by combining inkjet print and laser engraving technology. Whereas the engraving of the demographic data into the card material has become a standard procedure, a significant security upgrade is effected by engraving a secondary holder’s portrait in order to ensure that the substitution of the color picture show a clearly visible trace of fraud.

Mühlbauer therefore developed a smart combination of inkjet print and laser engraving, resulting in a high-resolution color picture which shows utmost details. Attempts to remove the photo are prevented as the greyscale information is engraved inside the document. Moreover an additional verification of the greyscale picture under IR light is possible. Thus security can be significantly enhanced while the costs of personalization are substantially reduced.