Trüb AG to supply Driving Licenses and Identity cards to the District of Columbia, USA

The new generation of DL/ID cards feature tru/window LOCK, which provides additional protection to cardholder

Trüb AG, one of the leading suppliers of high security identity and travel documents, has been selected as the supplier of the new generation of Driving Licenses/Identity Cards (DL/ID) for the District of Columbia in the USA. The new generation of DL/ID cards are considered to rank amongst the most secure documents used in the United States. The cards are made of fused polycarbonate and equipped with a variety of built-in security elements, in particular the innovative tru/window LOCK developed by Trüb. The new DL/ID cards comply with the highest requirements in respect of security, quality and durability. Trüb supplies the cards to Marquis ID Systems, Fort Wayne, Indiana/USA.

Worldwide pioneer in polycarbonate documents

The new Driving Licenses and Identity Cards for the District of Columbia meet the highest requirements for security and quality. They are made of fused polycarbonate films and laminated without adhesives. As one of the worldwide pioneers in this technology, Trüb has gained substantial experience and expert knowledge since the launch of the world’s first polycarbonate identity card in 1995 for Switzerland. Trüb’s polycarbonate identity documents are designed to have a 10-year lifespan and are recognised as a world leader in terms of quality and sophisticated security features.

The most secure documents thanks to a full complement of security elements

The new generation of DL/ID cards for the District of Columbia are equipped with a wide variety of built-in visible and invisible security elements. Moreover, the polycarbonate cards are optically personalised by means of laser engraving. With this technology, the personal data of the cardholder and their photograph is “burnt” into the card body by a laser beam. Laser personalised polycarbonate documents provide the highest durability and security as the personalised data is protected against fading in sunlight, mechanical and chemical abrasion and fraudulent alterations. Any effort to physically remove or alter the personalised data will leave a visible trace on the card surface. This differs with colorr-personalised cards, where the personalised data is typically printed on the card surface and therefore prone to abrasion and fraudulent alterations.

One of the world’s most secure safeguards: tru/window LOCK

The new generation of DL/ID cards for the District of Columbia feature one of the world’s most secure safeguards, which provides additional protection for the personalised cardholder photograph against alteration after issuance: the tru/window LOCK security feature, developed by Trüb.

The tru/window LOCK security concept is based on the personalisation of a secure secondary cardholder portrait (ghost image) in a see-through window. In contrast with traditional grayscale ghost images in transparent windows, the personalisation of the tru/window LOCK feature creates a laser-ablated image on a metallic foil. When viewed under a light, the resulting ghost image in the window can be seen as a high-resolution positive half-tone picture.

Thanks to the negative personalisation process of tru/window LOCK, no dark image information can be added to the secondary portrait by subsequent laser personalisation. Hence, the tru/windowTM LOCK security feature prevents a simultaneous manipulation of the primary and secondary cardholder portrait and effectively safeguards the portrait against forgery.

Equipped with tru/window LOCK and further built-in security features, the new Driving Licenses and Identity Cards for the District of Columbia are at the forefront in terms of security.

Trüb supplies the DL/ID cards to their partner company, Marquis ID Systems (MIDS) located in Fort Wayne, Indiana/USA, who has been awarded a new multi-year contract with the District of Columbia, which involves upgrading of all the DL/ID issuance sites with advanced imaging systems, as well as the supply of secure DL/ID cards.