Agfa appoints ARE CON as EMEA agent for the distribution of its PETix (TM) materials for ID and smart card markets

Agfa announced today that it has appointed ARE CON as their agent in the EMEA region for the distribution of its PETixTM materials. Agfa's PETixTM is an enhanced and innovative range of PET films tailored to the card makers' specific needs of today. Crystalline polyester (PET) is a material that has the characteristics that are becoming increasingly important for all kind of card applications.
Card manufacturers will use this highly robust plastic film to produce cards with the best-in-class resistance against mechanical and chemical influences. Because the films can be combined with standard PVC core films, inlays and are highly compatible with standard card manufacturing processes, their usage does not come at a prohibitive cost for the card makers.

ARE CON is a consulting, sales and service organization with more than 15 years of experience in the smart card and ID world. They offer consultancy services for governmental organizations and the smart card industry in purchasing, processing and sales of complex ID-related products. With their expertise, ARE CON is guiding its customers to realizing all technical and commercial benefits of using Agfa's new range of high-performance materials.

"The people behind ARE CON have a great track record when it comes to the continuing developments of the smart card market. Their experience and industry network is a great addition to Agfa's own expertise in the development and production of innovative polyester films that can be deployed in this market. " says Peter Willaert, Agfa's ID&S Marketing & Sales Director

About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa Healthcare), and for specific industrial applications such as the ID&S industry (Agfa Materials).

Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company has sales organizations in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 3,032 million euros in 2008.

Agfa has a long-standing experience and many prestigious references in the world of durable, secure ID documents. Over 100 years of innovation in high-tech film extrusion, chemical engineering, imaging know-how and system design have resulted in the development of key materials for modern ID document and smart card production.

For more information please contact

Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
ID&S
Septestraat 27
B-2640 Mortsel
Belgium

T: +32 3 444 4083 or + 32 3 444 2977
E: petixsales@agfa.com

Agfa, the Agfa rhombus and PETix are trademarks of Agfa-Gevaert NV Belgium or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.