Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), a globally operating hi-tech giant based in Munich, Germany, was founded in 1852 as a secure printing service provider and thereafter as a banknote printing expert. Now, in addition to its banknote printing and sorting business, smart cards which ensure e-transaction security and information security, and related solutions have risen to become G&D’s leading business unit. G&D is now a leading supplier of smart cards and cutting-edge system solutions in the fields of telecommunications, electronic payments and transportation.
The Government Solutions Division, G&D’s third largest division, serves the security needs of governments and public authorities with passport and visa systems, ID cards, secure printing, brand maintenance, medical care card systems, e-government solutions and information security,.
G&D is comprised of 3 divisions and 8 sub-divisions, and its 9000 employees in its 52 subsidiaries and joint ventures around the world, created �1.5 billion in corporate earnings in the 2007 financial year.
G&D in China
G&D’s cooperation with China was initiated in the 20th century by printing bonds for the Qing Government. In 1994, G&D officially entered China. Since then China has remained as a significant part of G&D’s global expansion strategy. G&D China has set up 6 joint ventures and/or affiliates with offices and branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Chengdu.
G&D has invested more than $50 million in China in setting up modern plants in Nanchang and Huangshi, mainly engaged in the research, manufacture and sale of magnetic cards, IC cards and card systems. Its annual production capacity has hit $500 million and now it has risen to be a leading card manufacturer in China and is G&D’s card manufacturing and service center in the Far East.
G&D’s major products include: (U) SIM cards, CDMA R-UIM cards, OTA cards, NFC(U)SIM cards, top-up cards, mobile OTA downloads, and NFC mobile payment solutions for the telecommunications industry; IC cards, EMV cards, and e-wallets, for the banking industry; and, IC cards for other industries as well as campus cards, city all-in-one cards, social security cards, and card-related personalization solutions and key management systems.
In the field of information security, G&D’s IC cards, USB tokens, PKI-based USB keys are identified as the recommended digital signature products for Internet banking and online business security by more than 30 major commercial banks and governmental agencies, and are distributed to tens of millions of customers, claiming a market share of over 70%.
In this increasingly standards-compliance oriented world, G&D has been certified by Visa, MasterCard, GSMA SS, ISO and The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (GAQSIQ) and is one of the first industry standards makers using the China Financial Integrated Circuit Card Specifications, China Mobile Monternet Standards and IC card specifications for other industries.
G&D’s sound operations, service and innovation-oriented systems – including its rigorous quality control system, proven after-sales service system, localization technology R&D center and technical support – has rendered G&D market penetration into a wide range of industries, including finance, telecommunications, insurance, transportation, education, and medical care with a full range of products, including magnetic stripe cards, contact IC cards, contactless IC cards, dual-interface cards, scratch-off cards and various new-technology-backed and new-material-made cards.
G&D’s customer base covers large-sized leading enterprises in banking, telecommunications and government in China, including China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Merchant Bank and China Financial Certification Center. It has grown to be the first preferred supplier of China’s major commercial banks, governmental departments and telecommunications operators.
In addition to billions of cards provided by G&D Card and Service Division for the domestic Chinese market, G&D (China)’s products are exported to more than 26 countries in the world.
G&D’s Banknote Division set up a joint venture with the People's Bank of China in Shenzhen – Shenzhen Giesecke & Devrient Currency Automation Systems Co., Ltd. – which has so far supplied 141 BPS1040S banknote processing machines for the People's Bank of China and is expected to provide banknote printing quality management equipment for 6 banknote printing companies according to a cooperation agreement with China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation. In 2001, G&D was awarded China’s largest contract for banknote verification devices for self-serviced railway ticket vendors (333 devices for the first phase). Furthermore, G&D has introduced its top-notch “cash center management” banknote sorting system for commercial banks in China.
In an increasingly connected future world via electronic means, networks and wireless technologies, a biometric e-passport, a bankcard, a multimedia palm terminal integrated with various features, including payment, mobile video and mobile TV, or a USB Key ensuring online transaction security, will likely be integral parts of our daily lives. When one day you are indulged in such convenience, you will find how G&D has never ceased – and never will cease - in its endeavor to explore the boundless possibilities of our future e-society.
