Essentra Security awarded contract to supply Smartcard printers to HSCIC

Essentra Security, Europe's leading provider of ID solutions, has been entrusted to play a key role in the provision of a new generation of Smartcard printers throughout the healthcare service.

The contract to supply the new card printers has been awarded by the Health and Social Care Information Centre ("HSCIC"), the national provider of information, data and IT systems for health and social care. Essentra Security will fulfil the project in partnership with prime contractor SCC through the commoditised IT hardware and software ("CITHS") framework, and Ultra ID manufacturer of Magicard ID card printers.

The key objective of the contract is to refresh and modernise the estate of Smartcard printers used for authorising and issuing ID Smartcards to staff who need to access NHS systems that require this authentication. The contract will run over a three year period with two options to extend by 12 months.

The Magicard Enduro+ custom printer has been tested during a thorough evaluation period, and successfully integrated into a new card management system developed by HSCIC as part of the Care Identity Services project. From April 2015, the printers will start to be rolled out across all regional health service establishments throughout England and Wales.

"We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with HSCIC and to be able to use our supply chain management expertise in order to contribute to the successful fulfilment of this prestigious project," said Simon Jones, General Manager of Essentra Security. "We are confident that by working with SCC, Europe's principal independent IT services business and Ultra ID, headquartered in the UK whose products are trusted worldwide, we will be able to deliver the efficiency benefits sought by HSCIC."