Earlier this year, Veridos, a global leader in identity solutions, delivered the new state-of-the-art Macau Electronic ID which includes the company’s new Lumen ID Echo security feature. Lumen ID Echo is unique in that it integrates an enhanced CLIP ID color photo in the window area of the ID card. With Lumen ID Echo making its world debut in the Macau credential, we wanted to know more about the evolution of this advanced security feature. In this exclusive interview, Tobias Nuessle, Veridos COO, shares the inside story of the Lumen ID Echo.
Not familiar with Lumen ID Echo? This short, animated video illustrates the application process and benefits of this unique security feature.
Keesing Platform (KP): How long has the CLIP ID feature been available from Veridos?
Tobias Nuessle (TN): CLIP ID is short for Color Laser Image Protected ID. It combines laser engraving and color printing within a customized lenticular structure. The result is a lifelike image of the holder of the ID – in true, vivid colors. CLIP ID evolved from the Laser Protected Image (LPI) technology developed and patented by Giesecke+Devrient more than 20 years ago. Today, this technology is used by almost all system manufacturers as a combination of inkjet and laser personalization of ID documents. Continuous research and investment in the security of color-based personalization features led to the development of CLIP-ID in 2018, which is based on a unique lens structure that adds additional security and durability to the LPI technology.
KP: What prompted Veridos to take CLIP ID to the next level with the Lumen ID Echo feature? For example, feedback from customers or other external parties and/or suggestions from within Veridos?
TN: Veridos is always striving to develop new and improved security features for our customers to stay ahead of counterfeiters and produce unique ID documents. For many years we have been using a secondary portrait photo, usually personalized as an MLI (Multi Laser Image), which has proven to be extremely forgery-proof. As an extension to this, Veridos has supplied its customers with Fuse-ID in many projects. This is a second, negative portrait image with personalization. Negative personalization makes it possible to modify both images in the same way. MLI is a challenge for counterfeiters because the production and personalization of the lens structure requires specialized equipment and facilities. Fuse ID therefore provides an important additional layer of protection against counterfeiting of original documents. Over time, however, we have realized that coloring the secondary light image in a transparent window provides a whole new level of security. This feature, Lumen ID Echo, makes life even more difficult for counterfeiters.
KP: Did you have to wait until the technology for producing ID cards had reached a certain level before you could develop and use Lumen ID Echo?
TN: We produce ID documents in our own factories and set up fully equipped factories for our customers. We also develop our own processes and technologies and work closely with manufacturers for the production and personalization of documents. Lumen-ID Echo requires specialized equipment and materials that Veridos has also developed in-house. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in production and personalization, challenging our suppliers to push the technical limits while maintaining high-quality in mass production. At the same time, we are working hard on innovative ideas for new features that can only be realized in a laboratory environment and need the technical conditions for mass production to catch up. This was the case with Lumen-ID Echo. Just a few years ago, it would have been impossible to produce such a feature in high volumes.
KP: Did your designers and product developers encounter any challenges during the development of Lumen ID Echo? If so, how did they overcome them?
TN: Bringing Lumen ID Echo to series production has been a challenging process. We invested many years in research and development to develop such an advanced and complex technology. Of course, we cannot disclose all of the challenges and how they were overcome, as these innovations have further increased the security level that Lumen ID Echo provides.
KP: Can Lumen ID Echo be used to engrave/print photos on a variety of substrates?
TN: Lumen-ID Echo was specifically designed for polycarbonate-based products. This material has many properties that are crucial for the desired optical effects. The interaction between the substrate and the feature also contributes to its security.
KP: Lumen ID Echo adds another step to the production of an ID card. Was it a challenge to integrate this step into the process and did it significantly increase production time and costs?
TN: Security doesn’t come for free. But Veridos has a lot of experience in introducing new features into the production process. Once the technological challenges were overcome, integration followed standard qualification procedures. It is true that the production phase requires additional time and material in card production, which ultimately affects the value of the document. However, clients will not see any major changes in card personalization compared to other secondary portrait photos. This is one of the key benefits of Lumen ID Echo – it does not significantly increase the time required for personalization. However, automation in personalization requires certain prerequisites, such as a high degree of laser power control. Not all machine manufacturers currently meet these specific requirements. Veridos helps its customers to choose the right, qualified partners in this respect, adding value through our long-term expertise.
KP: Are there any other technical aspects of Lumen ID Echo that you would like to mention?
TN: As a first-level security feature, Lumen ID Echo can be verified without additional devices. The complex manufacturing process, however, makes it very difficult for counterfeiters to produce anything even remotely similar. As a result, the authenticity of the documents is easily recognized and the window technology used resists even advanced counterfeiting attempts.
About Veridos
Veridos is a leading global provider of integrated identity solutions. Governments and public authorities in more than 100 countries rely on the company’s unique, comprehensive product portfolio. Veridos offers complete solutions and comprehensive services that are perfectly tailored to each customer’s identification requirements. The offerings range from paper to security printing and electrochip components, data capture, identity management systems, and personalization and issuance of ID documents to mobile ID and border control solutions, including eGates. The company offers the highest quality identity documents, including passports, ID cards and driver’s licenses, and even the production facilities to enable governments to produce them themselves. For more information about Veridos, visit www.veridos.com.
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Tobias Nuessle is Chief Operating Officer at Veridos GmbH, a joint venture between Giesecke+Devrient and Bundesdruckerei. He started at G+D in 1999 in a series of engineering and management positions. He gained international experience as Head of Project Management International Government and Managing Director for Veridos in the Middle East. He helped shape the company as Head of Factory Business and Head of Business Line Identity Management Solutions before becoming COO in 2022.
