Gemalto has announced that it will now be supplying the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) with 40 to 80 million Sealys documents for a variety of official permits.
These include in particular digital tachograph cards, the next generation of polycarbonate driver’s licenses, and biometric residence permits. The DVLA will begin deploying the products in 2013.
The documents will be fitted with security features such as Sealys Edge Sealer, which comprises a laser engraving process applied to the edge of the polycarbonate document during the production stage.
The laser-engraved images will be digitally enhanced to include a visible security pattern, which prevents modification of the photo.
The move by the United Kingdom’s DVLA is in keeping with the European Commission initiative to create a standard format driver’s license, across the European Union.
Gemalto UK Ltd is in charge of managing the entire project and will be working closely with the DVLA to enable the personalisation of the products directly by the DVLA.
“The DVLA is recognised as a centre of excellence for the issue of high security national documents like the Driving Licence and Biometric Residence Permit,” commented Simon Tse, ChieCEO of DVLA. “The new contract we have signed today delivers millions of pounds of saving for the UK taxpayer and allows DVLA to issue even more secure driving licences, and provide the next generation of high security smart cards for other parts of UK government.”