Ultra Electronics, which is well known for its Magicard ID card printer products and its high technology electronic manufacturing, has become the first ID card printer manufacturer to achieve accreditation to the prestigious ISO14001 environmental standard.

The International Standards Organisation 14001 standard is aimed at introducing a continuous improvement process to drive reductions in the negative impact on the environment caused by energy usage and the generation of waste.

Andrew Rome, Magicard Production Manager, is shown here receiving the award.

To achieve accreditation Ultra Electronics had to demonstrate to the assessors that a comprehensive Environmental Management System was in place and that all staff had been given awareness training so that they can help to minimize the company’s environmental footprint.

Ray Coles, Ultra Electronics Magicard division Managing Director stated: “Gaining this accreditation was tougher than we expected, but by working with our BSI assessors we quickly raised our game so that our final assessment in November 2006 generated no corrective actions. We are pleased that we are now gradually reducing our negative impact on the environment through savings in energy usage, increases in our recycling, and the elimination of all hazardous substances such as lead from our products.”

Ray continued “There is always a worry, for any company, that activities of this sort end up on the debit side of the balance sheet as just another obligation. In fact, ISO14001 will generate significant cost savings over time, as well as reducing our environmental impact. This is a win-win for both Ultra and the planet!”

Recently, Ultra sponsored an assessment of their facility by the Carbon Trust which should lead to further reductions in energy usage in the future.

About Ultra Electronics

Ultra Electronics Card Systems is part of the international defense, aerospace and security group Ultra Electronics, with a worldwide workforce of 3,000 employees. Card Systems has been designing and manufacturing its Magicard range of secure ID Card Printers since 1993, and is now recognized as one of the world’s leading manufacturers. The high technology Magicard printers are used in a wide variety of portrait ID and access control applications, and incorporate innovative HoloKote anti-counterfeiting technology, developed and patented by Ultra, which puts a watermark across the printed card surface.

For further information, please contact:

Andy Matko, Marketing Manager,
Ultra Electronics Card Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1305 784 738
Fax: +44 (0) 1305 777 904
amatko(at)ultra.co.uk
www.ultramagicard.com