Ultra Electronics in Weymouth is celebrating today (19th July) after staging a double-event with the official opening of its new high-technology Magicard printer design facility in Weymouth and also the presentation of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset in a garden party setting within Bennett’s Water Gardens in Chickerell.

Ultra’s Card Systems business unit, which won the Queen’s award, is co-located with other Ultra businesses on the Granby Estate and has seen international sales of its Magicard high security ID badge printers grow dramatically in recent years, supported by sustained investment in product development and manufacturing technology.

To support this success, Card Systems has commissioned a new Design, Sales, and Support centre within its Waverley House facility which is the latest phase of its investment which has also included the opening of a new printer manufacturing centre there in 2005.

The new facility was opened by Douglas Caster, Chief Executive of the Ultra Group based in Greenford, Middlesex. Mr Caster commented “Security systems are a key component of our overall focus on the high technology Aerospace and Defence sector, and our Card Systems business in Weymouth has delivered excellent growth in sales to demanding international markets. It gives me great pleasure to open this outstanding new facility”

“Our Card Systems team has been developing and manufacturing ID card printers here in Weymouth for over 12 years, and it is also gratifying to be here to witness the presentation of their second Queen’s Award for Enterprise”.

Ultra was chosen to receive the Queen’s Award because of its innovation in developing a family of low cost ID Card printers which enable the computerised generation of full colour plastic identity cards or badges without specialist training and at low cost.

The award presentation itself was made by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Mrs Valerie Pitt Rivers in a 250 seater marquee within Bennett’s Water Gardens in Chickerell, and to celebrate the award, the presentation was followed by a garden party reception and evening disco for Ultra’s staff and many invited customers and guests.

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For further information, please contact:

Ray Coles, Managing Director,
Ultra Electronics Card Systems.
Tel +44 (0) 1305 784 738 or
rcoles(at)ultra.co.uk

Valérie Douard,
Marketing-Communications Manager
Ultra Electronics Card Systems.
Tel: +44 (0) 1305 762152 or
vdouard(at)ultra.co.uk

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.

Please visit www.magicard.com for more information.