Headlining the exhibit was the Datacard PB6500 passport issuance system. While the PB6500 system is well established — and used to issue more than 35,000 passports a day and 12 million each year — it now offers several new technologies that improve the quality and security of the passports and e-passports it produces.

"Governments face new challenges in their traveler identification programs" said Russell St. John, senior vice president of global marketing for Datacard Group. "The PB6500 passport issuance system provides unique security features that are extremely difficult to counterfeit or alter."

New features for the PB6500 system include Datacard LinkJet Security Personalization, a patent pending capability for printing across the threads of a passport booklet, high speed 1200 dpi printing using a Hewlett-Packard thermal inkjet print engine and a new ink cartridge design. Combined, these features greatly improve the appearance and images of passport booklets as well as help provide additional security and operational cost reductions.

"We’re pleased Datacard chose to integrate HP thermal inkjet printing into their passport system," said Kathleen Tobin, vice president and general manager of HP’s imaging and printing group. "Traveler identification is a critical application with no room for error — and it requires the best possible image quality. It’s a great fit for our inkjet printing technology."