ASK, a French manufacturer of contactless microprocessor smart cards, contactless cards, paper tickets, and RFID smart paper labels, has teamed with label maker WS Packaging Group, headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., to launch a new U.S. company that will produce RFID inlays printed on paper. The firm, known as ASK-intTag, will manufacture products for a range of markets, including food, health care, gaming, event ticketing, secure identification, financial bank cards and mass transit. Initial production will focus on secure identification, mass transit and bank cards.

The company, according to ASK, will be the first RFID manufacturer in the United States to print silver-based inlays on a paper substrate. The inlay's composition will be highly resistant to forgery, the firm reports. ASK has U.S. clients involved in mass transit, banking and identity markets, but indicates a joint venture with a U.S. business will enhance its market presence and the adoption of contactless technology in North America. "Furthermore," said Bruno Moreau, ASK's CEO, in a prepared statement, "our clients who requested a domestic manufacturing site will be pleased to benefit from ASK technology and WS Packaging's strong market presence." ASK-intTag will operate as a separate company. Potential U.S. manufacturing locations are presently under review, but are expected to be finalized this month.