For many minutes, we heard the same beautiful story. Vitré is great, we are delighted to be installed there, the elected officials have been a great help, the weather is always nice in Brittany and everyone is happy. Under the arbor installed at the foot of the new Idemia factory, the managers of this company which manufactures one in two bank cards in Europe were pleased to have built a brand new ultra-secure site and to have moved there in fourteen months . A real feat that would make all individuals who wait two years before having a simple house pale. In front of an audience of customers and partners, the company’s managers emphasized their attachment to this area located thirty minutes from Rennes, known for having one of the lowest unemployment rates in France.
Amid the speeches of men in dark suits, that of Isabelle Le Callennec stood out. In her red jacket, the new MEP evoked an episode in history that no one else had dared to address until then. “When I was elected mayor of Vitré four years ago, nothing was certain. At the time, there was talk of relocating the factory to Shenzhen, China.” Slight discomfort.
A factory that runs 24 hours a day
Having entered the European Parliament in June, the Les Républicains MP did not hold back from welcoming the efforts of Europe, its community and the State to encourage Idemia to stay in Vitré. Present for thirty-five years in Ille-et-Vilaine, the company resulted from the merger of Oberthur and Morpho in 2017. Specializing in digital security, it is one of the leaders in biometrics and cryptography in the world. , employing 15,000 people around the world, including more than 3,000 in France.
The French company Idemia has spent 20 million euros to buy a new factory capable of manufacturing bank cards, chips for telephones and cards for the automotive sector. – Make it live
In Vitré, around 500 people operate this new factory, open 24 hours a day and which will soon produce 100 million bank cards per year. “Our lease was coming to an end, the group had to choose what the future of the bank card manufacturing activity was,” explains factory director Eric Le Quéré. Idemia preferred to stay in Vitré, spending 20 million euros in the process to build a new, more virtuous and less energy-intensive site. “We have technical mastery here, know-how. We wanted to rely on it to go further in the integration of our technology,” continues the director.
The first 100% European chip
Rather than relocating to China, Idemia made the opposite choice. By maintaining its site in Vitré but also by establishing a partnership with the German company GlobalFoundriesone of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers. These microchips essential to our smartphones, our computers and our cars are mainly produced in Asia. Their global shortage has shaken European manufacturers so much that many are now trying to source their supplies locally. “We must protect our sovereignty. In data protection, we had some catching up to do. With this partnership, we are proving our ability to create the first 100% European smart card at the cutting edge of technology,” says Philippe Oliva, CEO of Idemia Secure Transactions, one of the company’s three branches.
Faced with competition from smartphones, does the good old bank card still have its place? Yes, say those responsible for the French leader. Still dynamic, this market is however tending to plateau at the European level, particularly under the effect of the digitalization of media. “The bank card will continue. Because it’s an accessory that means something and some people can’t live without it. But we need to innovate, make it more customizable,” says Yann Limelette, R&D engineer at Idemia.
The electric car market is exploding
Rather than limiting itself to this market, Idemia has chosen to diversify. This partnership established with the German partner will therefore not only serve the bank card sector but will also equip the cards which are gradually replacing the keys to our cars. Cards designed and designed in Vitré which must combine efficiency and data security. With its new factory, the French company is increasing its production capacity by five for NFC key cards, which are used in electric vehicles around the world. Fifty million cars are already equipped with solutions developed by Idemia. An industrial flagship yet little known to the general public.
