Traditional trading cards become interactive with a simple touch

One of the largest toy manufacturers in the world, Giochi Preziosi Group, has announced its collaboration with Printechnologics, using their unique Touchcode technology to be launched this spring.
The license agreement, which is exclusive to gaming and toys in Europe, will allow Giochi Preziosi to use Touchcode to transform traditional trading cards to contain a digital and interactive element.
Giochi Preziosi, the Italian based toy company, will create an application for one of its most popular toy properties Gormiti, with Touchcode incorporated into the corresponding trading cards. The invisible data code allows gamers to bring characters to life and access specially created content when the card is placed on a multi-touch screen device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
Dario Berté, CEO of the Giochi Preziosi Group, said about the partnership: “We chose Touchcode because we are impressed with the seamless connection Touchcode makes between paper and digital content. We are now able to enhance traditional games by adding digital features, pushing our products to the next level.”
German-based Printechnologics is working alongside the Italian company to re-launch some of its most popular brands.
Sascha Voigt, CEO of Printechnologics, said: “We are proud of Giochi Preziosi’ decision to integrate our Touchcode technology into their wide portfolio of well-known toys and brands, it is in line with our vision to further the evolution of paper products and drives us to continue working on ground-breaking technologies.”
In what marks the beginning of a number of Touchcode incorporated products, Giochi Preziosi cements its status as a leader in the Italian toy market, showcasing its dynamic business philosophy and creativity by working with innovative technology developer Printechnologics.

HOW TOUCHCODE WORKS

Touchcode is an invisible, printed data code that establishes a connection between paper products to digital content. Comparable to a key it unlocks correlating content by referring to a website or application directly after it is placed on the display of a multi-touch screen device. There is no need for a camera, a Near Field communication device or hardware modifications.
Touchcode technology is completely recyclable, invisible and flexible.
The IP-protected technology is low cost and can be printed on nearly any surface including paper, plastic or foil.

ABOUT PRINTECHNOLOGICS

Printechnologics is today’s leading technology developer of printed functionalities, creating electronic systems produced entirely by a common printer.
Printechnologics introduced its first commercially viable product – Touchcode, a printed data code - mid 2011. Printechnologics ensures nearly every kind of printed product, from advertising leaflets to labels and forgery-proof packaging, is ready for the digital age. These first production products have the potential to inspire a series of inventions that will change everyday life. Printechnologics is a 3M New Venture Company since 2010. For more information, please visit www.printechnologics.com and www.touchcode.com.


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Chemnitz-based company beats competitors from U.S. powerhouse of ideas

Chemnitz – 07. November 2012 – Touchcode, the printed data tag by technology developer Printechnologics, has been recognized as “Best Technology Innovation in Mobile” at the Silicon Valley Conference in Santa Clara, California. Bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs and visionary leaders from the Silicon Valley and the world, the conference and award were initiated to celebrate the technology revolution the epicenter of innovation has created in the past 30 years. In order to promote the spirit of Silicon Valley – “Technology, Innovations and Entrepreneurship” – the Silicon Valley Award honors innovative technologies, products and services. This year, German company Printechnologics convinced the award jury with its cutting-edge Touchcode technology, thereby prevailing against a tough competition of innovative companies. This is the second award Printechnologics received within three weeks as the company has been honored with the prestigious Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award.
In addition to receiving the Silicon Valley Award, Touchcode’s large potential has also been recognized by juries outside the U.S.: On November 5, Printechnologics was honored as a finalist of the “SESAMES Award”. The award is traditionally being announced on the evening before CARTES, the world’s leading technology event for security, payment, identification and mobility, officially opens. The “SESAMES” prize represents an unrivalled seal of approval and is regarded as the global standard for card manufactures and related industries. In each of the ten categories including smart cards, digital security, identification and contactless technologies, a panel of independent judges chose a winner as well as two or three finalists based on the innovative nature of the submitted project, its market opportunities, and the quality of argument. In the category “Mobility” Printechnologics has been recognized as one of two finalists.
The award-winning Touchcode, an invisible data code, can be printed on nearly any printable material, seamlessly links printed products and digital content. Thereby, Touchcode enables enterprises to develop new, cutting-edge forms of communication, business models, and applications. Since the code is printed invisibly on paper, packages or foil, Touchcode is nearly tamperproof, making it the perfect solution for items requiring a quick and easy authentication, such as branded products or tickets. In order to read the data tag, a smartphone, tablet or information display with a common multi-touch screen is sufficient: after placing Touchcode on the display, the code unlocks the correlating content in the referring mobile app or website – similar to a key. Immediately, the content will be displayed on the user’s device. In addition to Touchcode’s wide range of applications, the data code’s low production costs are an additional benefit.
“We take pride in being recognized as winner of the Silicon Valley Award despite the tough competition from innovative companies from the most popular powerhouse of innovation”, explains Sasha Voigt, founder and CEO of Printechnologics. “This award and the recognition as finalist at the ‘SESAMES Award’, which represents an unrivalled seal of approval for excellence in the development of innovative technologies, highlights – once more – the ingenuity and potential of our technology and company.”
About Printechnologics
Printechnologics is today’s leading technology developer of printed functionalities, creating electronic systems produced entirely by a common printer. Printechnologics introduced its first commercially viable product – Touchcode, a printed data tag – mid 2011. Touchcode technology can be integrated into almost any printable material, and is completely recyclable, invisible and flexible.
Furthering the evolution of printed paper, Printechnologics ensures nearly every kind of printed product, from advertising leaflets to labels and forgery-proof packaging, is ready for the digital age. These first production products have the potential to inspire a series of inventions that will change everyday life. Printechnologics is a 3M New Venture Company since 2010. For more information, please visit www.printechnologics.com and www.touchcode.com.
Media Only Contact:
Tanja Schürmann, Edelman (Germany)
Tel.: +49 (89) 413 01 709, Email: tanja.schuermann@edelman.com

Touchcode Technology prevails against 536 award entries at Wall Street Journal`s 2012 Technology Innovation Awards

Chemnitz, Germany – October 19, 2012 – On October 15, Touchcode was awarded with the renowned Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Awards, which honors outstanding technological breakthroughs and innovations. The cutting-edge technology by the Germany based company Printechnologics is the “Gold Winner” of this year’s awards, being considered the most innovative solution by America’s largest newspaper. Moreover, Touchcode won the “Wireless” category for enabling a seamless connection between off- and online content. For the first time in the entire history of the awards a German company was recognized as “Gold Winner”.

Scott D. Anthony, Managing Director of Innosight Ventures and one of the jury members was quoted by Wall Street Journal as saying that innovation “used to be isolated to pockets like Silicon Valley or a very small number of operating companies. Today, innovation can come from anywhere.”

In total, the Wall Street Journal received 536 applications by international organizations and innovative start-ups from more than two dozen countries. After a first review by a team of editors, 172 preselected applications were carefully examined by an independent panel of judges which chose the winners and runners-up. The Technology Innovation Awards honor innovations which break with conventional processes, go beyond marginal improvements of existing technologies and are considered to have a broad impact.

This year, the invisible printed data tag Touchcode, which seamlessly links printed products and digital content, fully convinced the jury. The technology enables publishers as well as consumer-product companies or event promoters to include invisible codes on printed items that can be read instantly on smartphones, tablets or information displays. There is just one requirement: the device must have a capacitive touchscreen. After placing the Touchcode embedded product on the display, the code unlocks the correlating content in a mobile app or on a special website – similar to a key. Subsequently, the device automatically displays the correlating content like videos, games, recipes or any other digital feature.

The simplicity of the new technology impressed the independent panel of judges from venture-capital firms, universities and organizations in particular. Wall Street Journal quoted Technology Innovations Awards judge William Webb, chief technology officer of the UK start-up Neul, as saying: “It does look very novel. Much simpler than using a camera.”

“We are very proud that the Innovation Technology Awards jury has honored Touchcode as ‘Gold Winner’. This award is one of the most important and prestigious prizes for innovative technologies and proves once more the great potential the Touchcode technology offers. Moreover, it encourages us that we are on the right track with our point of view to further the evolution of printed paper,” says Sascha Voigt, founder and CEO of Printechnologics.

About Printechnologics
Printechnologics is today’s leading technology developer of printed functionalities, creating electronic systems produced entirely by a common printer. Printechnologics introduced its first commercially viable product – Touchcode, a printed data tag – mid 2011. Touchcode technology can be integrated into almost any printable material, and is completely recyclable, invisible and flexible.

Furthering the evolution of printed paper, Printechnologics ensures nearly every kind of printed product, from advertising leaflets to labels and forgery-proof packaging, is ready for the digital age. These first production products have the potential to inspire a series of inventions that will change everyday life. Printechnologics is a 3M New Venture Company since 2010. For more information, please visit www.printechnologics.com and www.touchcode.com.


Media Only Contact:
Tanja Schürmann, Edelman (Germany)
Tel.: +49 (89) 413 01 709, Email: tanja.schuermann@edelman.com