New Acquisition for Card Provider

BemroseBooth Paragon (BBP), a fully owned subsidiary of Paragon ID and leading supplier of both traditional magnetic, thermal and barcode tickets for the transportation sector as well as a variety of smart products and services including RFID tags, smart cards and tickets, contact and contactless cards, has acquired Buralls InfoSmart, one of the few companies certified to produce ITSO smart cards in the UK.

Responsible for the supply of almost 1bn magnetic stripe tickets for the UK train operating companies, this strategic acquisition by BBP will allow the business to launch ITSO approved smart products and services into this sector, assisting the UK train operators to make a smooth transition from traditional to smart ticketing, as well as expanding the offering into the broader transportation sector.

Paul McEnaney from BBP comments: “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of Burall InfoSmart. The many synergies between BBPtech, our technological centre of excellence in Boston, and Burall InfoSmart will allow for a much greater offering of RFID, smart ticketing and smart card bureau services, not just to the transportation sector but many other areas such as education, local authorities and public utilities providers.

“Coming together to become one of the leading suppliers in the UK supports our strategy for future growth and development as we explore new markets, as well as continuing to supply to the mass transit sector.”

Arron Duddin, the current MD of Burall InfoSmart, will now take over as Smart Solutions Director for the enlarged company, working closely with the sales and marketing team at BBP and BBPtech, to develop and grow the business over the coming years.

He comments: “We have worked hard over the years to position Burall InfoSmart as a leading supplier of ITSO accredited smart solutions. Combining our products and skills with those of BBP creates a company that can support customers with all of their tickets and smart card requirements. The complimentary products, services and values we have in place will deliver ongoing benefits to our extensive list of customers.”