Founded as a printing business for specialty forms, PAV has recently established itself in the marketplace as a producer of plastic cards, especially contactless cards such as employee and company ID cards. In a total area of 12,000 square meters, the third-generation family business operates all production processes at its Lütjensee location. The connect cards for a major German automaker are produced here in North Germany as well. “Every new vehicle is provided with this special card upon delivery and sale. At the beginning of the process,” explains PAV Key Account Manager Frank Güldenpfennig, “it is an ‘ignorant’ card. It has no chip but gradually receives several functions. Ultimately, the card will have a QR code on it providing a link to the manufacturer’s login page, a sticker with the VIN (vehicle identification number), and a related PIN on the back.” That’s where the PIN Scratch Label comes into play. Because the security of vehicle connectivity systems frequently requires additional protective mechanisms the PIN code that is necessary for authentication and access to sensitive in-vehicle functions is located underneath a scratch field. By simply scratching off the top layer the vehicle owner can expose and use the code. By the way, using a light source to penetrate the scratch layer and view the PIN is fruitless because the scratch layer of the Schreiner label is absolutely opaque.

The successful collaboration between PAV and Schreiner PrinTrust in this area already looks back on a five-year history. Obviously, the volume is oriented to an automobile production of more than one million new vehicles with a corresponding number of connect cards per year. “As special as the automotive industry may be at times: the fact that particularly in such areas longterm agreements are frequently concluded is an advantage. Obviously, that’s a dream for planners and suppliers,” Güldenpfennig adds. “Of course, in that case, it’s also important to have a reliable partner like Schreiner PrinTrust.”

It is the successful collaboration between two family businesses: The integration of the PIN Scratch Labels in PAV’s proven cards helps maximize the security of vehicle connectivity systems while ensuring userfriendly authentication.