HID buys inepro ID to expand secure print portfolio

HID has acquired inepro ID, expanding its secure print portfolio.

inepro ID provides contactless authentication products for secure print release and identity management. Part of the Netherlands-based inepro Group, it focuses on RFID and BLE authentication for facility management and identification.

Its products are used mainly in Europe, with a growing presence in North America and Latin America. Applications include cloud printing, document flow control, locker management, micropayments and user activity registration.

The acquisition adds credential-agnostic readers, software and professional services to HID's offering. inepro ID's Spider line includes embedded readers for printers and lockers, as well as desktop and portable readers for workstations, digital boards and cash registers.

inepro ID will join HID's Identification Technologies business area alongside the OMNIKEY authentication portfolio, extending HID's work in secure print and shared-device authentication.

Demand for secure print systems has been rising as organisations tighten document security and adapt to more flexible workplace layouts. Shared printers, lockers and workstations have become a larger part of office infrastructure, increasing interest in tools that can verify user identity across multiple credential types.

Against that backdrop, HID is adding a business with a long-standing focus on secure print and related authentication. Founded in the 1990s, inepro ID has built its position around contactless identification tools that work across different environments and devices.

"Customers want an identity experience that is part of a larger ecosystem, including interactions from the door to the printer, the locker, the workstation and beyond," said Björn Lidefelt, EVP and Head of HID. "inepro ID strengthens our ecosystem with their expertise in secure print. We look forward to welcoming the team to the HID family, and together we will further extend trusted identities to how people work every day."

Secure print

Secure print systems typically require users to authenticate themselves before a document is released from a device. Companies use them to reduce the risk of sensitive information being left unattended in shared office spaces or public-access areas.

RFID-based authentication has been a common approach in this market, particularly in offices, education settings and managed print environments. BLE-based methods have also gained traction as businesses look for smartphone-based or contactless access options.

"Demand for RFID-based secure print is rising worldwide, driven by stronger security requirements and the shift to shared, flexible workspaces," said Marc Bielmann, SVP and Head of Identification Technologies at HID. "inepro ID brings proven technology and deep expertise in this market, and HID brings global reach. Together, we will help more customers protect sensitive documents and authenticate users more easily, across a broader range of credential technologies."

HID said it would continue to support inepro ID's customers and partners after the transaction. It also said it would maintain the acquired company's credential-agnostic approach as the products are integrated into the wider HID portfolio.

Group focus

For inepro Group, the sale narrows its focus to other areas of the business. The parent company said it would devote more attention to smart energy metering and energy intelligence following the disposal of the ID unit.

"With the Spider reader family, our team has built a strong foundation for smart, reliable and credential-agnostic identification," said Jeroen Pynenburg, CEO of inepro Group BV. "We are proud of what we have achieved together. By bringing our ID business into HID, we are opening an exciting new chapter, creating opportunities for our technology and our people to grow and succeed on a global scale. For inepro Group, this marks a positive and deliberate step forward: building on our heritage of innovation while bringing renewed focus, energy and ambition to the next phase of growth in smart energy metering and energy intelligence. We are excited about the opportunities ahead for both businesses."