CompoSecure is both a pioneer and the category leader in the design and manufacture of premium financial cards.
Our heritage dates back to the 1910 founding of Sillcocks Plastics International. The company began manufacturing celluloid collars for shirts, and soon after focused on the printing of radio dial components and calendar cards. In 1952, the Herslow family made a majority investment in Sillcocks, laying the foundation for what would ultimately become CompoSecure.
In 1967, the Herslow’s eldest son, John, began leading the Sillcock’s management team. His expertise in chemical engineering and materials science provided a unique lens that opened new opportunities for Sillcocks, expanding its offerings to include disc calculators, slide rules, advertising specialties and direct mail cards. During John’s early tenure, Silcocks became the second manufacturer of MasterCard products in the world. Under John’s leadership in the 1980s and 90s, the company also launched the production of ID and smart cards with contact chip modules and RFID tags. Staying focused on its mission to lead the industry, Sillcocks became the first commercial plastic printer to utilize UV curing, which allowed for faster printing of sequential colors on a one color printing press. Also, Sillcocks was the first to adopt the use of clear UV varnish as a low cost alternative to platen lamination. This process created a new product that was used prolifically in the direct mail industry, i.e. Columbia House Records, Prudential, National Liberty and other insurance companies.
John’s daughter, Michele Logan, with expertise in Computer Science and Industrial Management, joined the team in 1991. The demand for extended card life was on the rise, and the company turned its attention to the development of composite card materials for the ID card market. Together with Luis DaSilva, who now heads research and development, the team merged their core strengths in chemistry, materials science and product development to form CompoSecure in 2000.
Since the creation of the first metal transaction card in 2003, CompoSecure has focused on developing secure, innovative and durable proprietary products and offering professional services to a wide variety of clients worldwide.
Our Future Vision
A future of opportunity
We are driven by innovation and collaboration. We see our clients as our partners, and every partnership as an opportunity to make an impact on our industry.
We understand the pressure on our partners — card issuers — to differentiate their brands and become and stay top of wallet. Our expertise is in materials science, and we adapt technology and machinery from various industries – including aerospace, automotive, jewelry and even fashion – to provide innovative proprietary products of the highest quality. We see every new request as an opportunity to grow, and we never stop pushing until we find the best solution and bring forth the next great idea. This determination has led to our more than a dozen — and counting — patents.
We believe the emergence and evolution of metal cards will continue to change our industry. Our products help our partners’ businesses grow by elevating the customer experience. A metal card complements any financial program for the high net worth and mass affluent audience by providing a superior tactile experience, making an impression and encouraging the cardholder to keep it top of wallet. They offer a tangible connection between card issuers and cardholders that sets the tone for a long-lasting relationship.
At CompoSecure, we also strive to be a great place to work. We recognize the value of our employees and of investing in their success. We encourage mentorship, even across departments, to help every person in the organization realize their full potential. We believe in taking care of those who help us take care of our partners.
Being an active and contributing member of the communities where we work and live is very important to our company culture. We are always looking for ways to help our neighbors and build meaningful relationships that foster a positive impact.
