HID has acquired inepro ID, a provider of contactless authentication used for secure print release and identity management, as it moves to broaden its offering for printers, lockers and other shared devices.
The deal, announced November 4, adds inepro ID’s credential-agnostic RFID and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) readers, software and professional services to HID’s portfolio. inepro ID is part of the Netherlands-headquartered inepro Group, based in Nieuw-Vennep.
Founded in the 1990s, inepro ID focuses on RFID and BLE authentication for facility management and identification. The company’s products are used primarily in Europe, with what HID described as a growing presence in North and Latin America. Use cases cited include secure cloud printing and document flow control, smart locker management, micropayments and user activity registration.
“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.”
HID said inepro ID’s product line includes its Spider reader family, comprising embedded readers for printers and lockers, along with desktop and portable readers for authentication at workstations, digital boards and cash registers.
Marc Bielmann, SVP and Head of Identification Technologies at HID, linked the acquisition to demand for RFID-based secure print in hybrid and shared workplace environments. “Demand for RFID-based secure print is rising worldwide, driven by stronger security requirements and the shift to shared, flexible workspaces,” he said.
Under the new structure, inepro ID will sit within HID’s Identification Technologies (IDT) business area, alongside its OMNIKEY portfolio. HID said it plans to continue supporting inepro ID customers and partners while maintaining a credential-agnostic approach.
Jeroen Pynenburg, CEO of inepro Group BV, said the move shifts inepro’s ID business into HID and allows the broader inepro Group to focus on smart energy metering and energy intelligence.
