ICK International

What ICK International does

ICK International is a B2B manufacturer of premium metal payment cards serving banks, fintechs, and neo-banks globally. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Daegu, Korea, the company operates through two entities — ICK Co., Ltd. in Korea and ICK International Inc. in Anaheim, California — maintaining presence across Asian and North American markets. ICK designs, engineers, and produces custom metal card products for payment card issuers, with offerings spanning metal hybrid constructions, full-metal cards, and embedded electronics.

The product portfolio includes MAX METAL™ (a hybrid stainless steel and PVC dual-interface card at 22 grams), PURE METAL™ (a 100% stainless steel contact-only card at 26 grams), MaxMirror™ (dual-interface card available in multiple colors), MaxLED™ (LED-integrated card), and MaxColor™ (Pantone color-matching card launched in April 2024). Core manufacturing capabilities include CNC etching, laser engraving, and PVD coating. The proprietary 'Tap Both Sides' technology, patented in both the United States and Korea, enables dual-interface functionality on metal card constructions. Industry-wide metal card production capacity is approximately 50 million cards annually.

ICK generates revenue through direct B2B sales of custom-designed metal cards to payment card issuers, with pricing structured around card type, complexity, and volume. The company holds certifications from all five major payment networks — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China UnionPay, and JCB — as well as ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management, and Mastercard CQM certifications. Customer recognition includes the 2021 ICMA Elan Award for Best Metal Feature Card (Crypterium VISA Card) and the 2023 ICMA Élan Award of Excellence for Best Metal Card Design (EcommBx Visa Card). The company provides in-house design studio services as part of its customer engagement model.

Name

ICK International

Legal name

ICK International Inc.

Website

https://ickusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ICK International is a B2B manufacturer of premium metal payment cards for banks, fintechs, and neo-banks globally. Founded in 1998, the Korea-headquartered company offers patented dual-interface metal card technology with tap-on-both-sides capability and customized design services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Payment Card Manufacturing

NAICS

Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except Automotive) (332119), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Secure ICs, Smart Cards & Trusted Hardware (HDAHAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Card Issuing Platforms (Issuer Processing) (FSAGABAD), Cards & Issuing Management (Debit/Prepaid/Credit, Program Management) (FSAGAAAE)

Keywords

• Metal payment cards
• Metal card manufacturing
• Dual interface cards
• Smart card solutions
• Premium card design

Headquarters

HQ city

Brea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Metal Payment Card Manufacturing: ICK International generates revenue through the design and manufacture of premium metal payment cards for banks, fintechs, and neo-banks. Products include MAX METAL, PURE METAL, MaxMirror, MaxColor, and MaxLED card lines sold directly to card issuers.
2. Design Studio Services: Custom card design and branding services integrated with metal card manufacturing, incorporating client branding elements with metal card possibilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ICK International designs and manufactures premium metal and PVC payment cards for banks, fintechs, and neo-banks worldwide. The product portfolio includes MAX METAL (dual interface hybrid at 22g), PURE METAL (100% stainless steel contact-only at 26g), MaxMirror (colored reflective finish), MaxLED (integrated LED options), and MaxColor (Pantone-matched color customization). The company also provides chip software development, smart card management solutions, and custom branding services through its ICK Design Studio.

Product overview

ICK International is a global leader in design and manufacturing of innovative metal and PVC payment cards, offering a family of stainless steel card products ranging from mass market to high net worth offerings. The core product portfolio includes MAX METAL™ (dual-interface hybrid with tap-on-both-sides technology at 22 grams), PURE METAL™ (100% stainless steel contact-only at 26 grams), MaxMirror™ (colored reflective finish), MaxLED™ (integrated LED options), and MaxColor™ (unlimited Pantone® color customization). The company also provides chip deployment, smart card management solutions, and operates an ICK Design Studio for client branding integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAX METAL™ Stainless steel and PVC hybrid metal payment card with dual interface technology allowing tap on both sides. Weighs up to 22 grams and features advanced contactless technology with distinctive metallic sound, intended for banks, fintechs, and neo-banks issuing premium cards.
• PURE METAL™ 100% pure stainless steel payment card with contact interface only, weighing up to 26 grams. Designed for exclusive high-net-worth customer segments using EMV payment at point of sale, offering heavier feel and cool-to-the-touch premium experience.
• MaxMirror™ Dual interface metal card weighing 22 grams with scratch-resistant mirror finish, available in multiple colors including rose/gold and blue. Combines desirable weight and sound characteristics with reflective aesthetics for issuers seeking visually distinctive premium cards.
• MaxLED™ LED-enhanced metal card with customizable color, size, and coverage options integrated into the Max Metal card body. Supports full-color digital printing in gloss or matte finishes and delivers a premium weight and feel for differentiated card programs.
• MaxColor™ Color customization technology for metal cards enabling any base color with Pantone® reference, applied via an advanced PVD process. Allows unlimited color options (blue, white, etc.) on Max Metal cards, moving beyond traditional limited PVD colors (blacks, silvers, rose/golds).
• ICK Design Studio Custom card design and branding service integrated with metal card manufacturing, incorporating client branding elements (CNC etching, laser engraving, PVD coating, color application) with metal card possibilities. Aimed at banks, fintechs, and neo-banks seeking differentiated branded card programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won 2021 ICMA Elan Award for Best Metal Feature Card for Crypterium VISA Card
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICK International