Graz’s pioneering spirit in demand worldwide

Whether border officers, airport security staff, police, customs officials or those tasked with checking documents and banknotes—everyone faces the challenge of verifying the authenticity of the materials presented with reliable certainty. This has become increasingly difficult, as ever more secure and smaller features are embedded in documents such as passports. Detecting tampering with all these modern security features using a mobile device was no longer possible, especially for frontline staff.

The Graz-based company charismaTec OG has set itself the goal of enabling police and border officers on the front line to determine in under 30 seconds whether a passport, driving licence or banknote is genuine or shows signs of tampering. Doculus Lumus^® is the magic word—this mobile document inspection device is one of the most successful and, at the same time, most technologically innovative products in the security sector.

A global vertical take-off

Thanks to the unique combination of a rugged housing suitable for the harsh realities of everyday police work, an RFID reader, ultra energy-efficient microcontroller technology with various light functions (patent pending), as well as the front UV pocket torch integrated into the new Doculus Lumus^®+ or the infrared laser, the device sets the technical benchmark for mobile document inspection devices worldwide.

Particularly in the field of border protection and access control, only three manufacturers of document inspection devices have become established worldwide—yet the Styrian company charismaTec OG achieved a rapid take-off with its compact Doculus Lumus.
Launched on a small scale in 2015, customer interest grew so strongly through word of mouth in document and security circles that Managing Director Sandra Slavinec has been dedicating herself fully to her own company and its development since 2017, together with her team, to handle the avalanche of enquiries. Today, the company exports thousands of devices each year in several variants and eight colours to more than 40 countries worldwide—and the trend is rising.

Due to the many instances of glare caused by lasers in police environments, charismaTec is now offering a new product in the security sector. cTAC is a ballistic protective eyewear system which, in the variants cTAC Vision and the helmet goggles cTAC Force , expands the company’s product range on the global security market. This system is produced by one of Austria’s best-known optical manufacturers and was developed specifically to meet the requirements of the Austrian Armed Forces.

All three variants are currently supplied in black or military green, with multiple lenses for easy self-replacement. Optional extras include a removable optical clip insert for glasses wearers and the completely newly developed laser protection lens against laser glare in the range from 200 to 1064 nm.

ICS as a partner for internationalisation

Right from the start of the company’s founding, Ms Slavinec made use of various support services from the ICS team and, in addition to individual consultations, participation in various ICS focus programmes, EU projects and trade fairs, and support with funding matters, also leveraged the global network of foreign trade centres for internationalisation needs.

Over the years, charismaTec has used the following ICS services:

• from 2015: Various enquiries to ACs regarding deliveries to foreign embassies
• from 2015: Consultation sessions, information & support at ICS for funding various trade fair participations and business travel financing to the UK, Ireland, France and Turkey)
• 2015: Participation in the EEN B2B event “Milipol Paris” – EEN business partner matchmaking was successful in 2018
• 2017: Participation in the USA trip as part of the ICS focus programme
• 2017: Participation in 2 EXPEDIRE Export Academies (USP & Elevator Pitch)
• 2018: ICS support for trade fair participation with a company stand in Madrid
• 2019: Organisational support from AC London for the trade fair appearance at Security Document World
• 2018: UN supplier registration and company presentation of the Doculus Lumus devices by ICS at the UN forum in New York (EUPF)
• 2019: Participation in various ICS events (e.g. on Oman)
• 2019: Consultation as part of the Enabling!Export programme

“It is great to see that a member company has made use of almost all of our ICS services in a very short time, and that we were able to support this company significantly in its business success,” said Robert Brugger, Managing Director of ICS.