3M to Acquire Passport Reader Maker

3M announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire Rochford Thompson Equipment Ltd., a manufacturer of optical character recognition passport readers used by airlines and immigration authorities, headquartered in Newbury, U.K.

As a provider of security document scanning solutions, Rochford Thompson’s core skills are in the data capture of identity document information from complex digital images and RFID chips. The majority of Rochford Thompson readers are used by airlines for data capture at check-in desks and self-service kiosks and by immigration authorities for border control. Other users include cruise lines, ferry companies, transport police, banks and other organizations that need to read passports, visas, ID cards or airline tickets.