This section provides an overview for pin pads as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 19 pin pad manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked pin pad companies as of November, 2024: 1.Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America, Inc. (MGCA), 2.Allied Electronics, Inc., 3.NXP Semiconductors.
Table of Contents
A PIN pad (personal identification number pad) is a device used in financial transactions where customers enter their pre-determined PIN for IC card-enabled cash or credit cards. This technology is a staple in modern financial and retail transactions, enhancing security and convenience.
PIN pads are primarily utilized in banks and retail point-of-sale (POS) systems, serving as a secure method of customer identification for transactions with IC card-compatible credit or cash cards.
Previously, cash cards relied on magnetic stripes which became vulnerable to fraud. Similarly, credit card transactions based on signature verification posed challenges in instant authentication. The advent of PIN pads and IC cards revolutionized these processes by offering a more secure and efficient means of verification.
PIN pads work on the principle of knowledge authentication. When a customer inputs their PIN, the system verifies whether it matches the reference PIN data – a unique identifier pre-registered with the financial institution. This process can be categorized based on where the reference PIN data is stored and how the authentication is performed.
According to ISO 9564, an international standard, authentication can be conducted by the terminal, IC card, or host systems within financial institutions. This standard also covers where reference PIN data is stored, including terminals, IC cards, and host systems.
Offline PIN authentication is performed using only IC cards or terminals, while online PIN authentication involves a host system to verify the entered PIN in real-time.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America (MGCA) is a chemical and functional materials manufacturer founded in 1984 in New York, USA. It serves various industries, offering a range of products including natural gas chemicals, IT and technological raw materials, and solutions for the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors.It operates in alignment with the philosophy of its parent company, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, INC. (MGC) in Japan, which aims to create diversity through chemistry to enable societal growth and harmony.
PAX Technology is a payment terminals and software manufacturer that was established in Jacksonville, Florida in 2000. The company primarily produces mobile PIN pads with WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity, as well as point of sale (POS) terminals accepting QR, biometric, chip, contactless, and magnetic stripe payment methods. It also offers unattended payment devices (UPDs) designed for integration into kiosks or vending machines, along with various Android-powered apps for enhancing payment efficiency or experience. The company was formed following the 2010 merger of PAX Electronic Technology and PAX Computer Technology. It is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, PCI, and EMV standards.
Allied Electronics Inc., founded in 1991 with headquarters in the USA, is a distributor and supplier of fuel and vehicle servicing station equipment and accessories. The company's extensive product line of over 57,000 products includes forecourt controller parts, fuel dispenser parts, air compressors, and power conditioners. The company also provides rebuilt parts by brands that include Bennett, Daktronics, FE-Petro, and Gasboy. The company's services include equipment financing, primarily serving the retail petroleum industry, including car wash and price sign manufacturers.
BlueStar Inc., founded in 1929 and based in Hebron, Kentucky, USA, is a global distributor specializing in various technology solutions like RFID, AIDC, POS, mobility, and digital signage. The company collaborates exclusively with Value-Added Resellers (VARs), offering comprehensive services, custom configurations, and marketing support. It also offers networking, blockchain, and security technology solutions. These solutions collectively enhance operational efficiency, inventory management, and overall business performance across sectors like retail, hospitality, and healthcare.
SPATCO is a distributor of pumps, tanks, and other liquid handling equipment based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1935, the company also offers various services for fueling solutions, including installation, maintenance, repair, and compliance testing. The company stocks LPG and CNG dispensers, gas and diesel pumps, fleet management systems, and storage tanks from over a dozen mainline brands such as Flowserve and Gorman-Rupp. These supply clients in a wide range of industries, including the EV charging, petroleum, DEF, and natural gas sectors.
NXP was established in 2006 as a spinoff from Phillips and is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company is a co-founder of NFC communication and designs and manufactures semiconductors that serve the automotive, industrial, mobile, and smart home industries. The company’s automotive products include driver assistance transceivers, sensors, and security systems. For industrial markets, the company produces RFID readers, processors, and microcontrollers. For communication infrastructure, the company produces RF mixers, diodes, and low-noise amplifiers for wireless LAN networks. The company also produces peripherals, power management chips, communications chips, and interface devices.
Ingenico is a developer and manufacturer of payment terminals and related software founded in 1980 and headquartered in Suresnes, France. The company produces various payment terminals including portable devices, fixed countertop models with PIN pads, smart device-compatible card readers, self-service stations for unattended payment processing, and its SoftPOS system. The company’s products are mainly used by retail vendors, delivery services, vending companies, as well as by clients in the hospitality and transportation industries.
Castles Technology Co. Ltd. is headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and is a manufacturer of payment terminals and software founded in 1993. The company's product lineup includes mountable PIN pads and card readers, weather- and tamper-proof unattended payment terminals, mobile point of sale (POS) devices that are iOS-compatible, and Android-based desktop or mobile devices with 4G capability. The company’s products are compatible with Castles' payment software, as well as various add-ons including microphones, internet connectivity, barcode readers, Bluetooth integration, and front-facing cameras.
Merchant Equipment is an American distributor of credit card terminals and related products that was established in Marietta, Georgia in 1994. The company primarily stocks products and systems from brands such as NURIT, HYPERCOM, RDM, and INGENICO. These include credit card readers and terminals, as well as gateway, point of sale (POS), and terminal management software. It also offers related accessories and supplies, including power supplies, cleaning cards, and labels. The company chiefly serves clients in healthcare, retail, hospitality, and e-commerce.
TerminalDepot is an American distributor of point of sale (POS) hardware and software products that was established in Newington, Connecticut in 2012. The company stocks various POS terminals from brands such as DEJAVOO SYSTEMS, VERIFONE, FIRST DATA, and INGENICO. It also offers related accessories including adaptors and stands, POS paper rolls for printers, and POS software from providers such as Shopify and QuickBooks. Aside from marketing products, the company provides installation, maintenance, and repair services for clients requiring additional support.
POS Portal is based in Sacramento, California, and is an American distributor of payment devices founded in 2000 before its acquisition by ScanSource Inc. in 2017. The company's product inventory includes PIN pads, terminals, card readers, receipt paper, and payment accessories such as scanners and power supplies. It stocks various payment devices and hardware from brands such as Ingenico, Verifone, PAX, and Clover. Aside from marketing products, the company provides technical support and configuration assistance services. Its products are mainly used by clients in the retail and healthcare industries, as well as by restaurants and service oriented businesses.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America, Inc. (MGCA) |
9.7%
|
2 | BlueStar |
7.7%
|
3 | Allied Electronics, Inc. |
7.7%
|
4 | NXP Semiconductors |
7.7%
|
5 | PAX Technology |
7.1%
|
6 | MagTek Inc. |
6.5%
|
7 | CardMachineOutlet. |
5.8%
|
8 | TransGate Solutions |
5.2%
|
9 | Crowell & Moring LLP. |
5.2%
|
10 | Fujian Newland Payment Technology Co., Ltd. |
4.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the pin pad page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 10 | 83.3% |
Netherlands | 1 | 8.3% |
France | 1 | 8.3% |