An identity card printer is the key to a safer, more efficient workplace. This one-time investment can literally transform the day to day operations of your company, so you’re right to be proceeding with a little caution! Safety is the number one thing to be investing in, so doing some research into what printer you need in order to up your environment’s security levels is incredibly wise. In order to select the correct printer, follow this guide.
Determine your needs…
First things first, you need to take a good look at your business. Tally up the number of staff or personnel you currently have, look into future growth forecasts and take note of your general turnover rate. An identity card printer has to be bought in accordance with the size of your business, if you’re a boutique office, you just don’t need an industrial-grade ID printer. By understanding your needs, and subsequently your budget, you’ll be getting started in the right way.
Look into ID cards…
Try to first focus on the type of ID cards you want to print! Different machines have different production capabilities, so you need to know what you want before you invest in the item that’s going to produce it. Think about how long you want your cards to last, how they are going to be used, what you want them to look like and how many cards you generally would like to be printing each financial year.
Your ID card printer options…
When it comes to finding an ID card printer there are generally two significant categories to choose from – direct-to-card and retransfer.
Direct-to-card: This is where the printer head comes into contact with the surface of a plastic card, hence the name direct-to-card.
Retransfer: This process is where the printer uses ink ribbon or film to print onto the reverse side of a clear film sheet. This is then placed onto the plastic card and heat rolled to attach it to the surface. This is a slower process and less cost-effective, but gives you higher-quality output.
Both printers use resin thermal transfer and dye sublimation in order to print onto plastic cards, it’s just the method that differs.
Card production considerations…
To make the very best decision possible, you should consider any features or add-ons that you want your ID cards to have. This can include…
Lamination: This is an extra layer that protects cards from daily wear and tear, spillages, environmental exposure or accidents. You’ll also be ensuring they last longer as their colour won’t fade so quickly. Lamination is an extra safety measure as it minimises the risk of potential tampering.
Barcode printing and encoding options: Encoding means storing your cards with information to make each and every one completely unique. This allows you to give your cards additional uses for time tracking or access control. Barcoding is the simplest, most affordable option for encoding cards, so this is a fantastic low-cost factor to consider when you’re printer shopping.
Card volume and quality: Have a good hard think about the volume and quality that you need from your printer. This will rest on your calculations from the first step in this guide. Base your decisions on the actual needs of your company, and the security levels you want to reach.
By following these tips, you’ll be sure to land on the right printer for you and your business. Be sure that the provider you choose is able to provide warranties and plenty of ongoing support to keep your printer in the best condition possible in the long run. Get exploring ID printers today!
