- Gift & Loyalty
- Membership
- Rewards / VIP
- Business
- Licence & Accreditation
- Telephone
- Library Cards
- Keytag / Combination
- Photo & Student ID
- RFID
- Luggage Tags
- Pre-Printed Base Stock
- Specialty Cards
- Consumables
Plastic Card Products
Gift & Loyalty Cards
Gift or loyalty cards are often associated with a closed loop system where they are redeemed through a specific retailer, a linked retail group or a wider based scheme.
It is usual for Gift card programs to allow the cardholder to view their transactions and remaining funds via a secure online portal and ceasing operation once the loaded funds have been used in full or the card has reached its expiry date.
Loyalty cards usually do not offer online access to the cardholder but instead extends a regular discount towards each purchase on an ongoing basis.
Loading card specifications...Membership Cards
Membership cards contain member details and act as an identification tool, both visually (photo and printed/embossed text) and via integrated technology (barcode, magnetic stripe, smart chip, RFID) corresponding with a membership database.
Membership cards may have an indefinite life expectancy or expire after a lapsed period of time, with renewal rights on payment of a fee.
Loading card specifications...Rewards / VIP Cards
Beginning in the US during the 1980's, the 'customer loyalty movement' was initially devised for the airline industry and has since migrated into virtually every other type of business. Customer loyalty cards with attached rewards offer customers a benefit for historical spending behaviour and dramatically increase the prospect of future customer retention as well as a means of attracting new clients. It is not uncommon for multiple organisations to band together for the purpose of strengthening the reward value they are able to offer.
Loading card specifications...Business Cards
Plastic business cards are becoming a popular method of portraying a company's professional image. These card have the same dimensions as a financial card (85.5mm x 54mm) however, they are normally printed to a thinner stock of 0.38mm, instead of the more commonly supplied standard card thickness of 0.76mm. The plastic business card offers much better durability over its cardboard counterpart.
Other features used in plastic business cards include using transparent or opaque stock, as well as foil, hot stamping or UV surface printing.
Loading card specifications...Licence & Accreditation Cards
Generally licences are issued under the authority of a governmental body allowing authorisation or ownership of a specified product or service. Often licences incorporate anti-counterfeiting measures restricting the prospect of forgery of such cards. Most governmental bodies will require pre-printed base stock to be supplied by contractors and then maintain security control by personalising the cards in-house as and when required.
Loading card specifications...Ticketing / Accreditation Cards
Plastic telephone (calling) cards are an extremely effective marketing medium with potentially generous returns. A prepaid telephone card will contain a number to dial, a unique PIN for identification (usually located beneath a scratch panel) and where used through public pay phones, a SIM chip which stores remaining card credit. Non-chip cards are disposable once credit has been exhausted, while chip-based cards can be credited with further funds for continued use.
Most common applications include long distance calling, Internet connection and other similar communication services.
Loading card specifications...Telephone Cards
Plastic telephone (calling) cards are an extremely effective marketing medium with often generous returns. The prepaid telephone card will comprise of a number to dial, a unique PIN for identification (usually located beneath a scratch panel) and where used through public pay phones, a SIM chip that stores the remaining card credit. The non-chip cards are disposable once credit has been exhausted while the chip-based cards can be credited with further funds for continued use.
Most common applications include long distance calling, Internet connection and other similar communication services.
Loading card specifications...Library Cards
School library cards are often integrated with student ID and are used within school libraries for the purpose of book borrowing & photocopying. Photo ID is optional in public libraries. Often cards will incorporate barcode or magnetic strip technology, both of which will communicate with a management record keeping system.
Normally public libraries source pre-printed base stock from 3rd parties and utilise their own in-house printing equipment to personalise cards as and when required.
Loading card specifications...Keytag / Combination Cards
Not every organisation requires a standard card. Rather than having yet another card hidden in a wallet or purse, more exposure is given to a keytag on a key ring. Industries such as health clubs, gyms and video stores prefer this style of card with many electing to go with a combination card (connected keytag + standard card) to cover both scenarios.
Many variations of 'non-standard' cards exist... these include; 2-Up and 3-Up keytags, combination cards, dual cards, mini cards and custom shaped cards.
Loading card specifications...Photo & Student ID Card
The use of photo ID cards is becoming more common due to the abundance of digital cameras and availability of plastic card printing companies. Contractors heavily rely on this medium as part of their identification process to the public.
Student identification cards are commonly integrated through a school management system ('SMS') and will comprise of such information as; name, DOB, ID number, house, group, barcode (library code), expiry and photo. Technology allows the student card to be multi-use with such applications as vending, photocopying, access control, time and attendance and external concessions, to name but a few.
Loading card specifications...RFID / Proximity Card
Proximity cards, or simply "prox cards," communicate through an antenna similar to contactless smart cards except that they are read- only devices that generally have a greater range of operation.
A RFID tag is a microchip embedded in a plastic card that is attached to an antenna, which transmits unique information to a reader device that can be anywhere from a few inches to several feet away. The technology, that can be referred to as 'contactless chips', 'proximity' or 'RFID' is used in security access cards, automatic toll-paying devices and other applications.
Where as the Contactless Smart cards only operate from a few inches away from the reader, proximity cards range from allowable distances starting from around three inches all the way up to twenty inches. Their range depends on the reader, but is generally between the two extremes.
One of the greatest benefits of this card is its inherent security. Forging a proximity card is very difficult and greatly minimises security risks. Because of their ability to store information permanently and the fact that they can't be re-written, forging them would be highly challenging.
Loading card specifications...Luggage Tags
With so many travel cases and bags circulating at airports, hotels & transport terminals, this is an ideal method to identify ownership when making a collection and for others who may need to contact the traveller in the event of finding a lost item.
Luggage tags may be thermally pre-personalised with the owner's details or supplied with one or multiple writing panels that allow the owner to write personal details at will. Tags can be supplied with a pre-punched hole enabling easy attachment to travel items.
Loading card specifications...Pre-Printed Base Stock Cards
Organisations with an ongoing requirement to issue cards to new members, existing members that have misplaced their card or to those whose cards have expired. Once initial supply of the pre-personalised cards has occurred, a membership club, with an investment in its own personalisation printing equipment, may order an over-and-above quantity of 'non-personalised' base stock. This allows for total versatility and economic advantage in obtaining the lowest 'per card price' during placement of the original order.
Loading card specifications...Specialty Cards
Not all plastic cards are the same and most organisations require their card to stand out from the crowd. Some of the many non-standard card technologies available include:
- Scented -created with a specialised ink, scents include coffee, fruit, fragrance, etc.
- One-Time-Password (OTP) - incorporating a LED display the card provides additional banking security.
- Textured - printed or applied to the card's surface, textures include denim, engraved, brushed, etc.
- Metal / Transparent / Recycled - - typically laminated PVC, other materials available upon request.
- Lenticular -two images can be applied to a card to be viewed individually from different angles.
- Shaped - using a specially made die-cutter, cards can be customised to order.
Loading card specifications...Consumables
Plastic Passport proudly provides premium quality blank card stock, ribbons and card consumables to organisations with an investment in plastic card printing equipment.
We supply the following blank card stock:
- Standard Card- white, yellow, red, light and dark blue, light and dark green, teal, beige, black, metallic silver and gold.
- Standard Card (specialised) - solid colour core, transparent, opaque.
- Standard Card (varying thickness) - 0.38mm, 0.50mm, 0.76mm, 1.0mm.
- Standard Card (incorporating technology) - Lo-Co & Hi-Co magnetic strip, RFID, contact & contactless chip, SIM chip.
- Non-standard card - 2-Up & 3-Up keytag, combination card, dual card, mini card, custom shaped card.
Full consumables listing:
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