Feedback on IFSEC 2011

We were so excited to showcase our product line at IFSEC Securex Johannesburg 2011 this week. The show is now complete, and as we debrief as a team, we like to reflect on the feedback we received from the visitors.

The XID8300

Time and time again, we printed a sample card on this printer and the visitor exclaimed "Wow!". The feedback we received was a reiteration of what we have believed since it's release- the XID8300 is the best desktop card printer available. Full stop.

We can't stop talking about some of the fantastic benefits wrapped in that little grey box:

• The clarity of print is unmatched by any other printer represented at the show.
  
  
• The UV ink we showcased was broadcasted by top VIP visitors as a "smart" security feature.
  
  
• Anyone who has ever sunk thousands of rands into printhead replacements knows that the Lifetime Print head Warranty is pure gold.
  
  
• The encoding modules available for the XID8300 will encode iClass HID cards, Mifare cards and other contact and contactless chips. This is an important feature for the visitors of IFSEC Securex, as many are in the process of migrating into a more self-sufficient in house system for their security.
  
  

• When we got to that complicated question of pricing, each visitor was surprised at how reasonable the machine was. The price of EDIsecure Retransfer printers have come down significantly over the years- making this machine more value for money than any other plastic card printer available.
  
  

The LCP9000

The LCP9000 is a desktop colour laser personalisation unit, small enough to fit on a small desk, with the ability to engrave images into the plastic. A fully kitted card can have tactile and flat engraving of text or images, UV, ghost imaging and a mirage of security features. The market for this printer is significantly smaller than that of the XID8300, thanks to it's more secure requirements and higher price tag.

We had videos running of the laser operating, as well as an actual demonstration of the full LCP9000 unit. The videos attracted congregations of people watching how the laser reflects, and engraves onto polycarbonate plastic. Lasers are awesome and this highly secure method of card issuance is awesome too.


Overall we are ecstatic about the results of the show and are looking forward to the next show we'll be popping into!

Ready to join the CardsPlus revolution? Go ahead! Give us a call on 086 16 CARDS (22737) or
+27 11 894 3914 .

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Earth Month: A Different Angle on Recycled Plastic PVC Cards

In honour of Earth Day on the 22nd of April, we are taking a special interest in the environmental impact that plastic cards make on our planet. This re-post of an article written in 2009 reveals our long standing angle on environmental responsibility in manufacturing plastic cards.

"In the ever growing environmentally conscious world we live in, awareness as to how we are impacting the world is taking a forefront in our consumerism. Because of this awareness, there is a very strong marketing strategy taking place which urges consumers to "think green" and make choices as to how their purchases impact the world.

Companies, on all fronts, are using this angle to market themselves anew - pushing products that are considered "environmentally friendly" and "green". This designation, however is ambiguous (see our recent post on the "corn card"). In addition, it can be narrow minded, not taking into consideration the overall impact.

A new article has been posted by CR80 News regarding one aspect of the "green movement" in plastic card printing - using recycled pvc plastic-gives a balanced glance at many of the issues involved. Using recycled materials is of course, a responsible approach to good consumerism - "reduce, reuse, recycle", however to make a truly educated decision as to whether to chose recycled plastic over "virgin pvc", one must take into full consideration all angles and implications, then base a decision on these facts. Being bullied and guilted into spending more money for the sake of one companies new marketing angle, is not a responsible way to move the world into thoughtful consumerism.

At CardsPlus, it is our desire to be responsible citizens. We offer a range of plastics to choose from - some more environmentally friendly than others. We also recycle our waste material whenever possible. However, it is not our desire to jump on the newest environmental bandwagon, for the sake of seeming to be "green" when in fact, it is not. Yes, we must be responsible. Yes, we must take care of the world we have been blessed with - but our clients will never be guilted or bullied into putting their hard earned money into a product that does not fit their needs and requirements. This is our committment to them, and to you."

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10 colours to include in your 2011 marketing and loyalty campaigns for added benefit

What is going to get the attention of your clients this year?

Pantone predictions
Colour authority Pantone released their predictions in late December and as we noticed late last year– exotic, vibrant colours are on the up and up.

The colour of 2011 is Honeysuckle – a fresh, cheerful and versatile shade of pink. You can expect this colour to feature across the industries in new marketing campaigns, clothing designs and even home industry trends.

Pantone also gave Russet, Regatta, Coral Rose, Peapod, Blue Curacao, Beeswax, Lavender, Silver Peony and Silver Cloud the thumbs up for 2011.

This palette is strong, intriguing and healthy with a particular nod to saturated African and Indian inspirations.

How it will help you

Forecasting
Armed with this knowledge, you have the edge in trend appeal. You can choose to embrace the power of popularity– much like the turquoise of yore, these colours have mass staying-power and will still look hip and fresh for the next few years according to trend analysis.

African Influence
Local is Lekker and with the unique African influence these colours are primed and ready to pounce on your target audience.

Colour Association
Harnessing the power of colour provides subconscious messages to your audience.
These colours are energetic and vibrant. Using these colours for a marketing or loyalty campaign associates your campaign is associated to youthful vibrancy and positivity.

Putting it on plastic
We love this new palette of dramatic , rich shades– even more so because they look so good on plastic. Pair Coral Rose with Regatta and Honeysuckle for high energy impact – or Peapod and Blue Curacao with a touch of Silver Peony for a subtle chic result.

Give it the 2011 twist with increased interest in striking colour combinations. You can’t go wrong in this palette– so go big and reap the benefits of trend appeal.

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DCP 360+ unveiled

Digital Identification Solutions Group recently unveiled the upgraded version of the DCP360i, renamed as the DCP 360+.

The DCP 360+ is being called the most powerful and compact direct card printer in its class.

The new, modern-designed, double-sided, edge-to-edge EDIsecure® DCP 360+ Direct Card Printer was developed for industrial needs and is prepared for plug and play inline lamination. It is the most powerful desktop direct card printer in the world with its versatility and state-of-the-art features.

Product Highlights and Features

* Fastest full-color direct card printer in its class due to portrait mode printing
* High-speed printing of more than 180 full-color and up to 720 monochrome cards per hour
* Built-in LED panel for convenient set-up and operation
* Detachable card hopper for easy handling
* Powerful printer driver shows the printer status and makes it possible to change the parameters for printing from the PC
* Removable and reusable cleaning rollers
* Optional single- and simultaneous dual-side lamination with EDIsecure® ILM or ILM-DS to apply a range of EDIsecure® clear and secure laminates that extend card life and enhances security
* Optional lockable access to lamination supplies for higher security
* Optional field upgradeable encoder modules for magnetic stripe, contact and contactless smart card encoding
* Ideal for medium to high volume applications for corporations, government agencies, organizations, hospitals, health facilities, and universities, for photo IDs, access control, time and attendance, and loyalty cards

The following ribbons are available: YMCKO and YMCKOK ribbon as well as monochrome K (black) ribbon.

What makes the DCP360+ better than the DCP360i?

The major upgrade is the introduction of infrared capabilities for use with the new lamination (ILM) units. This will enable users the ability to utalise the DS and LS ILM units with the DCP360+ instead of the previous bulky ILM units of yore. Hooray for streamlining printing solutions!

We give Digital Identification Solutions a big thumbs up on this project!

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ICMA welcomes CardsPlus with open arms

CardsPlus is proud to join the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) this year!

Joining the select few of the world's finest card manufacturers is a great kudos to our team who has worked hard to ensure that the cards leaving our factory is only of the highest international standard.
What is the ICMA?

According to ICMA, "The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) serves the dynamic card industry and the various companies and organizations involved in manufacturing and personalizing these cards. Billions of cards now fill pockets and purses throughout the world. As the complexity of card manufacturing and applications has increased, so have the production, standards, quality, security and environmental issues surrounding the cards. The need to bring together these diverse elements of the card industry led to the formation of the ICMA."

What does this mean to our clients?

If your preferred plastic card supplier is a member of the ICMA you can rest assured that the provider has met and exceeded the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards. The ICMA ensures that all of it's members adheres to a strict set of guidelines that consistently provides high standards and excellent quality.

We are very excited to add the ICMA's recommendation to our printed plastic cards! Want to see you for yourself what all the fuss is about? Why not drop us an email?

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Now Introducing: ExpressCards!

Visitors of our stand at Markex were privy to a very special and very exciting new service that CardsPlus will now be offering.

ExpressCards is ready to revolutionise the printing industry!

We understand that sometimes things don't work out exactly as planned. Maybe someone forgets to place the card order- or maybe the artwork took too long to get to you- or maybe your product launch is tomorrow and promotional cards will be just the detail that will skyrocket sales. No matter the delay, CardsPlus is here to help!


What is ExpressCards?

ExpressCards is a new service offered by CardsPlus for printed plastic cards. For print runs of up to 5000 cards, CardsPlus now is giving the option to have the cards printing and dispatched even faster than before.

You can choose!

- Do you need cards printed and dispatched in just 24 hours? ExpressCards can help!
OR
- Do you need cards printed and dispatched in just 5-7 days? ExpressCards can help!

But what about QuickCards?

Our most popular service QuickCards will still be readily available to get you your cards in 10 days or fewer. With a wide range of features and high service value the QuickCards service won't be heading anywhere!

How do I know if my card order is eligible for the ExpressCards service?

ExpressCards is currently designed for urgent card runs that:

- Range between 1 card and 5000 cards
- are printed in full colour on one or both sides

Your ExpressCards can also have any or all of the below features:

- Serialised numbering
- Photo and text insert
- Barcodes
- HiCo or LoCo magnetic stripes for self encoding purposes

and more!

Of course, you are always welcome to give our helpful sales team a call on 086 16 CARDS (22737) to find out more details!

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Come and See Us at Markex 2010

CardsPlus is pleased to announce that once again we will be exhibiting at Markex, the premier marketing, promotions, and special events exhibition in South Africa. Markex will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre 24-26 August 2010

Will it be worth your time? You Bet!

• This year we are showcasing our innovative software solutions - Rewards Plus Gift and Loyalty Software and Lobby Track Visitor Tracking Software.
  
• We are debuting a brand new service never before seen in the plastic card industry in South Africa!
• We will have on demonstration a new addition to the EDIsecure brand of Retransfer printers
  

Samples, demonstrations and giveaways - as well as a very special "only for Markex" special will be on offer.

Come meet our friendly staff and see the latest technology in Card Printing.

Contact us on 011 894 3914 if you are interested in attending and we will assist you in obtaining passes to the show.

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5 Reasons to Make the Switch to Retransfer Printing Right Now

Retransfer technology is all the rage right now and being marketed across the world as cutting edge print technology at it’s finest.

But, what are the actual differences between the direct-to-card Zebra, Evolis, Datacard, Fargo printers and Retransfer printers? And what actual benefits are there in switching to the finest print technology available?

Let’s have a look at the original retransfer brand of printers– the EDIsecure XID family.

1. Better Print Quality Imaging on the XID retransfer printers is comparable to offset press printed cards- Colours are brighter and crisper; lines are sharper and cleaner.

2. Off-the-edge Printing Direct-to-card printers all leave a faint line on one side of the card to protect the print head from damage. Yuck!

Retransfer print heads do not make contact with the card, allowing a fluid 'over-the-edge' print, even on the uneven edges of smart cards.

3. Lifetime Warranty on the Print head Only the XID printers offer you the assurance of
a lifetime warranty on the print head. No shady card count restrictions apply .

4. Completely Modular The XID printers are fully customisable, meaning you purchase only
what you need at this time with the option of adding modules (without requiring an upgrade) when your needs change. Why spend more when you don't have to ?

5. Affordability The XID printers give you true value for your money and the cost per card is comparable to direct to card printing!

Demonstrations are available if you would like to see the technology in action. Join the revolution and schedule your demonstration for an XID retransfer printer now.

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Visit CardsPlus at Markex– World of Events 2010

Let’s get inspired!

CardsPlus will be exhibiting at Markex once again for 2010 at stand C27 in the main hall!

We will be demonstrating several solutions including gift and loyalty software, design and print and visitor management solutions; the operation of the desktop printers; and offering a sneak peek into our QuickCards solution.

The Markex Exhibition will be open to the public from the 24th-26th of August between 10:00 and 18:00.

This year, there is an entrance fee for guests who arrive without a ticket. We would like offer you the opportunity to see the world of promotions, marketing and event planning first hand.

Please request your complimentary tickets through moreinfoplease@cardsplus.co.za or give us a call for more information on 086 16 CARDS (22737).

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Making the Switch

This month, CardsPlus is offering you the opportunity to launch your card printing from the okay into the phenomenal with a trade in and upgrade special. Trade in your Zebra, Evolis, or Datacard printer for over R10 000 off the affordable line of XID Retransfer printers and gain the edge in card printing.

Plastic card printers like the Evolis Tattoo or Evolis Pebble; the Zebra P110i, P330i, or P430i; the Fargo C30 Persona or DTC550; the Datacard SP range and even the EDIsecure DCP range all print with a process termed "direct-to-card printing".

But, what are the actual differences between your direct-to-card Zebra, Evolis, Datacard, Fargo printers and the XID Retransfer printers?

5 Reasons why you need to make the switch

1. Better Print Quality Imaging on the XID retransfer printers is comparable to offset press printed cards- Colours are brighter and crisper; lines are sharper and cleaner.

2. Off-the-edge Printing Direct-to-card printers all leave a faint line on one side of the card to protect the printhead from damage. Yuck! Thankfully, Retransfer print heads do not make contact with the card, allowing a 'over-the-edge' printing appearance.

3. Lifetime Warranty on the Printhead Only the XID printers offer you the assurance of a lifetime warranty on the print head. No shady card count restrictions need apply.

4. Completely Modular The XID printers are fully customisable- meaning you purchase only what you need at this time with the option of adding modules (without requiring an upgrade) when your needs change. Why spend more when you don't have to?

5. Affordability Don't be deceived that the generosity of the CardsPlus discount reveals that the printer is outside of your budgeting bracket. The XID printers give you true value for your money.

You can read a brief introduction on the variety of print processes here and a comprehensive article on direct-to-card and retransfer printing methods here.

As always, please feel free to give us a call on 086 16 CARDS (22737) to hear more about print technology, printers and this offer.

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True CardsPlus Innovation Makes World History

We are incredibly proud to be the very first to offer a secure National ID card on a digital offset press worldwide .

1.2 million cards were printed, barcoded and personalised in a mere 25 days! Production shifts were doubled and extra security measures were brought into place to ensure that the massive print run would go off without a hitch.

The HP s2000, our digital offset press, was the champion behind it all. She gave us the ability to instantly personalize each card with a variety of data fields and still print 21 cards at a time.

Our top-of-the-line finishing equipment gave each card a true gloss and a precision punched card edge.

Due to the offset process, we were able to print the cards at a fraction of the cost of a desktop solution.

• No cutting corners.

• No cheap substitutes.

• True innovation.

Putting the ‘Smart’ into Card Solutions… indeed.

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CardsPlus Newsletter Takes Off!

We are excited to annouce our latest service offering- CardsPlus eBrief.

It pack full with industry secrets we have gleaned for over 22 years in the Auto-ID industry, product reviews, procedure highlights, as well as latest news from both inside CardsPlus and in the card industry.

If you would like to sign up for this monthly newsletter, please do so here.

P.S. You can stay up to date on all the articles here too! Make sure you don't miss one new article by subscribing with your RSS feeder on the left hand side of this page!

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CardsPlus News Blurbs

New staff—new wonders

CardsPlus has just increased its staffing to 19 members. The addition of several new staff members will increase the projected workload capabilities and ensure that CardsPlus remains ahead of the game on every order.

The new staff are fully trained to operate precisely in their respective fields ensuring that quality and support will remain at the high CardsPlus standard.

Increase in orders won’t decrease availability

Word has gotten out that CardsPlus is no longer a small business and the orders are flying in!

Equipped with prime equipment and operators, CardsPlus has been kept busier than ever before. With the addition of several large projects, CardsPlus is reiterating that our service will remain at the high standard it always has been.

The increase in orders and the addition of a second production shift will not affect our loyal clients who have come to expect only the best.

Let CardsPlus show you the difference!

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Markex Here We Come!

CardsPlus is pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at Markex, the premier marketing, promotions, and special events exhibition in South Africa. Markex will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre during 9-11 June 2009.

We are showcasing our variety of Card Printing Solutions and innovative ways to integrate the use of printed plastic cards into marketing and special events. CardsPlus will also launch our new loyalty software and showcase our line of EDIsecure brand Plastic Card Printers. Demonstrations as well as free product giveaways will be on hand. Come meet our friendly staff, see the latest technology in Card Printing, and sign up for one of our free giveaways!

Contact us on 011 894 3914 if you are interested in attending and we will assist you in obtaining passes to the show.

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HOT NEWS!!

Cards Plus is very excited to announce being awarded the supply of printers and consumables for a large scale project in Ethiopia. For this project, involving printing of 3,000,000 cards over a period of 18 months, the Edisecure DCP 360i was chosen as the perfect solution for the project due to its reliability, portrait print mode and print speed.

Edisecure printers have a fabulous reputation in large scale government projects including US Department of Motor Vehicles, NASA, UAE National ID, Oman National ID, as well as large government projects in Mexico, Indonesia and now Africa.

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