Archive for ‘Card Printer Ribbons’

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January 14, 2013

5 Benefits of Proper Training on Printers

Does your printer operation give you hassles now and again? It might be time for a refresher course in training!

technical support imageBenefits of Proper Training on Direct to Card Printers

  1. Proper training saves your print head. Does your operator know what to do when they drop a box of clean cards on the floor? Can they identify “no-touch” areas of your machine? Print heads are expensive to replace and keeping them in top condition is very simple. However, one untrained operator can easily get a sleeve caught on the expose print head or run a dirty card through the machine and cost you thousands of rands. Not ideal!
  2. Training provided from a reputable technician will highlight the best ways to operate your card printing project to get maximum use from the internal gears and sensors in the printer. When your printer has extended past it’s warranty and is still in top operation, you’ll be thankful for the additional advice.
  3. Refresher courses encourage protective behaviour. Many printers are stored improperly or in the incorrect environment when not in use and becomes damaged beyond additional use. A few simple tips will encourage your operators to use protective behaviour when operating and storing the equipment and there by extending it’s life.
  4. Learning a new process and software can slow down card issuance unnecessarily while adequate training promotes speedy issuing. Because software and printer operation become “second nature”, issuing cards becomes a cinch for any trained operator.
  5. Save money on repairs and technical call outs due to improper usage. Prevention is always cheaper, and better, than a cure. Prevent damage and printing hiccups due to improper usage, by encouraging all your operators to be trained by a certified technician.

You might need additional training on your software if:

  • You’ve added new staff or operators
  • You’re issuing new products or card requirements
  • Only one person was trained and that person was you!

Who can help?

To ensure proper printer maintenance and allow for your company’s maximum up time and optimized print quality, CardsPlus provides expert training where printer operators and resellers can receive the skills they need to effectively handle the equipment, provide basic troubleshooting and operation. Trainees learn correct printer operation through hands-on activities, such as:

  • Printer operation
  • Consumable changes
  • Cleaning requirements
  • Software operation and basic troubleshooting

CardsPlus offers training for every printer purchased through us- and offer training refresher courses to brush up on your printing skills. Our trained and certified technicians are ready to assist you with your specific requirements.

Book a refresher course by contacting us through our website www.cardsplus.co.za today!

Posted in Can Do files, Card Printer Ribbons, CardsPlus Services, Demystifying the Technology, Direct to Card Printers, FAQ, ID Card Technology, Insider Insight | Leave a Comment »

June 13, 2012

Advantages of the DCP350

DCP350-Infographic-ad-button2Plastic card printers make your life easier and safer. You use them to print ID cards for staff members, police verification, personnel identification, membership management, client loyalty, and other mission critical applications.

But deciding which machine to get can be like wading through muddy water. Brochures are written for the IT department, even though you will be the one using the machine.

Reading a plastic card printer brochure shouldn’t be so difficult.

This infographic compiles all the features of the DCP350 in an easy to read A4 page with clearly indicated benefits to you, as the user.

The DCP350 was designed to meet all entry level printing requirements with ease, high performance and superior print quality.

It’s the first of it’s kind and we hope you like it!

 

 

 

 

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CardsPlus is the exclusive EDIsecure dealer for Subsaharan Africa. Pre orders of the DCP350 are available on www.cardsplus.co.za

Posted in Printing 101, Demystifying the Technology, Industry News, Security, Plastic Card Printers, Card Printer Ribbons, ID Card Technology, Insider Insight, Direct to Card Printers | Leave a Comment »

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June 11, 2012

CardsPlus Review: The DCP350

It’s been an exciting year for the plastic card industry as our favourite card printer brand released a new, competitive, plastic card printer.

That’s right, EDIsecure recently released a new plastic card printer!

At first we were a little nervous. The DCP240+ is fantastic, and as we saw with the Datacard revamping the SP series to the SD series, we were afraid that the new version was going to be so much less than the original. There was no need to worry.

The DCP350 is all that the DCP240+ is and more.Plastic Card Printer

Appearance of the Plastic Card Printer

It looks great. The design is functional like the DCP240+, but improves greatly in it’s dual tones construction with sexy blue LED buttons and LCD screen.

Performance of the Printer

It performs just as well,  with it’s metal interior, and dual gear construction. Stretched belts won’t be an issue with this machine, as the internals are all high quality and constructed thoughtfully.  The print head is still operator replaceable- and our test group found the machine simple to use.

Drivers of the Printer

The DCP350 is compatible with a wide range of Windows platforms (Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 [32 & 64 Bit]) as well as Linux and Mac. This greatly improves the range of the DCP350 as it can now operate on your operating system of choice! The GUI is impressive, and improves colour matching from screen to print. When used with Jolly Technologies’ ID Flow, the results are outstanding.

Ribbons for the Card Printer

There are two interesting elements to the DCP350 ribbons that we really liked.

Firstly, the ribbons are in a reusable cartridge format. This will prevent operator error in the installation of new ribbons. The sticky roller is a part of the cartridge, as a perfect reminder to change it with every ribbon change.

Secondly, the colour ribbons come in two types: the HQ or High Quality ribbon, and the normal ribbon and you can select the ribbon that matches your needs, and your budget, without having to compromise on one or the other.

Print Quality on the Plastic card

We were impressed with the print quality of the DCP350. It far surpasses the quality of the Datacard SD series, the Zebra and Pebble ranges and even the DCP240+ . The colours are crisp and vibrant, with picture perfect screen to print matching.

Overall impression of the DCP350

We give the EDIsecure DCP350 two thumbs up. We’re very happy with the quality of print and the robust construction of the card printer. Our client test group were excited about the low ribbon cost and printer appearance.

Overall, it’s a great printer that we anticipate great things from!

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CardsPlus is the exclusive EDIsecure dealer for Subsaharan Africa. Pre orders of the DCP350 are available on www.cardsplus.co.za

Posted in Plastic Card Printers, Card Printer Ribbons, Smart Card, Insider Insight, Direct to Card Printers | 1 Comment »

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November 21, 2011

Keeping your plastic card printer in tip-top shape – Retransfer Printers edition

The EDIsecure XID Retransfer printers are built to last. They are constructed with real-life limitations in mind ensuring that you will never have to pay for another print head replacement.

However, there are a few tips that we recommend to ensure that all the delicate printer parts remain clean and happy. These simple tips will ensure that each card you print continues to be smooth and vibrant as well as protect the investment you made in the world’s best Retransfer printers

Basic cleaning of desktop Retransfer printers is a simple straightforward process:

We recommend:

  • Clean the reusable cleaning rollers with warm water every 1000 cards.

These rollers function in the same way that the sticky rollers do in Direct -to- card printers. They pick up lint and dust on the cards before they go inside the printer. The XID rollers are reusable, and can be cleaned using warm water. Excess water can be shaken out of the roller. The rollers will then be sticky and condusive for lint-pick up!

  • Run the cleaning cycle with the large cleaning cards every 5000 prints.

These cleaning cycles are short, and can be started in the printer drivers. The cleaning wizard will help you every step of the way! Doing these easy cleaning cycles every 5000 cards will prevent card jams and improve print quality.

  • Dust out the filters every 5000 cards.

After your cleaning cycle, we recommend dusting out the air filters. The XID filters have proper cooling fans that suck in cool air from the outside and push out hot air. This is why the XID Retransfer printers do not have overheating problems – the fans are correctly placed in order to properly cool the printer down. However, it is important to dust out these filters to ensure that air can flow properly in and out of the machine. The filters are easy to access, and take just moments to dust out.

For Best Print Results:

The XID printers print off the edge printing- with offset like print quality. These basic tips will ensure that each card is just as wonderful as the last:

1. Keep the ribbons and cards clean.

Dust on the ribbons and cards will impair print quality. We recommend keeping the ribbons and cards dusted (or covered) when not in use to ensure that the ink can properly sublimate the retansfer film and lay flat onto the card stock. film on card

It is also recommended to not leave blank card stock in the printer while not printing. Dust can creep inside the card input hopper and make for a frustrating couple of prints!

2. Use quality card stock.

Poor quality stock had burrs, scratches and sometimes even dirt on the cards which will damage the internal parts of your card printer. Most printer brands will only fill a warranty if high quality certified card stock is used for printing. You can tell the quality of your stock with simple tests.

With these few tips and tricks, your Retransfer printer will continue to produce striking, professional plastic cards for your company without a hitch!

 

Do you need to schedule a service? Or are you ready to transform your card printing sector with the XID8300? Contact CardsPlus now for more information.

Posted in PVC cards, Printing 101, Demystifying the Technology, Plastic Card Printers, Card Printer Ribbons, Retransfer Printers | 1 Comment »

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November 11, 2011

Keeping your plastic card printer in tip-top shape – Direct to Card Printers edition

In order to continue high quality printing for your plastic cards, and to protect your plastic card printer investment, CardsPlus reminds you to:

With these simple words you can protect the investment you made in your card machine and extend its lifespan.

Basic cleaning of desktop direct to card printers is a simple straightforward process. You can keep your printer healthy with just 6 steps!

6 ways to keep your plastic card printer in tip-top shape

1. Run the Cleaning Cycle

Each printer is offered with a cleaning cycle to keep your equipment functioning properly.  Begin by removing the ribbon, the old cleaning roller and select the cleaning cycle in your printer drivers. The instructions will ask you to run a saturated cleaning card through the printer and the rest the printer will do automatically.

It is important to run this short cleaning cycle every time you change a ribbon or every 500 prints.

2. Replace Cleaning Rollers

The key to keeping your printer clean is to replace the cleaning roller every time you change your print ribbon.

The cleaning roller is sticky, and will pick up dust or foreign particles from the card before the card touches the print head. If dirt or dust comes in contact with your print head, you risk costly print head replacement. It is important to keep the roller sticky by replacing it often so that it can function the way it was designed to.

EDIsecure and Datacard branded direct-to-card ribbons each come with a cleaning roller and saturated cleaning card. For other brands,  you will need to purchase these rollers separately.

3. Regular Services

We recommend you send your card printer in for a service every year or 5000 cards (which ever comes first). Services will clean all the sensors and delicate internal pieces of your printer.

Take care to use a reputable company, should you choose to not use CardsPlus, as technicians need to be trained and certified in order to handle the sensitive equipment correctly.

4. Keep the printer in a clean environment

For best results, we recommend keeping the printer in a climate controlled dust free area. Avoid eating while operating the machine, and use clean or gloved hands when operating the printer. These simple principles will help you extend the lifespan of your printer significantly.

5.  Use Quality Consumables

The quality of the card stock you use is important. Poor quality stock had burrs, scratches and sometimes even dirt on the cards which will damage the internal parts of your card printer. Most printer brands will only fill a warranty if high quality certified card stock is used for printing. You can tell the quality of your stock with simple tests.

CardsPlus has certification for most printer brands on the quality of our card stock both custom printed and black stock.

6. Take care around the print head

We recommend you know where your print head is, and avoid touching or knocking against it.

Take special care when changing ribbons or when the cover is open and the print head exposed.

To the right is a picture of where the DCP240+ print head is located. This is the standard location for the print head.

 

 

With just a few basic cleaning and mantanience steps, you can extend the life of your plastic card printer and return on investment!

If you require a service in Southern Africa, contact us for a quote!

Posted in Printing 101, CardsPlus Services, Plastic Card Printers, Card Printer Ribbons | Leave a Comment »

November 3, 2011

FAQ: How do I know if my plastic card stock is suitable for printing on?

The quality of the card stock you use is important. Poor quality stock has burrs, scratches and sometimes even dirt on the cards which will damage the internal parts of your card printer. Most printer brands will only fill a warranty if high quality certified card stock is used for printing.

All direct to card dye sublimation printers require PVC plastic for printing as PVC allows the ink to sublimate the plastic. Direct to card dye sublimation printers will not print colour images on ABS, PET, PVH and other plastic composites. (Do you require printing on speciality non-PVC plastic? We recommend EDIsecure Retransfer Printers like the XID8300 or XID 9300)

There are a few tricks to see if you are printing on high quality stock. (We also explain what a high quality custom printed card looks like here)

Test your stock quality by:

1. Looking at the finish

High quality stock is very glossy, and when held to reflect the light, should have a perfectly smooth surface. Any pits, burrs or deep scratches may signify poor quality stock.

2. Run your fingers up and down the edges

Is the die cutting smooth? Or very rough? Rough edges can come into contact with your print head causing costly repairs.

3. Look at the colour

The purity of the plastic can indicate the quality of PVC used. If your white cards seem to be tinted pink you may be using poor quality stock. Pink tinted stock will also affect your print quality. The inks used in card printers are semi translucent and any undertones in the stock will be seen through the inks over the top.

These three tips will help you choose the highest quality stock for printing. Using high quality stock is only a few cents more than low quality stock, but will lower your overall return on investment. Using high quality stock helps keep your printer from highly expensive and time-consuming repairs and ensures a validity on your printer warranty.

CardsPlus offers superior certified stock for Blank Plastic Stock (including Premium white plastic cards: We have more than PVC!; Coloured Card Stock: From Blue to Pink to Silver, we have a wide selection of different colours! ;  Cards with Technology: We also stock magnetic stripe cards ; Contactless Smart Cards: We carry MIFARE, RFID cards and a selection of Proximity cards and Contact Smart Cards: Contact Smart Cards (EEPROM) are a special order item, and we are well equipped to assist you. )

Posted in PVC cards, Printing 101, Demystifying the Technology, Plastic Card Printers, FAQ, Card Printer Ribbons, ID Card Technology, Smart Card, Insider Insight | 2 Comments »

September 21, 2011

We have stock of Datacard ribbons!

We  have stock available for the original colour ribbons for the SP35 and SP55 (item 552854-504). The local supply has run dry of both the ribbons and the printers and since Datacard is pushing users to upgrade their firmware – we have ensured a good supply of both the ribbons and the plastic card printers. The SP35 and SP55 ribbons and printers are not being discontinued until the end of the year (and the printers will continued to be supported for at least 2 more years).

When I received this news, I wanted to share it with you. I can supply the ribbons or printers right away should you need them- Firmware upgrades do take valuable time, and a stash of ribbons will ensure that you can schedule your upgrade at a time that is most convenient for you.

Shall we set some aside for you? Call us +27 11 894 3914 for more information

Posted in CardsPlus Services, Plastic Card Printers, Card Printer Ribbons | Leave a Comment »

September 20, 2011

Need Datacard Ribbons?

Are you feeling bullied into that Datacard firmware upgrade? CardsPlus still has a large supply of genuine colour 552854-504 ribbons available so that you have enough time to plan your firmware upgrade for a time that is most convenient for you.

We also have stock of the SP35 and SP55 and can supply them at discontinued rates.

There is no need to be rushed- we have your back.

Call us on 086 16 CARDS (22737) or  +27 11 894 3914 for more information.

Posted in Can Do files, Card Printer Ribbons | Leave a Comment »

August 16, 2011

FAQs- Am I saving money with compatible card printer ribbons?

A current trend in the plastic card printing market is the use of compatible ribbons instead of genuine branded plastic card printer ribbons. These compatible ribbons are used in Evolis, Datacard, Zebra and Fargo machines and are advertised to save the client 25-60% in consumable costs. We have investigated this claim by interviewing several clients (and repairing their printers) and found that despite a slight decrease in ribbon costs, the end user is receiving less value and a more expensive cost per solution than when using original branded ribbons.

Here is what we found:

Reasons to Choose Original over “Compatible” for plastic card printer consumables

1. Voids Warranty

Whether your printer is Zebra, Evolis, EDIsecure, Datacard or Fargo brand, your warranty is voided the moment you use non branded (compatible) ribbon or plastic card. Take care to purchase your consumables from reputable companies- if the consumables are non-branded or compatible ribbons (even hiding in original boxes), your printer brand manufacturer will not fulfil your warranty.

2. Higher operating temp=faster print head blow out

Compatible ribbons require a higher operating temperature to print correctly. While it is possible to increase the heat settings in your printer drivers- the increase in temperature will effectively run your print head at a higher temperature and make it ‘work harder’ to sublimate your ink. This increased temperature puts strain on your print head and will ensure a shorter lifespan. Should you wish to keep the default settings asnd not increase your heat settings, the colours will be washed out and may graduate in colour intensity across the length of the card.

3. More Manufacturing Defects in Compatible Ribbons

Clients who use compatible ribbons are more likely to have a damaged print head from a manufacturing defect in the compatible ribbon. We have seen ribbons that are too narrow and do not stretch the full width of the card. Other ribbons have burrs or scratches in the film. In minor cases, the ink does not sumblimate into the plastic in those areas, causing a blotchy print, or, in more major cases, the burrs can scratch the printhead directly.

There is simply no value is saving a couple of Rands per ribbon if using a compatible ribbon will cost you thousands in printhead or driverboard replacements.

CardsPlus only sells genuine branded ribbons. We believe that they continue to extend more value to our clients than a compatible ribbon will. With so many companies getting burned from the increase in compatible plastic card printer consumables, CardsPlus is proud to take a stand against inferior products and misadvertising.

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

Posted in Card Printer Ribbons, FAQ, Industry News, Plastic Card Printers | Leave a Comment »

January 7, 2011

FAQ: I need to make up some cards and QUICK! What do I need to start printing my own cards tomorrow?

Are you ready to branch into printing your own cards, either as a side business or for your company?

We created a brief rundown of what you will need– besides a computer or laptop– to start printing your own plastic cards…

A reliable plastic card printer: There are a wide variety of plastic card printers that will suite a variety of needs from single sided printing to high security printing. We recommend EDIsecure for their durability and reliability.

Software: Connecting to a database gives you the freedom to let the printer print without stopping to browse for a photo. Pick Jolly Technologies IDFlow to get the most value!

Consumables: Don’t forget your ribbons with the ink ribbons and the plastic cards to print on!

That’s it! You are ready to print! Print on!

 

Ready to join the CardsPlus revolution? Contact us!

Posted in Security, Plastic Card Printers, FAQ, Card Printer Ribbons, ID Card Technology, Plastic Cards | Leave a Comment »

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