Increase ID card printing productivity and scale your card printing with these three tips.
1) Structure your card issuance in a distributed system
Distributed card issuance allows for greater flexibility. There are two ways you can create a distributed card system.
- Group your printers under one network
- Establish a dedicated network for your ID card printers and then group every printer under that network
- This will increase your print speed
- When one printer requires maintenance, the other printers are connected and can handle the load
- For example: If you add your ID card printer to a network that includes your regular document printer, your ID card printing will be slower. The “queue” of ID batches must pause until other documents print. Further, there can be troubleshooting issues that occur because the network will not be able to handle all the documents at once.
- Group your geographically dispersed printers
- Group individual printers at different locations under one, single network.
- This allows you to print your ID cards directly to other locations.
- This will cut down on time and expense when sending credentials to other locations.
- Card recipients will not need to travel to a centralized location to obtain credentials.
2) Increase your card throughput
Contemporary card printers can perform multiple operations simultaneously. Taking advantage of the advanced features will allow you to increase your card output drastically.
- Buy or upgrade printer modules that can encode data, add visual security, and add lamination in one, seamless action.
- Some of the fastest printers on the market can print, encode, add visual security, and laminate in under 45 seconds.
- Dual input module is the most effective module to increase card printing speed.
- Change your print mode setting
- Retransfer printers include a print setting called "Performance Transfer Mode". This mode is great for ID badge designs that do not include high-resolution images.
- Optimize your badge design to accommodate quicker print speeds. This means using graphics that don't require high-resolution printing.
3) Monitor your printer environment
Printers systems are at risk for high temperatures and exposure to debris and contaminants during use. If you do not make sure your printer is in a climate-controlled and contaminate-free environment, you will experience disrupt card throughput and distorted credentials.
- Store the printer in a contaminate-free, climate-controlled environment.
- Use a printer cover to keep debris from getting into the printer.
- Make sure your printer has positive airflow into the internal filtration system. This will keep the printer from overheating.
- Utilize electronic temperature sensors that control the print setting - Clean your printer
- Cleaning mode: Most printers include a cleaning mode. The cleaning mode will take an adhesive card and run it through the card path multiple times. This will pick up any debris inside the printer.
- Cleaning kits: These kits come with the tools to clean your printer. This includes adhesive cards to use in cleaning mode, swabs to clean the printhead, and alcohol pads to wipe down the body of the printer. Click to see our cleaning kits.
Scaling your ID card printing is tangible for your company. If you are looking for more information, or if you would like an evaluation of your ID card printing, click below.
