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              Nothing compares to the invigorating feeling that stirs within as you stand at the precipice of a mountain top with fresh snow beneath your skis. For the millions of winter sport enthusiasts, a day in the mountains is another opportunity for special memories to be made. Skiing should be an all-around amazing time, without the dollar costs weighing on your mind.

              So, how do skiers/snowboarders avoid spending large sums of money doing the winter sports they love? They purchase ski resort passes that allow them to continue skiing, when they can, without continuous payments.

With ski resort passes ranging in the hundreds of dollars per pass, and close to 10 million people skiing, depending on the season, the need for long lasting, high-quality identification badges is ever popular and necessary.

Simply the Best!

The effects of weather, repeated use, poor materials and lack of attachment options all negatively impact an identification system’s effectiveness. For gloved hands, cold/numb or fumbling fingers, low-quality ski resort passes can be awkward to handle and difficult to scan or use. How can you make identification card options convenient for the user? What makes for a great ski resort pass? Below are a few most-desirable characteristics only premier ID options include:

·       They’re made of durable material that lasts up to five years. PVC material protects the integrity of the identification card information and require less reprinting.

·       A top-tier ID card is available with laser engrave bar codes, and can be encoded with numbers that help protect identities and pertinent information specific to the user.

·       It’s made to resist chemical damage, light-induced fading and fairs well against heat warping. 

·       They’re not easy to imitate or fake. The well-made ID card requires an ID printer to create it. 

·       A skier’s face is easily identified on the card or pass. With good-quality ski resort passes, photos are much clearer and provide the owner of the ID another layer of protection against identity theft.

·       The ID card has the option of being dual-sided. When a ski resort decides to provide more security check points to ensure ski resort passes are not compromised – a dual-sided pass can offer extra information that’s not easily duplicated and doesn’t sacrifice the overall design appeal of the ID card. 

Quality is also established in the form of how accessible and convenient the ID card is. If a card is made well with bold clear print, a clear badge sleeve or a pocket attached to a lanyard, this enables card uses to show their pass with ease.

                Avoid Catching an Edge

Just like catching an edge while skiing can be dangerous, so can ID cards that are rough or have a sharp edge. This means the integrity of the material isn’t the greatest and could cause skin injury, tear easily or warp. To ensure an easy pass-check experience, provide ski resort passes that are smooth and highly durable.

Click here to check out ID card options with Avon Security today.

Using a card reader rather than a human-verified photo ID can bring many advantages for you and your employees. Not only do you get the simple security benefits and quick verification of individuals who should be in the building, but you’ll be able to segment where visitors, staff and management are allowed access. Check out these top card reader benefits for more:

Quick Security

Being able to identify employees quickly is valuable to work time and productivity. Even though a security guard can usually identify who’s coming and going based on photo ID, this process takes longer than simply swiping through a card reader. Employing a full-time security guard can also be costly, where a card reader is a one-time payment that also doesn’t make the mistake of waving through a fake ID.

No Errors

Errors can cost your business money, and in some cases, accidently letting in the wrong person can result in violence or a criminal offence. When you run a company, sometimes employees are let go, or you’ll naturally have to deal with employee turnover. If a security guard recognizes an old staff member, they might let them into the building without knowing that person should no longer have access. With a card reader however, individuals attempting to regain access won’t be able to, unless you personally give clearance.

Security Segmentation

Depending on business needs, certain parts of your building might be off-limits to certain personnel for security reasons or otherwise. In this case, using a card reader can help you divide out your space and provide the right security to certain, confidential areas. Not only can card readers prevent employees from walking in where they shouldn’t be, but they can also add extra layers of security by having “check points”. For example, prior to accessing certain files or documents inside a restricted area, employers can make it mandatory for authorized employees to swipe their card once more. This way, you can track who’s accessing what and for what reason.

Entry Quantification

If you run a large business, utilizing a card reader also means you can easily pull data and keep track of who’s doing a full day at the office and who’s frequently taking breaks or skipping time. This kind of information can be addressed during performance evaluations and can also be used to weed out employees who are taking advantage of your smoke break policies or break times in general. Ready to learn more, or purchase your own card reader system? Visit Avon Security Products today!  

              It’s important to protect certain documents from being destroyed, and paper documents can damage quite easily, especially from liquid spills or accidental tears. That’s why it’s necessary to consider options that help make your documents last. Lamination has always been a go-to option for ensuring paperwork remains in-tact, and lamination pouches are an even easier way to “laminate” documents quickly and conveniently.

What are Lamination Pouches?

Lamination pouches are a style of lamination that uses a pocket to laminate the document in question. It comes with a seam that folds over to create a protective pouch. Once your documents have been placed inside its pockets, you can simply run these pouches through a laminator and secure your paperwork underneath.

How to Choose a Lamination Pouch

When choosing a lamination pouch you’ll need to take a few things into consideration. First, ensure they’re compatible with your laminator. Second, check the sizing as well as the thickness of the pouch you’re using. They must be larger than the documents you’re laminating. Keep in mind that while thicker pouches are sturdier, they also have potential to distort a document. Thinner pouches might provide less protection, but the results are clear and the appearance of your papers won’t change as much. If you know you’ll use a certain laminated document a lot, it’s beneficial to go with a thicker option. Otherwise a thinner, good-quality lamination pouch will do just fine

Steps for Using Lamination Pouches

Here are some simple steps to follow:

·        Turn on your laminator and allow it to warm up. Some brands take longer, upwards of 20 minutes, to warm up than others

·        Select the pouch you’re going to use, making sure it’s larger than the document being laminated. Ideally, the pouch will extend at least an inch beyond the edge of your document

·        Open the pouch so you can slide the document inside of it. You want to position it into the center. If your machine came with a protective pouch carrier (helps protect the pouch from melting) place the pouch inside your carrier

·        Once your pouch is set up and your machine has warmed up, insert your document into the machine

·        As your document laminates and leaves the machine, the material will be hot. Let it cool for a few minutes, then inspect to ensure it’s successful. This means the plastic should be flat against the document, allowing you to view details clearly

Lamination pouches are a great way to protect important documents. It all starts with choosing the right one. If you’re looking for lamination options, contact us today!

              Various printer accessories can be used to increase the versatility of your valuable equipment and keep it protected. A printer carrying case is one such piece. Here’s five top benefits to investing in your own case:

Protecting the Machine

A printer carrying case is usually quite rugged because it’s created to protect the valuable piece of equipment inside. Usually, a good case is waterproof and crushproof at the same time.  If you want to ensure the ultimate safety of your printer, look for a heavy duty carrying case. Padding inside, and a tough exterior will make the transportation of your printer an effortless task with minimal risk damage.

Hold Accessories

Some printer carrying cases are designed to hold both the machine and printing accessories. You can effortlessly bring cards, spare cables, additional cartridges and other essentials to the venue where printing is supposed to take place. To figure out whether the carrying case you’re interested in comes with these features, check the design. There should be separate pockets and compartments inside the case to serve the purpose of holding additional printer accessories.

Easy Transportation

This is probably one of the biggest benefits of a printer carrying case. Even if you have a smaller ID printer, it will still be relatively heavy. As a result, moving the equipment around can become a cumbersome task. A carrying case simplifies the process of moving the printer. Many of these cases come with rubberized wheels. This means you won’t have to lift your printer. A long handle incorporated into the design of the case will also enable you to “wheel” the printer around without being forced to do any kind of heavy lifting.

It’s Lightweight

While the printer carrying case itself is incredibly tough and long-lived, it doesn’t contribute a lot to the overall weight of the product. Most carrying cases are made of resin or an enforced type of polyurethane. Both these materials are impact resistant and quite lightweight at the same time. A carrying case made with this type of foam can range from five to 30-pounds, depending on the thickness of the padding inside. The heavier style choices are usually equipped with wheels for easiest transportation.

Long Lasting

Apart from prolonging the lifespan of your valuable ID card printer, a carrying case itself is very long-lived. This is especially true for high-quality carrying cases made with superior materials and assembled by reputable companies. The perfect protective cover for your expensive equipment, a printer carrying case is definitely something you need when moving printers to and from office locations, home or otherwise. Not only are there many options to choose from out there, but each case comes with unique carrying options and advantages. Ready to check out a printer carrying case for you? Contact Avon Security Products today.

               A tripod is used as a platform for your camera so you can ensure stability while shooting photos. Camera tripods are a necessary equipment piece not only for professional photographers, but for photo enthusiasts of all levels. Check out these five top reasons why you should invest in one:

Slower Shutter Speed

The main reason for using a tripod is to utilize lower shutter speeds without ruining your photos. When you adjust to a slower shooting speed, your lens stays open for longer and you’re exposing your camera to added elements that can negatively impact your final shot. These types of photos can’t be taken with any shakiness, no matter how minimal. Slower shutter speeds allow you to capture still objects a lot more clearly and gives you the ability to create light trails as you’re photographing. Without using a camera tripod, you’ll need to have super-steady hands and rely on the vibration control on your camera. Both of which are not as effective as a sturdy tripod.

The Timer

The timer function on your camera is another great feature to use hand-in-hand with a tripod. It’s very easy to mount your camera then set the self timer so you can snap some shots with yourself in them. Alternatively, you could use a table or shelving unit, however when you use a camera tripod, it allows you to set up perfectly, increasing the height and changing the angle until you get your preferences right.

Telephoto Lenses

When you’re using lenses from 200 mm onwards, you’ll notice that any movement changes will cause your camera to shake and essentially shift the position of your frame. A camera tripod fixes this issue by allowing you to take your time focusing in on your subject before taking higher-quality, vividly clear shots.

Work Flow Slows Down

Undeniably, lots of new photographers get over-excited when first starting out and tend to take photos of everything. Sometimes this leads to projects of value and sometimes it doesn’t. When camera tripods are used to position shots correctly, you’ll end up spending time getting more useable shots instead. Tripods allow you to think more about the subject matter you’d like to capture, and the locations you’ll need to be in.

Framing and Composition

Framing and composition can be pertinent to getting that perfect shot. When a tripod is used, and your work flow slows down, you’ll automatically free up time to compose your shots exactly as you’d like. A lot of great photography work comes from knowing when to deploy a camera tripod to capture certain lighting or focus on scenes like moving waterfalls.

Ready to purchase a camera tripod right for you? Contact us today!

            Launching a new ID card program can seem like an overwhelming task. The tips below will help make the process as smooth and easy as possible. 

Consider How the Cards Will Be Used

            The first step in implementing an ID card program is deciding how the cards will be used. Consider the ultimate goal of the program. Will the cards simply serve as identification, or will they be used for other purposes as well? Will everyone use the same type of card? How many cards will you need each year? Taking these factors into account will help you select an ID card printer and software designed to meet your specific needs. 

Decide How the Cards Will Be Displayed

Will your cards need to be visible at all times? If so, you employees will need an easy way to access the card for scanning or swiping. Consider a wearable solution such as lanyards, clips, pins, magnets, and badge reels. 

Decide What to Print on Cards

Once you’ve decided how your ID cards will be used and displayed, you’ll need to consider what kind of information to include on the card (i.e. company name and logo, cardholder name, employee ID number). If you plan to use barcodes, magnetic stripes, or smart chips, you’ll need to plan your ID card design around these features. 

          Secure Your ID Card Printing Equipment

Ensure that your ID card printing equipment and related supplies are protected from unauthorized use. Printer ribbons, blank ID cards, and the printer itself should be stored in a locked room or secure vault when not in use. Limit access to these supplies to a few pre-authorized and supervised employees to prevent the production of unauthorized or counterfeit ID cards. Some ID card printers include software that can track detailed information on card issuance, including how many cards were printed, when they were printed, and who printed them. 

           Create an ID Card Policy

Once you’ve introduced an ID card program, it’s a good idea to write up an official ID card policy to ensure the system runs smoothly. Some decisions you’ll need to make during this step include figuring out who will print the cards, who will issue them, how often new cards should be issued, and whether cardholders will be required to display ID cards at all times.  You’ll also want to think about how lost and stolen ID cards will be handled. While cardholders are generally responsible, it’s inevitable that someone will lose a card or have it stolen. Having a procedure in place for quickly issuing replacement cards will prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to company property. 

            Contact us today to learn more! 

            Your company brand message is very important for attracting new clients, as well as for maintaining your current customers. In fact, your brand helps to distinguish your business from other competitors. When established correctly, a powerful brand message can help elevate your company to the next level. The trick, however, is to keep your brand consistent through your organization. Whether creating a marketing campaign, introducing new products, or developing customer relations, you want to make sure your brand message is consistent throughout. This is where personalised lanyards can help.>

Personalised Lanyards

Personalised lanyards are made to your required specifications. Most companies include the name of their business, along with any custom logo or tagline. In most cases, these custom logos or tagline become synonymous with the company name, which means that both loyal and non-loyal customers will recognize your organization with just a quick glance. This level of personalization is especially important for organizations with multiple locations and for those running several joint marketing campaigns.

Build Trust and Confidence with Consumer

Most brand marketing campaigns are designed to build a level of trust and confidence with the consumer. The primary goal of these campaigns is to bring the customer through the door. Don’t make the mistake, however of letting your brand message stall after the marketing stage. Instead, intensify that level of trust and confidence, by using Personalised lanyards to strengthen your brand message. > As customers walk through your doors and see your staff wearing lanyards that proudly display your company logo or tagline, the customer will instantly connect with the message your marketing campaign has built. This creates an instant bond with the consumer and makes them more willing to take the next step and make a purchase or hire your services. This will boost consumer confidence in your goods or services and boost sales or enrollment.

Brand Promotions

Personalised lanyards also can be used for promotional purposes. Many employees across the country use lanyards to hold their name badges, but not all employers provide these lanyards. Using your custom lanyards as promotional products can help to spread your brand throughout your local area. Just one of your lanyards in the right hands has the potential to reach thousands of prospective customers throughout the year, with relatively little cost to you. This way you are spreading the same message across all mediums. Best of all personalised lanyards are very attractive and affordable. You can purchase these lanyards in any colour, with any wording or graphic you desire. When looking for a high-quality customized lanyard, look no further than Avon Security Products. You will find a wide array of quality lanyards that are ready to be customized to meet your organization’s specific needs and branding goals.

            While there’s been great progress in the ID card printing industry toward making ID cards more secure, counterfeiters have always found a way to copy company cards. Creating a card that is 100% secure may be impossible, but there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent amateur forgers from duplicating your company’s employee card. Below are our top tips for designing ultra secure ID cards. 

Lamination

Most ID card printers provide an option to apply a clear polyester laminate onto the surface of the plastic card using pressure and heat. Lamination serves as a barrier that prevents the card from being tampered with. Laminates are also available in holographic varieties, which add an additional layer of security to the ID card. 

Fluorescent or Ultraviolet (UV) Printing

One of the best ways to prevent counterfeiting is with ultraviolet (UV) or fluorescent printing. These printing methods use special ribbons to create text and images that are visible under a black light, but invisible to the naked eye. Fluorescent and UV printing enhance security of ID cards, as the printed security markings are virtually impossible to copy. 

Ghost Images

Some ID card printers have a “ghost image” feature, which allows the user to add semi-translucent images to the plastic card during the printing process. This image is basically a smaller image of the cardholder, printed onto the surface of the ID card. If your printer supports them, ghost images are a quick and inexpensive way to add a visual security feature to ID cards.

Holograms

Incorporating a hologram into the protective overlay or laminate of your card will make the design difficult for counterfeiters to replicate. Holograms are available as peel-and-stick decals and pressure-sensitive seals, making them a cost-effective way to enhance an ID card’s security without the need for any special equipment.

Company Logo

A strategically-placed company logo is one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to deter would-be forgers and create ultra secure ID cards. Your company logo adds a recognizable visual security feature to your ID cards, thereby making any unauthorized persons on the premises easy to identify.  Designing ultra secure ID cards doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. While you can’t guarantee absolute security, there are many simple visual and non-visual design elements that you can incorporate into your ID cards to make them harder to copy.

Contact our ID card printing experts for assistance in implementing one or more of the security options listed above.

           High-tech fabrications in printer ribbon have led to a new generation of products that last longer, resist smudging, and reduce melting temperatures. In plain English, that means your printing will be easily scannable, long lasting, and crisp. You can leverage technology to your benefit without weighing too heavily on your budget if you understand the features of each ribbon.

            Thermal Printing

            Direct thermal printers and thermal transfer printers are not the same thing. Only the latter requires a printer ribbon.

            Sizing Your Ribbon

            Printer widths vary enormously. The width of your ribbon needs to be the same as or less than the width of your printer. The length is equally important and is measured in inches.<

            Ribbon Materials

            While there are recommended materials for different types of printers, you do get the freedom to be somewhat flexible.

·       Wax ribbon is budget-friendly and long lasting. It’s ideal for packaging labels and retail tags. It can only be used with paper labels because it causes smudging on synthetics, rendering bar codes and text illegible.

·       Wax/resin hybrids combine the best features of wax and resin, offering an economical way to gain better quality than wax alone. The result is smudge and scratch-resistant enough for outdoor locations and warehouse usage. They’re ideal for retail, warehouse, and shipping environments and can be used on synthetic labels as well as paper.

·       Wax can be enhanced by resin to achieve a balance between wax and wax/resin hybrids.  

·       Resin is the most durable, expensive option, and is thus used in environments that expose labels to chemicals, abrasion, and water. Resin is durable enough to use on synthetic labels and for medical device tracing. Its high definition quality also makes it ideal for bar codes, although it’s typically limited to computer and micro label printing.

            Selecting Your Media

            Your ribbon needs to be chosen according to the medium you’re printing on as well as the label’s function. Adhesive labels are remarkably forgiving, so it’s pointless to choose expensive resin ribbon for them. Cardboard tags are just as easy to print on, so wax will suffice. However, when printing barcodes on smaller media that are exposed to the elements, a wax/resin hybrid will serve you better. Wristbands and clothing labels must withstand plenty of wear, so the expense of resin might be a necessity, particularly in hospital environments where errors can cost lives.<

            Label Materials

            Your goal when choosing your printer ribbon is to obtain a clear, lasting print, and your label materials are highly influential on longevity.

·       Paper and wax is only a useful combination if your label won’t be exposed to humidity and wear.

·       Polypropylene is a rugged synthetic that resists tearing. It usually suits a wax/resin hybrid.

·       Polyester is the hardiest labelling material available, so a resin/polyester combination is ideal for environments that expose tags to the elements. It’s used for vehicle tagging and the labelling of chemical containers. It can also be used in laboratories and for certain medical applications.

           Longevity

          Some labels only need to last as long as they stay on the shelf, whereas others are a part of a product’s functionality and need to have extreme longevity. The latter are best served by full resin ribbons and polyester combinations. Wax/resin hybrids are ideal for labels that are used indoors but will be exposed to light handling, sunlight, and temperature changes.

           Thermal transfer printers can leverage an enormous range of ink formulas and other features, so although general guidelines will work for most businesses, some expert advice and a little trial and error will get you past the finishing line of your project. 

           Contact us to buy the printer ribbon you need today! 

Security is important whether you’re working at a school or running a company. One way to improve the security of your facility or grounds is to implement mandatory ID badges or cards for your employees. However, the cost of an ID card printer can be off-putting to some, especially if you’re not sure whether or not ID cards will be a good fit for your business. Fortunately, you can rent ID card printers and see how they work for you without making the financial commitment of a purchase, a choice that has many benefits.

Financial Savings

The most obvious benefit of renting an ID card printer is the financial savings you can enjoy. Purchasing a printer outright can be cost prohibitive, and many businesses can’t afford that kind of risk. However, if you rent your printer you can experience all the benefits of the printer itself but only risk a small portion of the overall cost. Over time, of course, this route could become more costly than the price of a printer itself, so many companies will allow you to rent for a certain period of time and then pay off the remainder. Either way, you’re still limiting the lump sum you’re required to pay for the printer.

Expanded Opportunities

For some business owners the decision to purchase an ID card printer isn’t a matter of choice but one of financial inability. Even if you’re willing to take the risk, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the capital available to purchase a printer. Being able to rent an ID card printer means you can experience the benefits of having ID cards for your employees much sooner than you would be able to if you had to wait for the capital required to purchase a printer.

Upgrade Sooner

Even if you already have a printer you could still benefit from the ability to rent an ID card printer. For instance, let’s say you have an old model, and you’re not able to keep up with your growing company. You can easily upgrade your printer by renting one that has the capacity to meet the demands of your growing staff.

Access to Service

When you purchase a piece of equipment you usually have access to customer service. However, the equipment itself is yours, so the person who benefits the most from keeping it working and functional is you. If you’re renting, the equipment still belongs to the company from which you rent, meaning they will probably have some kind of maintenance or service plan included in the rental agreement. The reason, of course, is that they want to keep their own equipment working and performing at the highest level possible in the event the unit you’re currently renting winds up being rented by someone else down the road. As you can see, there are many benefits to renting an ID card printer as opposed to purchasing one. The benefits of ownership are plentiful, to be sure. However, if owning your own printer is cost prohibitive or a financial impossibility, you can still experience the benefits and added security of having an ID card printer on site without having to make a large payment. For some companies, having an ID card printer is more than just a nice-to-have, it’s required by law. In these situations, being able to rent a printer could mean the difference between opening your doors or having to wait to start your business until you can afford your own unit. Look into the benefits and decide if renting a printer is right for you, and contact us today!