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Tired of having a slow and cumbersome manual sign-in process that distracts you from more important parts of your job? A barcode card scanner is the perfect way to speed up your badge scanning and sign in process, simplify data collection on who comes in and out, and make sure that only people with authorized access are allowed in. It works by reading the information on an ID card and sending it to a nearby computer. A software then takes care of the processing and analysis based on whatever parameters you have set. All this information is then stored in a database where it can be accessed at any time. Wondering how to implement this system at your organization? Follow this guide and get yourself the best technology in access control.

Purchase a Barcode Scanner

The first thing you need to do is decide which barcode card scanner is right you and purchase it. You might think all barcodes are the same, but many offer different features that can be very useful in certain situations. For example, the Metrologic 9520 offers a variety of innovative features like data editing and flash ROM. The best scanners also have a slot reader machine for barcodes, which delivers great speed and reliability, so you might want to consider investing in one that comes with this feature. But regardless, a scanner should be easy to operate so anyone can use it. We recommend you read online reviews before making any decisions as consumer feedback can be a good indication of effectiveness.

Connect to Your Computer Systems

Once you have decided on your barcode card scanner, next you will need to connect it to your computer system. Most come with cord that you simply have to plug directly into the machine or connect via your Wi-Fi network. It’s important to make sure you plug it into the right port. Some connect through a serial port or keyboard port while others use an interface device known as a wedge.

 Install the Right Software

Because a barcode card scanner simply reads the data on a card and sends it to a computer, you need to have the right software that can process, analyze and store this data; there are lots of options available and some are even for free. Regardless, the most important thing you need to do is to ensure that it is compatible with the scanner you are purchasing – otherwise, your new system won’t work like it should.

Convinced a barcode card scanner is the right way to go for your signing in system? Avon Securities has a wide selection designed to meet your needs. Browse our selection online today!

When you’re creating a marketing scheme for your business, you’re likely thinking of big picture tactics to bring you immediate and long term success; from social campaigns to print strategy and more. But, some of the most successful marketing campaigns simply begin with having people on the ground, handing out samples and branded merchandise that your target market can take back home or to work with them. Personalized lanyards are a fantastic way to invest a small amount of money into a product that can bring long term success.

Benefits of Personalized Lanyards

Utility

One of the key benefits of personalized lanyards is simply how helpful they are as an item with day to day use. Lanyards are the perfect item to attach home, work or even car keys to ensure that they’re not lost; they also work well to carry passes or scan cards to get into the office. Given that lanyards are so heavily relied on, it means that your branded lanyard will be seen and interacted with on a daily basis, making your company a namesake for the person using it.

Brand Visibility

When your personalized lanyard is in the hands of your consumers, your brand becomes visible to not only the owner but to anyone who interacts with the owner. Depending on how you choose to brand your lanyard, your logo may be visible from many feet away, making others recognize your company. These personalized lanyards are a simple way to get your name out to the public, both from the person who keeps the lanyard and those around them that see it in use.

Expense

>Compared to almost every other marketing tactic, personalized lanyards are an inexpensive way to get your name out there in the public. When you buy branded lanyards in bulk, you save significant amounts of costs for custom printing and for product fees in general. Additionally, hiring a small promotional marketing team to hand lanyards out at sporting events, concerts, or at large public centers will be a small expense in comparison to the sheer amount of interactions your brand will have with consumers.

Personalized lanyards are an excellent tactic in your marketing scheme to spend a small amount of money and get a large result. To learn more about getting your own branded lanyards for your business, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

Magnetic swipe cards are everywhere these days, whether it’s a debit card, credit card, gift card or even control access cards. These cards get their name from the magnetic material on the back. This allows them to store data by altering the magnetism of tiny particles made of iron on the magnet strip. This magnetic strip can be read by physical contact with a magnetic reading head, which passes along whatever relevant data is stored there.

If the magnet strip on the back of magnet swipe cards is damaged in any way, the card won’t work. So maintaining the magnetic strip should be a top priority for keeping your card working. Here are five ways you can prevent damage.

Keep Magnets Away

This is an obvious one but it is by far the most important. A magnet will erase all information you have stored on your strip, rendering the magnetic swipe card useless. Worse, it’s hard to protect your cards from magnets if there are any nearby, even if your card is in a sleeve or wallet. So the only thing that works to avoid magnets altogether. The most common sources of exposure to magnets are wallet and purse clasps as well as security tag de-activators.

Don’t Keep Your Card Loose

Keeping your card loose in your pants or purse is a sure way to cause problems with your magnetic swipe card. Your keys, dirt, coins and grit can cause scratches. Enough scratches and your magnetic strip will no longer work.

Don’t Let Two Credit Cards Rub Together

When storing your magnet swipe cards in your wallet, it is essential to keep them all facing the same direction. Don’t store them back to back alongside a card that also has a magnetic swipe. This will demagnetize them both, making the damage twofold.

Get a Card Protection Sleeve

A card protection sleeve is a great way to store your cards in a safe, dry place. It prevents dirt, grime, scratches and other cards from causing damage. You can order a card protection sleeve from Avon security here. These sleeves also have the added protection of protecting credit cards from credit card frauds by preventing your card from being scanned.

Buy A Hi-Coercivity Card

Sometimes, quality matters. When you choose higher quality magnetic swipe cards, known as HiCo, they are strong enough to resist most magnetic damage you will come into contact to. They are also much harder to erase.

Avon Security Products has a great selection of magnetic swipe card, pre-encoded magnetic swipe cards and accessories like id card holder and card protection sleeves. Shop online from us today and see why we are Canada’s largest photo ID warehouse.

If you have a broken printer ribbon, you aren’t alone. This is a common problem that people who operate ID card printers have. Fortunately, repairing a broken printer ribbon does not require advanced technical know-how or any other kind of special skillset. It is something anyone can do. See our steps below.

Step 1: Getting To The Broken Printer Ribbon

If your printer ribbon has broken, first you need to pause the current print job immediately if jobs are pending in your printer queue. Deleting them is not necessary. Next, turn off your printer, open it up and unlatch the print head.

Step 2: Removing It

Next you need to remove the ribbon cartridge or supply on the right side and then on the left side you need to take-up spools. When taking out the spools, it is crucial you know which spool is which. Then you should take the ribbon out from the platen roller. If the ribbon is stuck onto the card, you need to take the extra ribbon out the card path’s way. At this point, there should no longer be any cards or ribbon in the printer’s card path.

Step 3: Repairing

For our third step, find a flat surface for your cartridge. Make sure it is clean first. Then, find the two ends for the take-up and supply spools. You also want to make sure the two ends are straight as possible, so it’s best to cut away any excess ribbon.

Now you are ready to start the repairs. Pull the tape at each until they overlap. Then all you need to do is tape them together with scotch tape. It really is that simple! If you find that there is a bit of used ribbon on the take-up, taping directly over the used ribbon won’t cause any problems.

Step 4: Restarting Your Job

It’s finally time for you to get back to your print job. Put your printer ribbon back inside the printer and don’t worry about the colour position. The printer can automatically put the ribbon in the right position after you have inserted it. Then, close the printer properly by latching the printhead down and shutting the cover. Turn the printer back on and everything should be good to go. Your job should restart automatically.

If your printer ribbon continues to break, you might have an issue with the printer itself or the cards rather than just the ribbon. Here are the common steps you can take to fix it:

Restore Driver Settings
Sometimes if the default settings have been changed, the ribbon can get too hot and this can lead to them breaking. Restoring the print driver to its original settings can do the trick.

Examine Blank Cards for any Kind of Debris
Sometimes, when pre-punching your cards before you print them, debris can enter the punch whole and tear the ribbon. In general, it’s best to print over your cards and then punch them.

Don’t Print Too Close to the Card’s Edge
If you print on the edge of your card with a direct-to-card printer, the ribbon can snap. The way to avoid this is to modify the unprinted border on your ID card software.

Clean Your Printer

Using a cleaning set designed for your model, you can clean your printer to help prevent printer ribbons from breaking. You also need to recalibrate the ribbon sensor afterwards.

To learn more about how to repair a broken printer ribbon, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

If you’re looking into printing ID cards for your business, school or other organization, you may consider simply outsourcing the work to a third party supplier and forgetting about it. Though the one time use of an ID card printing service may seem beneficial, you’ll surely be printing ID cards more than once, and you need to take that into consideration. Let us help you weigh the options between a one-time ID card printing service, and investing in the supplies to print your own ID cards at any time.

Third Party ID Card Printing Service

There are many benefits of outsourcing the work of printing ID cards, there is no denying that. So long as you’ve correctly gathered the information you need to be printed on the cards, such as name, title, and photograph, many businesses can simply print these cards on your behalf. These companies may offer discounts on cards depending on quantity as well, meaning you can get a large amount of cards printed for a seemingly low price.

Keeping this work out of sight and mind for your employees means someone else may seem like a fantastic choice, however remember the implications that come when someone takes on the responsibility of printing these cards for you. Should there be a mistake printed on one of the cards, you’ll need to spend more time waiting to have it reprinted; there may also be a fee for reprinting, even though the mistake was not your fault. Likewise, if you were given misinformation, a poor quality picture, or need to have the card reprinted for any number of other reasons, there will be a delay in cost and time.

In-House Printing Services

Investing in your own supplies for ID card printing may seem like a significant investment, but this choice almost immediately pays for itself. Not only does having a personal ID card printer allow you to print cards at any time, without any delay, but it allows you to immediately fix the card if there is a change in personal information. Printing your own cards also gives you the option to change their appearance at any time, whether your company colours change, address changes, or new additions you’d like to the cards.

In addition, the cost of purchasing an ID card printer and supplies would immediately make itself up in the cost savings of not purchasing cards elsewhere. When investing in your own printer and card supplies, you’re paying the same amount for these items as the third party printing business is. This means there’s no markup on card prices, shipping and handling, and other fees that will be attached to the price of your outsourced cards. By the time you print more than one round of ID cards yourself, you’ll already be seeing savings.

If you’re considering whether or not to hire an ID card printing service or to do it yourself, the security experts at Avon Security Products can set you up with the printer and supplies you need to immediately save money. For more information on our products, contact us today!

There are a number of reasons why your organization should choose to print membership cards on site instead of relying on a third party printer. Today there are many easy to use and cost friendly ID card printers on the market that you can easily integrate into your current membership enrollment process.

No Delays

The biggest reason you should bring your membership card printing in house is to remove the delay between members signing up and getting their cards in the mail. Since most companies wait until they have a large batch of cards to be printed before they send them off to the printer, this can further extend the problem. Depending on which third party printer you use, it could take three to six weeks for ID cards to be returned, meaning that you will have to rely on temporary badges in the interim. This creates a weak point in your member tracking abilities that is completely avoidable.

Cost

While the investment into a small printer to keep on your site may seem like a big investment at first, it will actually reduce your membership card printing expenses overall. You will be able to print cards in small batches as members sign up without waiting, and your members will immediately have access to their card. You won’t be paying a marked up rate for the printing service and shipping costs.

Data Security

Not only does the delay in getting cards from a third party printer cause a lapse in security, sending data out to another company can also be seen as a weakness in your data control. Even if your membership cards only have names, pictures and birth dates listed, there is enough valuable information there to raise concerns in a world where data breaches are happening regularly.

Accuracy and Control

Of course there is always a chance for human errors during the data entry process during member enrollment. One problem that companies face with third party membership card printing is that it takes weeks to realize that there was an error in the first place, and then correcting it takes another three to six weeks. This is inconvenient not just for the member, but also for your own staff who is forced to double check the member information for accuracy. By printing on site you will have the ability to make corrections immediately. You also have complete control and oversight of the printing process to ensure that it is being done well without unnecessary waste. Plus, you have the option to design your card design and experiment on your own instead of relying on someone else to make design choices based on preset templates.

Ultimately, bringing your membership card printing on site and handling all of the details yourself will improve the overall flow of member enrollment, and reduce lost time and money. You will have more options for handling member IDs and can make corrections before they become a problem down the line. Members will appreciate having access to their cards immediately and not having to worry about the safety of their personal information being sent off to a third party.

To learn more about this or to get matched with the perfect products, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

So you find yourself in the market for a printer capable of producing ID cards, but after the obligatory Google search, you’re left overwhelmed. Do you opt for a Magicard, Badgy, maybe a Fargo? How about a Zebra or a Datacard. These are just a few of the top brands in the industry, and each manufacturer is likely to present hundreds of model options. Talk about a flooded market! One key way to simplify the whole printer buying conundrum is to think about what type of printer ribbon you will be needing. Yes, it sounds a little like putting the cart before the horse, but there is a certain logic to approaching the problem this way.

Are you going with monochrome or color?

While this may seem self-evident, let’s break these two down before progressing. A monochrome printer ribbon is capable of doing black, white, and various shades of gray, while a color ribbon usually consists of four colors: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which has earned these ribbons the acronym YMCK. These four colors combine to produce pretty much every color of the rainbow, so there’s no shortage of customization options. If the ID cards you plan on producing are going to be basic, black and white affairs, then you will be looking for a model compatible with this type of printer ribbon. However, if you are looking to add a little vibrancy to your ID cards, or want to color code badges for various security clearances, then you will need to find a printer that works with this type of ribbon.

You will be printing on both sides of the card?

It might not sound like it, but the answer can influence the type of ribbon, and thus printer, you will need. For instance, if you want to put a photo on one side and a bar code on the other, finding a printer that can do this will help you narrow the field. Keep in mind that these ribbons will typically print color on the front, and black and white on the reverse side.

Will you need lamination ribbons?

Some printer ribbons will automatically laminate the cards for you, which can be a real time saver. Coincidentally, these types of ribbons are known as YMCKO (“O” being for Overlay).

How important is volume?

On a typical day are you printing 10 or 100 ID cards? Given certain specifications, a printer ribbon might yield around 200 cards, or up to 10x that number. Cheaper is not always less expensive, so find a printer that produces the volume you need.

Do you know your acronyms?

In addition to the YMCK, and YMCKO already covered, you will probably come across other variations of this such as, YMC and YMCKOKO to name only a couple. The YMC is color and capable of producing composite black, which is not good for barcodes. The YMCKOKO is capable of putting barcodes on both sides of the card while including two overlays.

Pay Attention to Brand

Whatever make you ultimately choose, keep in mind that there are going to be twice as many “will-fit” ribbons available for purchase as there are printer models on the market. Remember, you want the most cost effective option, which is typically a name brand printer ribbon.

For more information on printer ribbon types, or to order the type you need, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

If you’re interning for the summer, it’s important to invest in photo ID badges. This much is common knowledge- what may not be is why it’s important, as well as what kind of badge to have and what information needs to be present on that badge.

Why Interns Need Photo ID Badges

Organization

The base answer is simple enough, for security. You’re playing a new, temporary role in the business you’re going to be interning at. Even if you’re wearing a matching uniform with other employees, people will still notice you since you aren’t one of their recognized coworkers. When this happens, you need to be able to identify yourself, and photo ID badges with your name and important information on them is what let people know you’re an intern.

What Information You Need On Them

Obviously you need an up-to-date picture of your face, but you’ll also need information that distinguishes you from normal employees, so you’re easily identified as an intern.

This information includes:

·         Your name. Include both your actual given name, and any shortened form of your name or common nickname. Some of your colleagues may not recognize you as Christopher, but will recognize you as Chris.

·         Manager name. People need a trusted figure in the company to ask about you and, if necessary, be held responsible for you.

·         Department. What department of the company are you supposed to be operating in? All photo ID badges should have information readily available.

·         Last day of employment. How long will you be interning? Find out the exact date that you’ll be leaving and have it placed on your photo ID badge.

What Kind You Need

o:p> There are two main types of photo ID badges: self-expiring daily badges, or cards with expiration dates. While the former can have their uses, in the long term they’re a hassle to deal with and make your image inconsistent. Having a steady badge for most, if not all, of your internship not only makes a good impression on the people who see you regularly, but it’s also much easier to manage in the long run. That being said, you may be left with one last, burning question.

What Now?

Well, to learn more about ID cards and office technology, feel free to peruse our blog for more information. Employers should usually help provide identification- if you need our help, though, you’re more than welcome to contact us for assistance or browse our selection of products.

As spring turns into summer, day camps and summer camps will start to get into the swing of things. It doesn’t matter if you are a summer camp counselor, leader, parent or participant, your involvement in the coordination of the camp is important. Keeping kids organized and accounted for can be a difficult task, but personalized lanyard have come to the rescue!

Organization

Let’s start with the obvious: Summer camps have a lot of kids running around, and where there are lot of kids, there is inherently lots of chaos. Personalized lanyards are great ways to keep track of which kids belong where, and who’s doing what. Here are some easy ways to use personalized lanyards to keep everybody organized:

Colours

If each camp counselor is responsible for a specific set of kids, why not group their teams by colors? If Sarah is Team Orange and Brian is Team Blue, each child Sarah and Brian are responsible for should wear lanyards with their respective team colors. If Brian ends up with a child in orange in his group, it will be easy to identify the mistake and guide the orange camper back to their rightful group.

Themes & Mascots

Creating themes that include team names and mascots can be a fun way to incorporate safety measures that the kids won’t even realize are there for their security. Have the counselors put their heads together to come up with a fun theme well in advance of the commencement of camp. Say everyone decides to go with a superhero theme, each team can then have personalized lanyards with their superpower identifiers or images related to their specific hero.

Accounting for Everyone

Simply checking everyone’s names off the roster at each event can be a huge undertaking. If you choose to go with personalized lanyards that are embossed with each child’s name, counselors can simply walk around and see who is in their session by reading their lanyard. This is also a helpful way for campers and counselors to get to know everyone since there will be a lot of new faces, especially early on in the camp adventure.

Showing Achievements and Building Esteem

Everybody likes to be rewarded for doing great things every now and then. Summer camp is an excellent place for kids to build up their self-esteem, learn skills that are essential for life, and make new friends in the process. Personalized lanyards can up the ante when it comes to showcasing personal achievements. You can create awards in the form of tags that can hang from the children’s lanyards. As the days’ progress, your campers will gain opportunities to earn awards by participating in various activities or showcasing excellent personality attributes. The kids will feel proud of their accomplishments, and the personalized lanyards will create conversation pieces that open up the lines of communication between the kids, thus encouraging stronger socialization skills. This use of personalized lanyards will also allow for teaching opportunities, as counselors will likely be presented with chances to explain the difference between being boastful and simply being proud of achieving success. Campers who don’t receive a desired award will learn the value of being a good sport regardless of outcome and congratulating their fellow campers on a job well done.

Have we piqued your interest and made you curious about how personalized lanyards can help keep children accounted for an organized at summer camp? Contact our team at Avon Security Products today, and let us know how we can help!

All office equipment has best usage methods to increase its overall life span. An ID card maker is no different and as a type of specialized printer, proper usage and upkeep are key. By taking good care of your card maker you assure it will last longer and won’t suddenly break in the middle of a work day. Here are six tips to help extend the life of your ID card maker.

Regular Cleaning

General cleaning and maintenance is the first step to keeping your ID maker running at optimal efficiency. Regular maintenance should be done every 700 to 1,000 prints. As every card printer is different and each brand has their own customized cleaning kits available for purchase produced by the manufacturer. These kits include general cleaning supplies and specialized ones such as cleaning cards you insert into the card maker to keep the rollers cleaned.

Check the Printer Roller

The print roller is the part of your card maker that pulls a blank ID card into it. Aside from guiding blank cards into the printer it also serves as a dust collector as it removes dust and dirt from blank cards before they are printed. Because it collects dust, dirt, and other debris make sure it is cleaned regularly.

Directly Clean The Printheads

Aside from regular cleaning special attention should be paid to the printheads. The printheads are the part of the ID card maker that applies the image and text to the card. Most cleaning kits come with special swabs to directly clean the printheads and remove any clogging or debris.

Regularly Replace Printer Ribbons

During regular use your card maker’s printer ribbon wears out. On average an ID card maker should have its printer ribbons replaced every two years or so. By having spare printer ribbons on hand you can replace them as needed. When buying printer ribbons it is advisable to use ribbons made by your card maker’s manufacturer as generic brands may not work as well or be of the same quality.

Cover and Storage

Covering your card maker is one the easiest ways to increase its usage life span. Dust, dirt, debris, and other environmental factors can get into your card printer and wear it down over time. Also aside from covering your card maker also safely store it when not in use. By storing it in a safe location you protect it from accidents. Depending on its location leaving it out and unattended could cause it damage due to being knocked off a desk for example.

Use the Correct Supplies

When buying supplies for your ID card maker make sure you are getting the correct supplies. The brand or type of ID card maker you have determines what size ribbons, what type of cleaning supplies, and what kind of replacement parts work with it. Always make sure the supplies you’re buying are designed to fit your model of ID card maker. The included manufacturer’s instruction manual (or website) will provide product specifics on what supplies fit your brand of card maker. An ID Card Maker is essential part of many businesses and as such needs to be well maintained using proper supplies.Avon Security Products provides Canada with top of the line ID card products, accessories, and supplies. With over 5,000 customers in both public and private sectors Avon’s success speaks for itself. Contact them today with any questions you may have.