Membership Card Printers: How to Choose the Right One for Your Needs

Many businesses and organizations decide to print their own membership cards just because it's faster and more affordable. Today, anyone can print their own membership cards with the help of a special printer that combines several technologies such as barcodes, magnetic stripes, RFID, and others for greater security. If you too are looking to purchase a membership card printer, the options before you may feel overwhelming. So, to make it easier for you, here's a brief explanation of the factors you should consider.

Dual Vs Single-Sided Printing

First of all, determine whether you want the content to be on one side or both sides of the card. This is an important thing to consider, as membership card printers can be either one-sided or dual sided. Dual-sided printers can flip the card automatically to print on the back side as well. This is a convenient option if you want the card to hold a large amount of information. If you're not certain whether you need dual-sided printing, choose a machine that's field-upgradable and can be converted from a one-sided to a two-sided printer if the need ever arises.

Your Volume Requirements

Having a good idea of how many cards you'll be printing a year is important for choosing the right printer for you. Membership card printers are designed to handle different printing volumes. For instance, high-volume printers will be used more frequently which is why they feature metal parts for durability. These printers can usually hold more than 100 cards at the same time. On the other hand, low-volume printers are made of plastic. Although plastic printers will still function well, they can wear out more easily and have issues in the long run if you print more than the recommended volume.

Encoding Data

Membership cards need to encode data that can help identify the card's owner. This can be anything from address number, emergency contact information, phone number, and many other details which shouldn't be stated on the card for security measures. That being said, if you need to include such information, it's important to choose a printer that can encode it into data that can only be read by a computer. A barcode or magnetic stripe can allow this information to be accessed by a system simply by swiping the card. If you need the card to hold more information than a barcode or stripe allows, you may want to consider embedding a security chip. Cards with security chips are referred to as smart cards. Most quality printers offer smart card contact stations as well.