Zebra introduces security-focused card supplies
10 March, 2005
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Card printer Zebra Technologies has added several new weapons to its anti-counterfeit arsenal, including cards with embedded holograms, color shifting ink, and protective laminates.
Genuine Zebra Supplies Offer Advanced Security Features Designed to Foil Identification Fraud
CAMARILLO, Calif., March 8, 2005 – Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a worldwide leader in card printing and bar code labeling solutions, has introduced several new counterfeit-resistant cards and protective laminates along with new specialty cards in its expanded line of TrueColours® card printer supplies. Genuine Zebra supplies are optimized for best printer performance and offer maximum reliability on Zebra card printers.
The new supplies introduced include: Premier Security Cards (Embedded Hologram Cards, Opacity Mark Cards, Color shifting Ink Cards, Protective Laminates and hand- applied Peel and Stick Laminates) and Specialty Cards (10mil thick Blank Business Cards with Writable Backs and 30mil Blank 3-Up Breakaway Key Tag Cards).
“The quality of supplies has a huge impact on the success of an organization’s card printing program,” asserts Bob Anderson, director of worldwide marketing, Zebra Card Printer Solutions. “When cards are used for authentication and authorization in access control and identity programs, it is critical that organizations use premium, security-focused supplies.”
To help prevent fraudulent card reproduction via photography or photocopying, Zebra’s new security-focused supplies provide customers with better choices for personal identification applications requiring additional security or protection of cards. Options include customizable security cards with embedded holograms, opacity marks, micro text, nanotext and UV text.
Embedded hologram cards implant a tamper-resistant hologram within the layers of plastic cards for added low-cost security. This feature is part of the inner layer of the card and cannot be scratched off or removed. The hologram incorporates a visible and ultraviolet pattern or logo that becomes part of the background of the white card, allowing printing and laminate to be applied directly on top of the hologram.
Opacity marked cards also provide a tamper-resistant printed image within the layers of a plastic card. This printed image acts as a watermark, only visible when held directly in front of a bright light source. With color-shifting ink cards, a single image changes from one color to another, adding yet another layer of security. This feature, too, is part of the inner layer of the card and cannot be scratched off or removed.
Zebra card supplies can be custom ordered with pre-printed text that can only be read with magnification or UV exposure. This makes the cards very difficult to duplicate or photocopy, resulting in a higher level of security.
Zebra TrueColours security-focused supplies also include protective laminate ribbons for use on Zebra’s security line of printers, including the P520i and P640i. These printers can automatically apply a thick protective laminate to cards. The protective material is applied directly to the card to prolong the life of the printed image by shielding it from UV light (fading of image), preventing dye-migration, and reducing normal wear from handling and frequent swiping of card through magnetic stripe readers. The laminate can also provide an additional level of security by adding unique and customizable holograms.
Zebra also introduced a new hand applied peel-and-stick laminate that comes in pre-sized patches that are easily applied to printed cards, providing additional security for low-volume applications.
“Government agencies and corporations around the world rely on Zebra card printers in demanding, high-security applications, including the production of more than 25 million driver’s licenses per year,” adds Anderson. “Our customers demand supplies that create more highly secure cards, and these new products help meet this need.”
Zebra’s new specialty card products include blank 10mil plastic business cards with writable backs and 3-Up Breakaway Key Tags. The new business cards have one side of the card designed for card printing and the other side of the card designed for accepting writing with most ink pens. This lets the user add comments, notes, phone numbers and action items on the back of these printed cards at any time.
The new 3-Up Key Tag cards are designed for retail, membership and loyalty programs. After card printing, each card can break apart into 3 smaller cards that are typically used on customers’ key chains. This provides a unique, low-cost membership card option for retail and membership club operators. These new Genuine Zebra high-security card supplies are available now.
About Zebra Card Printer Solutions
A world leader in desktop card printers, Zebra Card Printer Solutions is a division of Zebra Technologies Corporation, which delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions to businesses and governments in more than 90 countries around the world. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra brand thermal barcode label and receipt printers and plastic card printers (formerly branded Eltron®), resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs and better customer service. Information about Zebra card printers can be found at www.zebracard.com. Information about Zebra Technologies can be found at www.zebra.com www.zebra.com.
