Jakob Nieweg: Thank you very much, Quim, for participating in this interview today. I am really looking forward to learning more about card printers and especially about security cards, as that’s our focus today. The main purpose of this interview is to inform readers about security cards. Perhaps we can start with a brief overview of what security cards are and what makes them special? What distinguishes them from regular cards?
Quim Domingo: Hello and thank you, Jakob. We have been deeply involved with security cards and understand the various aspects associated with their use. There are some cost-effective options, but also those with special security features that we offer to our customers. Our goal is to enhance the security of all cards that our clients issue to their customers.
Jakob Nieweg: Since you just mentioned security: The need for more security is increasing in all areas of our lives year by year, including with cards. What is the greater benefit of using security cards?
Quim Domingo: When using security cards, it is always important to ensure that the card user is indeed the cardholder and that the card was issued by the correct company. This is necessary to prevent identity theft or card duplication and represents the highest level of security. Card issuance and security can be improved in various ways. One way is to encode the information on the chip so that it is protected and encrypted by our software and encoders. Alternatively, visual security features may be added to allow for easy identification of genuine cards. We offer various solutions to enhance the security of standard printers and protect the cards without having to implement complex measures.
Jakob Nieweg: What about the lifespan of the card? That’s a security measure too, isn’t it?
Quim Domingo: Extending the lifespan of cards is not a direct security feature, but it is a sought-after function. Demand has increased over the past year because cards are used more frequently and shouldn’t need to be reprinted constantly. Pre-printing or special printing functions make the cards more durable, so they don’t need to be replaced every one to two years. In some cases, protective films provide additional coverage. The longer lifespan of the cards helps reduce costs, as fewer cards are needed.
Jakob Nieweg: Speaking of costs, do you automatically incur higher costs when opting for security cards?
Quim Domingo: The focus is not on the security cards themselves but on the efficiency of our printing solutions. Our kits, which include high-quality and durable printers, offer significant cost savings for customers looking to extend the lifespan of cards. By using our specialised materials, the need for additional protective measures is also reduced.
A single ribbon and a user-friendly printer extend the lifespan of the cards and require fewer consumables than before. The costs for the printer or the entire system used to protect and extend the lifespan of the cards are significantly lower with the ZC series.
Operation is also very straightforward and follows the usual process: First, a standard colour card is printed, then security features, like a watermark, are added. Our durable dual-overlay ribbon allows for savings in both consumables and the printer itself.
Jakob Nieweg: How does this manifest in practical challenges? When you say it’s very easy to add a watermark, it doesn’t sound like a challenge or a difference from the standard process to me.
Quim Domingo: The real savings lie in the fact that no additional training or resources are needed. The consumables and printers used are standard products that are easy to operate. The ZC350 is even one of our easiest printers to use, with the smallest footprint on the market and a colour display that shows all important printer information and even plays small videos. So, you don’t need a large system.
Additionally, no special lamination templates or materials are needed. Printing is practically done with a standard printer and a standard design, but with durable labels. The printing process is just as simple as with any other card. The watermark feature even extends the lifespan of the card during the printing process.
Jakob Nieweg: That sounds simple and valuable at the same time. What about the industry? Are there already many use cases or case studies? Is this a growing trend, and where do we stand today in this area?
Quim Domingo: As mentioned earlier, especially over the past year, we’ve observed that many customers have opted for durable ribbons as a standard solution for certain applications. This indicates that card printers are being used across various industries. One example is the education sector, where our ribbon is used for student and teacher IDs. These IDs often have a validity of one or even up to three years. Our durable ribbons ensure that the cards are well-protected and durable during this time, reliably fulfilling their function.
In the private health insurance sector, durable ribbons are also used for issuing membership or health cards. These cards often need to be durable for several years. Our tests have shown that our durable ribbons are reliable and enable us to realise these projects. Additionally, there are applications in government agencies, like fire departments or emergency services, where everyone needs an ID. These IDs must be secure and durable. However, not all departments have a large number of employees and often cannot afford custom lamination. This is a significant issue, especially if the IDs are meant to be used for up to ten years. In these cases, they turn to our special security cards and use the durable ribbon to ensure additional security through a watermark. This watermark can consist of an image, text, a static image or even dynamic information. The combination of the watermark and the durable ribbon ensures a card lifespan of up to five years.
So, there are many industries that benefit from this. We even have users in the corporate access control sector, and new ones are joining daily who want to use the durable ribbon to protect their cards. As the cost per card increases due to chips with larger memory and stronger encryption, it’s important for companies not to have to reprint cards every year. They want to ensure that the cards last longer. Of course, in some cases, we don’t always know if a watermark is printed or not, but we want to offer this feature to everyone.
Jakob Nieweg: Alright, perfect. To clarify the direct comparison: As you mentioned, there is a difference between a standard YMCKO ribbon and a durable ribbon used for printing. What is this difference?
Quim Domingo: The comparison is quite simple. The durability and lifespan of the card are the key factors. If the watermark feature is not the focus, the colour and print quality remain unchanged, since the same ribbon is used. The main difference with the durable option is that two layers of a slightly thicker protective overlay are added to extend the card’s lifespan. That’s the real advantage.
Regarding costs, they might be slightly higher, and the printing speed is a bit slower because the additional panel needs to be applied to the card. However, we’re only talking about 5 to 6 cents more and about 3 to 4 seconds longer, sometimes even less. So, the cost and time difference between printing a standard colour card and printing with extended lifespan or watermark is minimal. This is the real cost comparison: slightly more expensive, slightly slower, but much more durable, which means significantly greater savings.
Jakob Nieweg: Do you think this solution is suitable for everyone or just for specific target groups? In my opinion, it’s always worth investing a bit more to be on the safe side.
Quim Domingo: I am convinced that using our durable ribbon is beneficial for all users, especially for the customers. They will quickly notice that the cards last longer and don’t need to be replaced constantly, because the quality doesn’t diminish after just one or two years. And if cards only need to be reprinted every five years instead of every two, the overall demand for cards decreases. This promotes sustainability and positively impacts costs and efficiency. Less card printing means less investment in the card system.
Moreover, as mentioned, it depends on the customer whether they want a watermark or another type of basic security or added value on the card. That’s another difference because all these additional values on the card don’t require extra investment compared to printing on a standard card. The printer costs the same and doesn’t need special options. The operation doesn’t change either; the printer remains easy to handle. You just need to use a different ribbon.
That’s my conclusion on why durable ribbons are worthwhile: They enhance security and extend the lifespan of the cards.
Jakob Nieweg: Then we’re already at the last question: If a customer wants to find out whether this offer is suitable, useful, or applicable to their solution, what are the next steps?
Quim Domingo: The next steps are simple. Customers who already own a Zebra ZC300 or ZC350 printer just need to order the appropriate SKUs for the long-life ribbon. Once the ribbon is inserted into the printer, they may start printing immediately. The two protective layers are applied automatically to optimally protect the cards.
If they want to create a watermark, they will find instructional videos on the zebra.com website. Alternatively, they can also contact their Zebra representative or reach out directly to Jarltech for further assistance.
If the customer is not yet a Zebra user, I recommend getting in touch with Zebra directly. They will provide information about the available offers specifically tailored to the ZC350 and ZC300 printers. Zebra also offers training to help users make the most of the products. These training sessions assist with the initial steps and help fully leverage the additional benefits of the durable ribbons.
Jakob Nieweg: That’s what I call a good closing summary. Thank you very much, Quim, for your detailed answers.
