If your company uses ID badges, there are certain supplies you will need. These supplies for ID badges allow you to create, strengthen or display the badges in the easiest, most efficient way.

There are three types of supplies for ID badges: lanyards and clips, lamination equipment and printing supplies. All companies that use ID badges need a way for employees to wear their badge. Lanyards and clips are an inexpensive and easy way to ensure that all employees can display their ID badge. Lamination equipment is essential to creating an ID badge that will last for years to come. Printing supplies such as cards, paper, ink and ribbons are also required to create the ID badges. To locate the supplies you need for ID badges, consider the following:

1. Lanyards and clips help display badges.

2. Lamination machines strengthen ID badges.

3. Cards, paper and ribbons create the ID badges you need.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase lanyards and clips to hold and display ID badges

All ID badges need something to secure them to the employee or visitor. Lanyards are necklaces that hang around the neck and hold the badge. Clips are available in standard or retractable styles. Retractable clips allow the user to pull the ID badge out in order to scan or display it.

I recommend: ID Zone carries a wide selection of lanyards, clips, reels and other accessories for employee ID badges. Find lanyards, card holders and a variety of other supplies for ID badges at ID Supershop. Purchase custom printed or stock lanyards and clips for all your employee photo ID badges from A1 Lanyards, ID Badge Supply, Inc.

Laminate your company's ID badges

Lamination is a great way to ensure that badges have a long life. Laminated badges withstand liquid spills and are less likely to tear or fray than non-laminated badges.

I recommend: Browse the online catalog at Lamination Plus for a wide selection of laminating machines, pouches and other supplies for a laminated photo ID badge. EBSCO Industries supplies all the products needed to laminate picture badges or other ID badges. Visit Jackson-Hirsh to find a full line of laminating machines, pouches and cutters.

Buy cards, ink and ribbon for creating identification badges

Some identification badge systems require a specific weight or style of paper, while others use cards of a specific size. Ink or ribbons are also needed to print onto the ID paper or cards.

I recommend: All ID Systems carries replacement parts and ribbons for all name brand employee ID badge machines. Find cards and ribbons for most name brand printers at ID House. Buy employee ID badges, paper, cards and ink at All Things Identification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Review your ID badge printer's required paper or card size before purchasing a lamination machine or lamination pouches.

You hit that magic number of employees where everyone can't possibly know everyone else. It's a sign of success and it's going to be a little traumatic as well. After all, if you can't recognize everyone, how do you know if they should have access to different parts of your organization? Looks like you're ready to implement an ID card system, a.k.a. the employee badge. Let's talk about the basics of an ID card:

1. At least one identifying factor. That could be an employee photo, your corporate logo or employee ID number (don't use their Social Security numbers unless you like to be hated)
2. An expiration date. How long a card is good for depends on how much you want to budget for the badging expense and how secure your property really is. At some facilities, like an airport, cards have a very short lifespan, while other companies will keep ID cards for a couple years.
3. Card security features – These keep your badges from being easily duplicated. Some common elements are: hologram, silver/gold foil, two-dimensional logo, morphing images, complex graphics using fine lines, hidden and micro text, and electronic chips (for access control).

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with a sticker badge

Just a little more secure than a 'Hello my name is…' badge, these systems can go from very basic, handwritten to printed badges and even ones that will expire using a chemical reaction.

I recommend: Temtec's TempBadge sells a range of self-expiring stickers you can print yourself.

Laminate your badge

The most likely solution for a small business, these are usually printed on heavy paper stock and slipped into a badge holder or laminated. Pros: Easy to print and cheap. Cons: Easy to copy, easy to damage.

I recommend: Office products company Avery Dennison's product line is a good example of what you get with laminated badges printed on a standard ink jet printer.

Make a plastic badge

Think about the 'loyalty' cards that you get from retailers, and you've got a good idea of what you'd be looking at here.Pros: Fairly inexpensive, durable. Cons: Need special printers, tend to be sold in bulk.

I recommend: Try card vendor IDenticard for plastic cards and printers.

Add an electronic identifier to a plastic badge

Your credit card is one example; it probably uses a magnetic stripe; newer credit cards use a radio frequency tag that can communicate with special readers. These same technologies can be used to control access to doors. Pros: Integrates directly with facility access controls, durable. Cons: More expensive, cost and time to replace a lost card often increases.

I recommend: HID's iClass credentials use a super secure method of data transfer to authenticate the card user and these types of cards can be used for everything from computer access to snack machines, cafeteria payments and getting into the facility.

Put together your system

You'll need a basic software package to manage the ID creation process and most likely a basic camera system that can connect to a PC for badge photos. Paper and laminating supplies you can get from your usual office supply store, your security card vendor or even through the security company that sold you the building alarm system. Your office printer can handle the paper badges.

I recommend: Avery Photo ID's software package manages an office badge system and even sells the camera systems you'll need to capture your employee images. SecurityInfoWatch.com gives you an overview of how to put the whole badge system together.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Badges are no good unless you enforce the wearing of them. That means you have to wear one, too. Senior management sets the tone that all employees follow, and if you're not wearing the badge, don't be surprised if Jake in accounting bemoans wearing a badge, too
• •  Have you hired a contractor? Make sure the end-date for their project is the same as the expiration date on their badge.

ID badges are a great way for companies to increase security and identify employees or visitors. ID badges are small, printed tags with an employee's name, position and other vital information printed on them. Use picture badges for time clock pouches, to limit access in certain areas and to identify visitors or new employees. Requiring photo employee ID badges ensures that no one is permitted to enter your business without checking in first.

When considering the implementation of ID badges, be aware of a few ID badges basics. Many smaller companies choose to work with a professional printing company to design and print the badges. Some companies that print multiple cards, choose to purchase single-sided printing machines. These machines print the ID badges from your desk and the badges are available immediately. Dual-sided or double-sided machines work the same way as single-sided machines, except they print on both sides of the ID badge at once. Review the list below and select the option that is best for your company.

1. Locate a professional printing company to print the ID badges.

2. Purchase a machine to create single-sided ID badges.

3. Buy a dual-sided system if you need a lot of double-sided ID badges.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire professionals to print and ship your ID badges

Many smaller businesses contract printing companies to create and ship ID badges to them. With this option, your company uploads each badge's picture and information to a secure site. From there, the printing company creates the laminated photo ID badge and mails it back to your company.

I recommend: EasyIDCARD.com creates and ships laminated photo ID badges for your employees. Find a full line of various employee ID badges at Namifiers. Visit NovaVision to request a quote or samples of ID badges similar to those you want made.

Purchase machines that make single-sided ID badges

Single-sided ID badges are commonly used in schools and business where the students or employees do not have to use the cards to unlock doors or where all the person's pertinent information is displayed on one side of the card.

I recommend: IDWholesaler.com carries a wide selection of machines that make identification badges. Visit the DataCard Group to find a single-sided or dual-sided ID badge system. Purchase the entire ID creating system, including a camera for picture ID badges, at Alpha Card.

Locate double-sided ID badge machines

Double-sided ID badges utilize both sides of the badge. One side holds bar code information or security devices while the other side may contain a photo and written information. Some companies may print safety information on the back of the ID badge for easy access.

I recommend: ID Edge Inc. supplies double-sided printers and software for ID badges. Visit Baudville to find dual-sided ID badge systems. Locate identification badge systems for dual-sided ID badges at Evolution ID Card Systems & Badge Supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  ID Badge machines are often sold as used or refurbished. If you purchase a small machine you can sell it when your company grows and requires larger equipment.

ID badges can help you protect your company and your employees. They can also allow your employees to work together more closely by establishing a quick and easy way to address one another by name. The type of ID badge system that works best for your company will depend on the needs of your organization. If you want to allow employees to access certain parts of your building, you may benefit from electron chips. If you just want to provide basic name tags, you may want to offer employees ID badges with two-dimensional logos.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

ID card system

An ID card system refers to the equipment and supplies needed to make your own ID badges. In most cases, purchasing a system will give you all the supplies you need to start identifying employees.

I recommend: ID Superstore provides product specifications for ID card printers.

Lanyards

A lanyard is a neck cord or ribbon that attaches to an ID badge. Employees can wear lanyards around their necks, wrap them around their wrists, or drop them into their purses or pockets to keep their ID badge nearby at all times without having to attach the badge to their clothing.

I recommend: 1888Lanyard.com defines what a lanyard is and offers examples for how you can use them.

Badge reels

Badge reels are another way employees can attach their name badges. The badge reel slides onto clothing and has a retractable string that attaches to the ID badge to allow easy use of the identification.

I recommend: View examples of different styles of badge reels at Name Badge Productions.

Two-dimensional logo

Two-dimensional logos are images that make it appear as though the image is three-dimensional. Through shadows, tones and other techniques an artist can make the image appear to be three-dimensional. Some companies use a two-dimensional logo in order to make it harder to duplicate or fake an employee ID.

I recommend: Enchanted Creek Studios provides an example of a two-dimensional drawing and explains some of the things used to create the desired affect.

Micro text

Another security feature that many ID cards offer is micro text. Usually micro text comes preprinted, but you can also use a thermal printer to add it to ID badges. The text is small enough that the human eye cannot detect it, but special equipment will verify its presence.

I recommend: Alpha Card provides an in-depth explanation of micro text and its use with ID badges.

Electronic chips

An electronic chip allows an ID badge to interact with an electric component. The chip may allow an employee access to the building; it may act as a time clock, logging the arrival and departure of an employee; or it may provide an electronic signature. Electronic chip ID badges can work on contact, by swiping, or remotely within a limited distance.

I recommend: TechInsights offers an overview of electronic chips in ID cards and shows the use for this technology on a global level.