For many businesses, it’s vitally important to have a reliable ID card printer. From employee badging to access control, visitor badges, and more, you likely rely on your card printer for a lot. It’s beneficial for your company to maintain and care for this valuable piece of equipment, as badge printers often cost thousands of dollars. Proper maintenance can help your printer last up to 15 years!

3iD Cards is here to serve as your complete source for ID cards, ranging from badge reels and lanyards to proximity technology, keypad readers, and more. Over the years, we’ve built up quite the inventory of high-quality ID badge supplies, and we’re confident that we can help you find the right fit for your professional needs.

Keep reading to learn about our seven tips to help you make the most of your printing system, and be sure to browse our collection of high-quality ID card printers when you’re ready to get started!

Training Matters

In today’s times, many individuals are likely to blow through the instructional booklet to figure out how things work. After all, we have the internet for information, right?

However, we recommend implementing mandatory training for those who operate or maintain your card printer. This training should only take 45 minutes or so, and can help to generate faster and safer results when using the printer, replacing the ribbon, or troubleshooting any issues. This first step aims to eliminate user error when caring for your ID card printer.

Be sure to brush up on your printer make and model! You can look through the instructional manual or reach out to your trusted source for ID cards.

Create a Clean, Stable Environment

Beyond the user errors associated with premature card printer breakdown, the environmental conditions around your printer can play a major role in how it performs. This point is especially important for companies hoping to put their badge printer in a hazardous area, including workshop and warehouse floors, break rooms, and any area exposed to radical temperature changes. Dust, sand, grime, oil, water, and other contaminants can all infiltrate your ID card printer and cause serious concerns for the effectiveness and longevity of your device.

Handle Equipment Carefully

It can be all-too-easy to get caught up in the bustle of the day and hurry though your printing process. Rough handling of the equipment associated with your card printer (trays, PVC cards) can lead up to considerable wear and tear over the years. 3iD suggests careful handling of your badge printer to minimize the odds of breakdown. If a jam occurs, don’t handle the instruments roughly. Handle your repairs carefully, making sure not to force any parts that appear stuck.

It’s also important to keep the dirt and grime mentioned before from entering your machine. Focus on cleanliness when handling your new ID cards, whether that includes protective gloves or a thorough handwashing. Keep in mind that fingerprints and smudges can affect the quality of the ink transfer, marring the beauty of your new ID badge. Try to minimize touching the faces of the cards, and be sure to discard any that appear dirty or damaged. Not only does contamination affect the outcome of your new ID cards, but it can also lead to premature printer failure!

Rely on Manufacturer-Specific ID Printer Supplies

When it comes to printing high-quality ID cards without any setbacks, companies are highly recommended to only utilize the original manufacturer’s supplies. This helps to ensure a precise outcome with each and every print. Relying on cheaper materials sourced from overseas may result in less-than-desirable outcomes, including peeling and fading. Manufacturer-made products are available and affordable to create the best results for your company. 3iD Cards can help you find the right products and opportunities to save, including our volume discounts!

Keep Your ID Printer Clean

Companies who regularly rely on their badge printer for quality prints need to pay special attention to the cleanliness of their machine. Your ID card printer’s manufacturer will provide specific cleaning instructions to generate the best long-term results for your investment, and we recommend following these instructions to the letter! It falls on your employees to practice responsible cleaning operations, including dust control, the use of cleaning cards after replacing each ribbon, washing down the roller, and so on.

Rely on Quality Maintenance

Regular care will do much to elongate the lifespan of your ID card printer. Calibrations, deep cleanings, and other vital aspects are important to ensure your machine runs as smoothly as possible. It’s important to rely on an appropriately trained technician to provide all of these repairs, as unqualified work can actually cause more harm than good! Twice-yearly services can help to correct any minor problems before they grow into costly setbacks.

Invest in a Quality ID Card Supplier

When it comes to making the most of your badge printer, you need to find the right supplier for the job. 3iD Cards is here to offer comprehensive solutions and support for all of our ID badges and accessories. We offer high-quality ID card printers and accessories from the top brands in the industry, including Zebra, Datacard, Fargo, Evolis, and more. We rely on centralized purchasing and global shipping to deliver the best results for your business.

Looking for product support? Each badge printer from 3iD comes with the 3iD Care Package, which includes lifetime support and guidance to help you make the most of your investment.

Ready to Find Your Printer?

You can browse our online inventory for a complete range of ID cards, printers, ribbons, badge reels, and more. If you can’t find the right products for your professional needs, then contact us online for complete assistance! We look forward to working with you!