19 Feb 2016

Soon to launch in Southeast Asia – The first retransfer ID card printer with built-in visual security

Certain organisations opt to design and print their own ID cards, due to advantages such as shortened lead times and ability to have control over the entire printing process.

If you are looking at making the switch, don't let aspects such as colour, layout take precedence over the most important element, the security!

Since we use them for safety reasons, such as to gain access to our places of work, learning institutions, etc., it is important to put measures in place such that ID card counterfeiting is not possible. Without a card security feature, anyone with access to any ID card printer could make a convincing copy of the card.

Common security features include holographics, magnetic stripes, encoding technology, photo ID, barcodes.

It is important to assess our organisation first, to determine what security features we will require.

Ultra ID's latest visual security breakthrough – The Magicard Helix, the World's first retransfer printer with built-in visual security, will soon be launched in Southeast Asia.

Master Distributor of the Magicard Helix in Southeast Asia, Paclin, recommends it to be used for:

• Medium to large enterprises for the localised issuance of multi-application employee cards
• Governments for the localised issuance of secure citizen id cards (e.g. driving licences and national id cards)
• In-branch issuance of secure payment cards
• Airports
• Military facilities
• Healthcare facilities
• Etc.

The Magicard Helix uses an evolution of Magicard's famous HoloKote^® security feature; and can apply a secure watermark to each card during the retransfer process. This feature also exploits the wavelengths and lens effect of the retransfer film to fluoresce under UV lighting conditions.

• How it works
  Specifically designed to work with the retransfer process, HoloKote for the Helix also exploits the wavelengths and lens effect of the retransfer film to fluoresce under UV lighting. HoloKote for the Helix is enabled by using a special YMCKS ribbon in combination with the retransfer film. These ribbons are a fraction of the cost of expensive customised over laminates, do not require a secondary lamination process and are not subject to the long lead-times and high MOQs of custom overlays.


• The retransfer printing process
  Colour images are first printed onto a thin film then heat transferred on to the surface of the PVC, Polycarbonate or composite ID card. This produces a high resolution photo quality image, printed right over the edge of the card. By printing on to this controlled substrate, print imperfections due to irregular card surfaces or around embedded card chips are eliminated.


• Other features
  Intuitive touch-screen technology
  The Magicard Helix is the first ever desktop card printer to feature an interactive touch-screen interface. Visual indicators show connectivity, temperature, how many prints are remaining on all consumables and information regarding where the user can purchase additional supplies. A preview screen during printing shows the exact card being personalised and its progress through the print cycle. The intuitive interface makes it easy to change settings, with additional help provided through animated step-by-step video sequences showing how to reload dye film, how to clean the printer and undertake other important maintenance activities.


• Print and encode secure cards in one pass
  The Magicard Helix can be equipped with a range of card encoding devices to write secure electronic data to cards at the point of issuance. Smart card encoding options include contact chip, MIFARE, DESFire and iClass. Specialist high-security encoders, such as EMV accredited devices, can also be fitted for the in-line personalisation of payment cards. The Helix can also be supplied with a magnetic stripe encoder built-in.

PACLIN OFFICE PRODUCTS PTE LTD is the Master Distributor of the Magicard Helix in Southeast Asia. The HoloKote^® technology is patented by their Principal – Ultra Electronics. HoloKote^® for the Magicard Helix is Ultra ID's latest visual security breakthrough that adds a security feature or logo to the card at the point of printing (Patent Pending).

Look out for their booth at Office Expo Asia (OEA) 2016, 29 June - 1 July at Marina Bay Sands, Level 1 Hall A!