About Plastic Cards

Personalised plastic cards have a vast range of uses such as Loyalty cards, Membership cards, Discount cards, Identity cards, Security cards, general advertising and promotional cards, and much more. Research suggests that many of us will not readily throw away a plastic card no matter what the use or content. It has been suggested this is because the similarity to credit cards invokes a psychological importance. Retained cards are a permanent reminder of your products or services.

This is evidenced by the thousands of companies who now use plastic cards to increase customer loyalty. Indeed plastic cards form a significant part of many direct mail campaigns.

Card Manufacturing

PVC is the most commonly used material for card manufacturing but the qualities, especially the durability and longevity, vary. These qualities of the PVC are given a vicat rating with an higher rating meaning higher durability. Many banking type cards are produced using high vicat PVC as they are expected to undergo regular use. The standard thickness of a PVC card is 760 micron but can be obtained thinner or thicker depending on your application. Standard dimensions are 85 x 54 mm with radius corners but custom sizes can be produced. Other materials like high impact polystyrene and PET(G), which is more robust than PVC and is also biodegradable, are sometimes used. Additional resilience can be achieved by using laminated PVC cards which also yields a deep gloss finish.

Printing

Plastic Cards are printed prior to personalisation. The printing processes used are screen or litho with digital printing being attractive for smaller runs. Litho printing is the traditional method for producing large quantities. Screen printing can yield vivid colours and can use attractive metallic inks.

Hot Foil printing can be added on top of pre-printed plastic cards to further enhance them and improve security by adding metallic and holographic foils.

Methods of Personalisation