Plastic cards are classified according to their purpose and the actual material used. You have smart plastic cards, RFID cards, payment cards, and custom pre-printed cards. All of them are valuable to people’s daily lives. The plastic material also differs depending on durability, flexibility, and budget. If you are searching for the best plastic card to use for your company or business, this article will be a big help for you. Listed below are the types of plastic cards, your alternatives, and the shops you can contact for your orders and inquiries.

Classifications of Plastic Cards

Types of Plastic Cards According to Use

Smart Cards

smart card is a plastic card with an embedded integrated circuit chip. You mostly see this card in schools, public transit, and healthcare. It contains consumer information that will help authenticate a sign-in or entry within organizations. Banks and other financial institutions have then maximized the use of smart cards through the use of technology for EMV or Europay MasterCard Visa cards.

RFID Cards

RFID means radio frequency identification. The RFID card is utilized in many industries such as tracking, supply chains, and inventory management. Vehicle owners also use RFID cards as a way to gain access to gated roads. RFID cards interact with a reader and the backend data system where information is stored. The whole process occurs without direct contact.

Payment Cards

Payment cards are plastic cards you use to purchase or withdraw money from a bank account. Debit and credit cards are examples of payment plastic cards. A payment card is a subcategory of the smart card because it has an embedded integrated chip connected to the client’s personal information.

Pre-Printed Cards

Pre-printed cards are customized plastic cards that are made based on customer requirements. Examples of pre-printed cards are membership cards, shop cards, rewards cards, or gift cards. Organizations resort to working with printing companies to save on costs with every card produced. You can request design ideas from these manufacturers or give them a set layout for the pre-printed cards.

Types of Plastic Cards According to Material Used

Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC

PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is a thermoplastic material known for its physical and mechanical properties. The main reason why most companies choose PVC cards is because of their cost-effectiveness. ID card printing companies put magnetic stripes, RFID, or other smart card measures to ensure the authentic use of information.

Degradable PVC

Degradable PVC cards are made of renewable materials that cause them to be decomposable. One real reason why some people shy away from using plastics is because they are not eco-friendly. With these engineered components of ID cards, you can expect more companies to support and utilize degradable PVC.

Recycled PVC

PVC can be recycled in many ways. Manufacturers can melt, extrude, and grind PVC so that it can be reused. Recycling PVC is done through any of the two processes –mechanical recycling or chemical recycling. PVC material is conserved and costs are lowered when you use recycled PVC for your cards.

Polyethylene Terephthalate with added Glycol or PETG

PETG is known for its durability. It is resistant to impact, high temperature, abrasion, and folding. PETG is easier to process compared to PVC. If you desire a material that has exceptional transparency and stability, you should consider using PETG.

Alternatives

• Wood

One eco-friendly substitute for plastic is wood. It is sustainable, biodegradable, non-toxic, and recyclable. Magnetic stripes and integrated chips can be embedded into wooden cards just like ordinary plastic cards. You can also use this kind of material for your hotel key cards, business cards, loyalty cards, and gift cards.

• Paper

Another greener alternative to plastic is paper. It is highly biodegradable and recyclable. Barcodes and chip coding can be integrated into paper cards. Printing companies usually use reinforced cardboard to ensure that quality and durability are maintained on each card produced.

Plastic Card Sources

Where to Get Custom Plastic Cards

You can order standard-sized plastic cards like credit cards and government-issued driver’s cards from printing card companies. They can also customize your cards based on your specific requirements. In identifying the printing card company to work with, you must ensure the quality of work and design capability. This includes the type of plastic used, the process of production, and the ability to replicate the form repetitively and accurately. Digital previews and physical samples can also be requested to check for possible flaws and errors.

How to Contact Plastic Card Printing Shops

Different contact methods are offered by custom printing card companies. The usual call or text to the company’s contact number is often the best choice because the assigned personnel is ready to answer inquiries and take in clients every time. The company website is also a good way to contact their customer service department. Social media accounts may respond to questions from potential clients as well. You can also get in touch with their operations department through email, online chat, and other business contacts.

Benefits of Using Plastic Cards

Using plastic cards for your business offers several benefits. Plastic is easily produced and customized depending on your needs. They can be integrated with magnetic stripes, chip codes, barcodes, and other technology for better security and identification. They are very convenient to use and have a wide range of uses. ID cards, credit cards, key cards, debit cards, RFID cards, smart cards, and payment cards are all plastic cards. They are highly durable and versatile. Most of all, they can be designed based on your business branding.

Conclusion

Plastic cards have become a necessary part of everyday life. People use plastic cards to enter buildings, purchase products, endorse and promote companies, and give personal information. They are notably durable whether the type of plastic pertains to PVC, degradable PVC, recycled PVC, or PETG. Companies and businesses that want to benefit from such plastic cards can contact custom plastic card printing shops to order and personalize the design as well as the technology to be incorporated.