Magnetic Stripe Card Printer

How Magnetic Stripe Encoding Works?

The magnetic stripe on a card is similar to a strip of magnetic tape and is made up of tiny iron-based particles. These particles can be magnetized in different directions to represent data.

Magnetic stripe encoders within the card printer use a magnetic head to alter the magnetic field of these particles as the card passes through, thus writing information onto the stripe.

There are typically three tracks on a magnetic stripe, each capable of storing different types and amounts of data:

• Track 1: Holds alphanumeric information (letters and numbers) and has a higher capacity. It often contains the cardholder’s name
• Track 2: Holds numeric information and has a lower capacity than Track 1. It is commonly used for account numbers and expiration dates
• Track 3: Can also store numeric data and has the highest capacity. Its usage isn’t standardized across all industries

Most card printers with magnetic stripe encoding capabilities allow to write data to one or more of these tracks

Types of Magnetic Stripe Encoding:

Magnetic stripes come in two main types based on their coercivity, which is the resistance of the magnetic material to being demagnetized:

• LoCo (Low Coercivity): These stripes are easier to encode and erase and are typically brown. They are suitable for short-term use applications like hotel keys or gift cards where the data may change frequently.
• HiCo (High Coercivity): These stripes are more durable and resistant to accidental erasure from magnetic fields. They are usually black and are recommended for cards that will be swiped often and need a longer lifespan, such as access control cards, employee IDs, and bank cards

Card printers with magnetic stripe encoding often support both LoCo and HiCo encoding.

Common Applications:

Magnetic stripe encoding used for various applications:

• Employee ID Cards: Combining visual identification with access control or time and attendance tracking.
• Access Control Cards: For secure entry to buildings, offices, or specific areas.
• Membership Cards: For gyms, libraries, or clubs to identify members and track usage.
• Loyalty Cards: To store customer identification and track rewards points.
• Gift Cards: To store the card’s value.

Finding Magnetic Stripe Card Printers:

You can find these specialized printers from the same suppliers who offer standard ID card printers in Lahore:

• Authorized Dealers: Look for authorized dealers of brands like HID FARGO, Zebra, Evolis, and Magicard, as many of their models offer magnetic stripe encoding options
• IT Solution Providers: Like Ahmed’s Infotech Solutions authorized distributors that provide security and identification solutions often carry these printers
• Specialized Card Printer Suppliers: Some businesses focus specifically on ID card printing technology and supplies, including printers with encoding capabilities