Rewritable ID cards are an innovative solution that allows organizations to reuse ID cards by erasing and reprinting data multiple times. Unlike traditional ID cards, which are printed permanently, rewritable cards enable dynamic printing for changing data, reducing waste, and cutting costs. These cards are ideal for organizations that require temporary badges, frequently changing information, or visitor passes.

In this blog, we’ll explore how rewritable ID cards work, their advantages, and why they might be the perfect fit for your organization, along with a recommendation for the Evolis Primacy 2, a reliable option for producing rewritable cards.

How Do Rewritable ID Cards Work?

Rewritable ID cards use a special thermosensitive material that can be printed, erased, and reprinted multiple times. This process is achieved through rewritable card printers equipped with both printing and erasing capabilities.

Here’s how the process works:

• Thermal Printing: A rewritable card printer applies heat to the card’s thermosensitive material, changing its color and creating the text or images that need to be displayed.
• Erasing Process: When information on the card needs to be changed, the printer applies another round of heat to erase the existing content. The thermosensitive material then returns to its original state, ready for new data to be printed.
• Rewriting Data: After erasing, new information can be printed onto the card, making it ready for reuse. This process can be repeated up to 500 times on most rewritable cards, depending on the card's quality.

It’s important to note that rewritable ID cards only support monochrome (single-color) printing, typically in black or blue. However, despite this limitation, the flexibility of erasing and reprinting makes them incredibly versatile for many applications.

Advantages of Rewritable ID Cards

Rewritable ID cards offer several compelling benefits that make them a valuable tool for various organizations, particularly those that handle high volumes of temporary or frequently changing information.

1. Cost Savings

One of the biggest advantages of rewritable ID cards is the potential for significant cost savings. Since the cards can be reused multiple times, there’s no need to constantly purchase new card stock or ribbons, as is the case with traditional ID cards.

• Reduced Card Stock Costs: With rewritable cards, a single card can be reused hundreds of times, which drastically cuts down the need to reorder blank cards frequently.
• No Ribbon Replacement Costs: Rewritable printers don’t use traditional ink ribbons, which means fewer consumables to replace, further reducing operating costs.

Bottom Line: Rewritable cards help organizations save on printing supplies and card stock, making them a cost-effective solution for businesses with high turnover or temporary badge needs.

2. Environmentally Friendly

In a world increasingly concerned with sustainability, rewritable cards offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cards. Reusing cards instead of discarding them after each use helps reduce waste.

• Less Plastic Waste: Since fewer cards are discarded, businesses can reduce the amount of plastic waste they generate.
• No Ink Waste: Traditional ID card printing often requires ribbons or ink cartridges that end up being disposed of after use. With rewritable cards, there’s no need for ink or ribbons, resulting in less waste.

Bottom Line: For organizations looking to reduce their environmental footprint, rewritable ID cards are a greener choice that supports sustainable practices.

3. Flexibility for Temporary Use

Rewritable ID cards are perfect for temporary or frequently changing uses. They are ideal for organizations that need to regularly issue short-term badges or update information frequently.

• Visitor and Temporary Passes: Rewritable cards are excellent for visitors, contractors, or event attendees who only need access for a short period. Once they leave, the card can be erased and used again for the next visitor.
• Frequent Data Updates: In environments where employee information, roles, or access levels change often, rewritable cards make updating data easy without the need to issue new cards every time.

Bottom Line: Rewritable cards provide a flexible and efficient solution for handling temporary badges or frequently changing employee information.

4. Convenient and Easy to Use

Rewritable card printers are user-friendly and easy to operate, allowing organizations to quickly issue new cards or update old ones with minimal effort.

• On-Demand Printing: Rewritable cards can be personalized on the spot, making them highly convenient for environments with high visitor traffic or frequent personnel changes.
• Easy Updating Process: When information changes, you can easily erase and rewrite the card without the need for complex processes or additional supplies.

Bottom Line: The simplicity of using rewritable ID cards makes them an attractive solution for businesses looking to save time and hassle.

5. Long-Term Durability

While the cards are erasable, they’re still made from durable PVC materials that can withstand repeated use without compromising the card’s integrity.

• Durability Over Multiple Uses: Despite being rewritten multiple times, the card material remains strong, ensuring long-term functionality.
• Low Maintenance: Since you don’t need to replace ribbons or other consumables frequently, rewritable card systems also require less maintenance over time, keeping your operations running smoothly.

Bottom Line: Rewritable cards are designed for long-term use, offering the durability needed for continuous rewrites and repeated handling.

Why Choose the Evolis Primacy 2 for Rewritable Cards?

For organizations looking to implement rewritable card solutions, the Evolis Primacy 2 is an excellent choice. This advanced card printer is designed for high-performance, offering both ease of use and reliability for producing high-quality rewritable cards. Its flexibility makes it perfect for applications such as visitor management, event badging, or issuing temporary access passes. With the ability to handle large volumes and its compatibility with rewritable technology, the Evolis Primacy 2 is a great investment for businesses aiming to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Who Can Benefit from Rewritable ID Cards?

Rewritable ID cards are a great solution for a wide range of industries and organizations, especially those that deal with temporary personnel or frequently changing data.

• Event Management: For large events, conferences, or conventions where attendees need temporary badges, rewritable cards are a perfect fit. They can be reused for multiple events, cutting down on printing costs and waste.
• Corporate Offices: Businesses with a high turnover of visitors, contractors, or temporary workers can benefit from rewritable cards, offering a simple way to issue and reuse access passes.
• Schools and Universities: Educational institutions can use rewritable cards for students or staff whose information changes regularly, or for temporary access passes for guests and visitors.
• Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals and clinics that issue temporary or short-term IDs for patients, visitors, or temporary staff can save time and money by using rewritable cards.

Contact Us Today

Rewritable ID cards are a cost-effective, flexible, and environmentally friendly solution for organizations that need to issue ID cards frequently or handle large numbers of temporary badges. With the ability to erase and rewrite information multiple times, these cards reduce waste and save on printing costs while providing the convenience of on-demand card issuance.

For a reliable and high-quality solution, we recommend the Evolis Primacy 2 for all your rewritable card needs. Contact us today to learn more about rewritable cards for your business!