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After the events of September 11, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
required every airport in the country to revalidate its identification badges
for airport employees, as well as for anyone else who works on the premises. For
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which sees 67 million passengers every
year, this meant creating 44,300 new badges quickly.
"The FAA needed to make sure that all of the badges in use at airports
around the country were actually active," said Glen Granger, lead system
programmer, LAX Security Badge Section. "For an airport the size of LAX,
this was an enormous challenge."
To accomplish this daunting revalidation task, the airport's Security Badge
Office called into service seven FARGO
Pro-L Card Printer/Encoders. Working round the clock, two full-time
employees completed all 44,300 badges in one week.
"We have nothing but praise for FARGO equipment," said Granger.
"The machines just didn't stop printing." Granger and his staff,
however, weren't surprised. They were already familiar with FARGO Card
Personalization Systems, having created nearly 200 badges a day for LAX
employees and others who need short-term access to the airport area.
Los Angeles International Airport access badges are double-sided, with full
color, edge-to-edge printing on the front. Color-coded for different levels of
access, they also include a hologram laminated onto the card for added security
and are encoded with a magnetic stripe and proximity technology.
"Before we started using FARGO printers, it was not uncommon for our
operators to throw out two or three badges for every useable one they
produced," said Granger. "Delays were common, and costs were adding
up." In addition, airport personnel felt they were not receiving adequate
support from their supplier, resulting in additional delays and mounting
frustration.
"An airport security operation needs a system that is reliable and
fast," said Granger, "especially in today's challenging
environment." Speed, low maintenance and a hands-free operation were all
important considerations when security badge personnel selected the FARGO
Pro-L.
"For our operators, a big plus is the clear and concise error messaging
this system offers," Granger said. "The printer is also easier to keep
clean, and we like the ease of putting in a new ribbon and new
over-laminate." The fact that the Pro-L can simultaneously print one card
and laminate another, thus speeding the printing process, didn't go unnoticed,
either. "Our users have even remarked that the colors on this card are more
vibrant than on previous cards," he added. "The blue is bluer, and
skin tones are more realistic."
"Another key benefit of the FARGO system is our on-site service
contract," said a sales manager for a FARGO Solution Provider. "We can
perform routine maintenance or repair the equipment on site or replace it with
another printer - whatever it takes to keep the customer operational."
In today's world of heightened security at airports, that's never been more
important.
ID America™, a Ban-Koe Company, is a Fargo Service Provider and Partner. For more information on the FARGO Pro-L or other products, check out www.idbadges.com, e-mail us at sales@idbadges.com, or call 952-881-0634 to speak with an ID America representative.
Article extracted from Fargo Website.