April 22 marked an important day around the world, when more than half a billion people in more than 180 countries took action to “go green” and reduce their impact on our planet. At Advantidge, we believe it’s important to recognize and take responsibility for the effects our business has on the environment. For us, it’s really more like “Earth Week” because we’re proud to bring to you an exciting opportunity to help you and your customers reduce your carbon footprint.

Why contribute unneccesary toxins and waste to the environment when there’s a solution available from Advantidge, your preferred supplier of card printers and their related supplies? Our new CornCard PVC Replacement is your chance to help your company become more environmentally conscious without comprising on quality with the cards you issue.

CornCards offer several compelling features:

• Look and feel just like the standard white PVC cards you already use. Cardholders won’t know the difference!
• Quality and durability of your printed cards are not affected in any way and they will not void your printer’s warranty.
• Our eco-friendly cards are 100% biodegradable without releasing toxins into the environment when disposed
• These natural fiber cards allow you to easily reduce your carbon footprint and help slash the use of Earth’s most valuable resource — oil

For a limited time only, CornCards are available from Advantidge at the exact same price you pay for traditional PVC.

Advantidge Logo Reversed w/ Shadow (Adobe Photoshop)

Advantidge Logo Two Tone (Adobe Illustrator)

Advantidge Logo Monotone (Adobe Illustrator)

Advantidge Logo Greyscale (Adobe Illustrator)

Introduction to Green Family of Products

Here at Advantidge, we’ve been asking this question a lot lately, and have found solutions both internally and with the products we provide to our clients. Several months ago we happily "disrupted" the market with the release of biodegradable corn cards as a replacement for standard PVC.

The response has been overwhelming, so to meet our customers’ demand for earth-friendly products, we have since launched an entire green line of solutions — now shipping nationwide. This includes:

		Corn Cards Now in Blank and Magnetic Stripe Versions as Biodegradable Replacements for Regular PVC
		100% Recycled PVC Cards, in Both Blank and Magnetic Stripe Versions
		Woven Bamboo Lanyards in a Full Set of Colors Offering Both Generic or Custom Printed with Your Choice of Attachments
		Recycled Polyester Lanyards in a Full Set of Colors Offering Both Generic or Custom Printed with Your Choice of Attachments
		Recycled PVC/PET Products for Displaying ID Cards, Including Strap Clips and Badge Holders

Donation to Green Organizations

To demonstrate our environmental commitment, Advantidge is donating 3% of green product sales now through September 30, 2008. Help us help the planet through the non-profit environmental organization of your choice by completing the form below.

With more than a decade of expertise providing ID applications worldwide, Advantidge leads the industry in forward-thinking, environmentally-conscious products and services. We continue to push our suppliers for more Earth-Friendly products and packaging and as your ID applications partner, stand ready to assist you and your company’s efforts to Go Green.

Testimonials

Below are real-world customer testimonials from those who have already made the exciting switch!

	As a professional photographer, it’s critical to keep current with state-of-the-art products. When we had the opportunity to start using corn cards, knowing quality and durability wouldn’t be compromised, we jumped at the chance. Plus, Advantidge’s service and support are always top-notch, so it’s a win-win for our company. - Peter Lars, Owner   Cornerstone Photography
	At Cal State Long Beach, ‘going green’ is always an important consideration. Since we serve more than 35,000 students, faculty, and staff, switching to recycled cards from Advantidge for the various cards we produce on campus was a simple choice for us. - Donna Soto, ID Card Services   California State University Long Beach (CSULB)

Additional Links

To read more about our Green Initiatives click here to Read a Recent Newspaper Article About Advantidge in the news!

For an introduction to the first product from our earth friendly product line, click here to Read the Press Release Announcing our Corn Cards.

For more information on any of the products above, including pricing and samples, please complete the form below.

For LAX, this meant quickly rebadging nearly 45,000 workers.

The airport called upon Advantidge Inc., an El Segundo-based reseller of security and identification cards and related solutions, to help with this seemingly unwieldy feat.

With Advantidge-supplied printers running around the clock, in less than two weeks LAX reached its goal and met the FAA’s new standards.

Advantidge’s accomplishment was notable especially since the company was only a few months old at the time.

CEO Lawrence Grafstein founded Advantidge in May 2001, only four months before LAX’s rebadging.

Advantidge’s core product is the identification system, which includes identification cards, printers, software and other support equipment.

The company offers several types of identification cards, including student ID cards, hotel key cards, hospital identification cards, security clearance cards, gift cards and more.

Advantidge buys equipment from manufacturers, such as Fargo Electronics Inc., HID Corp. and Zebra Technologies Corp., and resells directly to end users or in some cases through an integrator.

"In many cases we are providing hardware, software, equipment and support," Grafstein said.

The firm of six employees works within several industries, including education, health, transportation, security and law enforcement.

In the greater Los Angeles area alone, Advantidge works with more than 50 different law enforcement agencies, including the Torrance Police Department, Grafstein said.

Industrywide, the majority of identification cards are printed on a petroleum-based plastic called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.

Advantidge offers four types of PVC identification cards: blank or basic PVC cards, magnetic stripe cards, proximity cards and smart cards.

The most common and cheapest card in the industry is the basic PVC card, Grafstein said. Basic PVC cards are typically used for photo identification but can also be used as membership cards, gift cards, and visitor passes.

"Second to that would be magnetic stripe cards, where you start having some functionality," Grafstein said.

Most universities today use magnetic stripe cards, he said. A magnetic stripe card, similar to a credit card or driver’s license, has a fixed number stored on the card and when swiped, pulls up the identification number and matches it against an account number in the system.

Advantidge’s customers include Cal State and UC campuses, Grafstein said.

Newer identification applications require technology cards. Smart cards have chips embedded in the surface of each card and have the ability to store multiple areas of information.

For example, smart cards can store a biometric template, such as a fingerprint.

"In addition to presenting the card for access, you would also place your fingerprint as a form of additional verification," Grafstein said. "Instead of pulling that information from a central database where you have to have a massive software and server infrastructure in place - the information is stored there right on the card."

All of these identification cards, however, are made with PVC plastic, which can be dangerous to human health and the environment.

Advantidge, though, has begun its own eco-friendly campaign.

In April, it began offering clients the option to purchase recycled PVC cards, which are more durable than the industry’s standard PVC card.

It also began selling the corn card, an eco-friendly card made from a special type of corn that does not affect human corn supply. Unlike PVC cards, corn cards are 100 percent biodegradable, and no toxins are released when the cards are properly disposed.

The company offers the corn card and the recycled PVC card only in the basic and magnetic stripe identification cards.

Advantidge officials said some organizations have already ordered thousands of the new corn cards and recycled PVC cards, including California State University Long Beach, which plans to use recycled PVC cards beginning this fall for its gift cards from the campus book store.

Grafstein admits, though, that the introduction of the corn card and recycled PVC cards into the market is relatively small at this point, but he hopes to play a role in helping educate the market about the new eco-friendly cards.

"Most people wouldn’t even think … that there would be an alternative to a standard card," Grafstein said.

Advantidge also introduced lanyards made out of bamboo rather than nylon or other materials stemming from PVC that the market often uses to display identification cards.

Grafstein said he recently spoke with a customer from a movie studio in Los Angeles who asked for some of the bamboo samples.

"Somebody caught her in the office rubbing the fabric lanyard up against her face because it was so soft," he laughed.

For now, though, Advantidge plans to target companies who go through the largest volume of cards and who internally are more likely to have some type of socially responsible purchasing mandate, such as prominent institutions funded by tax dollars, Grafstein said.

"The green campaign is an example of the proactive efforts that we are making to grow as a company and hopefully to be able to play a role in changing the industry," Grafstein said.

» Learn more about Advantidge’s Corn-Based ID Cards

We offer compensation programs that give you the greatest opportunity in earnings plus a promise to help you grow as a sales professional in the modern business world. Our main office is located in Los Angeles, CA where management and customer service provide daily support to our inhouse and remote sales team. We work closely with the industry’s most reputable manufacturers and are proud of our ethical business practices with vendors and customers alike. If you are a top performer and feel like your current employer doesn’t live up to your standards, contact us to learn more.

Note: All inquiries will be completely confidential knowing that word travels fast in this niche industry.

It’s important for you to review the specifications of any product before using it. This section includes a large list of detailed specifications that directly affect the way that Lobby Track works for you – from system requirements and printer support to barcode symbologies and templates. Barcode and Prox Card Scanners Lobby Track works with all Windows compatible barcode and Prox Card scanners including keyboard wedge scanners, USB Scanners and RFIDeas USB Prox card readers. Government Issued ID Card, Driver License and Passport Scanner Support Lobby Track makes entering new cardholder data quick and easy by integrating support for CSSN Card Scanners. Simply scan a government issued ID card, driver license or passport and data will be automatically entered into the appropriate database fields. Supported products include: ScanShell 800 ScanShell 1000 SnapShell Image Files Have some images that you would like to use on an ID card or a label? Lobby Track lets you insert nearly any type of image onto your card or label. Bitmap (BMP) Photoshop (PSD) PCX GIF ICO PGM JPEG DDS PPM PNG IFF XBM TIFF IBM RAS WMF PBM TGA Camera and Scanner Support It’s easy to add and maintain photos or scanned images within your Lobby Track card or label. Simply acquire the images from your camera, scanner or any TWAIN/WIA compatible device and insert them directly to your card or label, save them to your database, or export them as graphic files, all from within Lobby Track. System Requirements Lobby Track was designed to support the needs of small to Fortune 500 company infrastructures. Our minimum specifications were derived with this in mind. Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista Pentium III or faster 64 MB RAM 32 MB free hard disk space

Barcode Symbologies There are many different types of barcode formats (known as barcode symbologies) and each has its own set of advantages. Lobby Track supports more than 20 industry-standard 1D and 2D barcode formats to help match your business needs. UPC-A Code 93 UPC-E Code 93 Full ASCII UPC/EAN EXT 2 Code 128 UPC/EAN EXT 5 UCC.EAN-128 EAN-8 (JAN-8) SSCC-18 EAN-13 (JAN-13) SCC-14 Code 39 MSI Plessy Code 39 Full ASCII Industrial 2 of 5 Standard 2 of 5 Codabar ISBN ISSN Postnet Royal Mail (RM4SCC) Australia Post Data Matrix (2D) PDF417 (2D) and more… Database Connectivity You don’t have to stress about database compatibility or connectivity with Lobby Track. Lobby Track supports all of the popular databases, so you can connect and manage your existing database or create a new one to meet your needs. Microsoft SQL Server MySQL Microsoft Access dBase Microsoft Excel Text/CSV Microsoft FoxPro ODBC/OLE DB Stand-alone database Networked database Photo database Database editor Signature Pad Support Integrated support for Topaz, IntegraSign and Interlink signature pads allows the easy acquisition of digital signatures. Acquire and print the signature immediately, or store it in the database along with other user information. Printer Support Lobby Track allows you to use your existing Microsoft Windows compatible laser, inkjet, thermal, PVC card, or label printer, without the need to install special drivers. Fargo Zebra / Eltron Datacard Evolis Matica Chica UltraMagicard Intermec EdiGuard Dot Matrix Canon Label Printers Laser Inkjet Thermal and more…

No visitor management system is complete without lobby track Advantidge now offers complete systems for Lobby Track. These packages not only include Lobby Track, but also the best printers, cameras and and scanners on the market, allowing you to implement your visitor management system immediately.

Visitor Management packages featuring Lobby Track

Lobby Track, Label Printer, Camera and Barcode Scanner

Lobby Track, Label Printer, Camera, Barcode Scanner and Driver’s License Scanner

Visitor Management + Identification packages featuring Lobby Track

Lobby Track, Label Printer, Plastic Card Printer, Camera and Barcode Scanner

Lobby Track, Label Printer, Plastic Card Printer, Camera, Barcode Scanner and Driver’s License Scanner

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Lobby Track’s flexibility makes it the perfect solution for a variety of industries. Whether you are in the corporate, education, government, healthcare or any other industry, Lobby Track is the best choice to manage your organization’s daily traffic and activities. Contact sales for more information on how Lobby Track can be best used for your specific needs.

Corporations
Lobby Track is the perfect solution for corporations. Keep track of visitors, employees, contractors and temporary employees easily and efficiently. Issue visitor and employee badges Track time and attendance of contractors Log the usage of company equipment Pre-register visitors online

Education
Lobby Track’s flexibility makes it a great solution for the complex needs of a school district. Intuitive database connectivity makes it easy to tie into student information databases. Check in students for attendance and testing Track library books and the purchase of school lunches Create student, faculty and visitor id cards Protect student safety by checking visitors against a watch list

Government
Lobby Track’s security features and reporting modules make it an excellent choice for government buildings. Maintain the security of your facility easily and efficiently. Control facility access with flexible access policie Centrally manage multiple entry points and facilities Create visitor and permanent id cards Use Kiosk mode for self-registration and non-disclosure

Healthcare
The healthcare industry relies on the easy distribution of information and the security of its facilities. Lobby Track makes it easy to track the large numbers of visitors and staff. Print temporary passes for patients and visitors Create attendance reports for all cardholder groups Track lab and office equipment Create secure ID cards for doctors, nurses and other staff

Register Members and Visitors
Either register members and visitors onsite or allow them to self register in advance over the net or using a kiosk. Scan driver’s license or passport to auto-fill registration form Check visitors and members against watchlists Use Kiosk mode for self-registration Pre-register visitors online to streamline registration process

Issue Permanent and Temporary Badges
Lobby Track includes integrated card designer to personalize predesigned badges and to create professional and secure visitor and member id badges from scratch. Create cards and badges of any shape and size Add shapes, text, photos, and barcodes Import, capture and manipulate photos Print on adhesive badges for use with HID access control cards

Track Entry and Exit
Track and control access to your facility by requiring members to scan in their ID badges as well as requiring visitors to scan in their visitor passes on entry as well as exit. Scan badges with barcodes, magnetic stripes or prox chip Allow or deny access based on personal access rights Record time of entry and exit Label each entry and exit with additional reporting codes

Generate Attendance and Activity Reports
Use the charting and reporting mechanisms to view all cardholder and entry point history. These reports can be used to track any activity or function, allowing maximum flexibility. Log time and attendance Build and print customized reports Export reports to payroll database View visit history as well as equipment logs

Database and Location Management
Centrally manage multiple locations and databases. Connect to any ODBC or OLE DB compliant database, including MS Access, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL and more. Store personal records in any database of your choice Manage personal records with integrated database editor Lookup data from Active Directory / LDAP Link and manage multiple locations

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Visitor Management
Keep track of all visitors entering your facilities easily with Lobby Track’s visitor pass creation and record-keeping capabilities. Design visitor passes Use Kiosk mode for visitors to register themselves Pre-register visitors online Check visitors against a watchlist

Attendance Tracking
Maintain records of all attendance and activities with Lobby Track’s management reporting modules. Customize reports for multiple activities Create time and attendance logs Print and export reports for payroll Track equipment

Offsite Project Tracking
With Lobby Track, you can also track employees and contractors outside the office. Set up Lobby Track in company vehicles and remote locations. Install in vehicles and remote job sites Track contractor hours Print reports of multiple locations Tie into payroll database for accurate compensation

Event Management
Know who is at your event and increase your event’s security with Lobby Track’s flexible applications. Print temporary passes for event entry Create reports of event attendance Use kiosk mode so attendees can register themselves Use the flexible internal database to create a guest list