New Requirements Made Quick Turnaround Essential

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.”

The FARGO Card Personalization Solution

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 overlaminate.” 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 Lawrence Grafstein, sales manager for FARGO Solution Provider AdvantIDge. “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.