High Definition Printing™ technology to help federal agencies comply with HSPD
Fargo Electronics, Inc., a global leader in secure technologies for card identity systems, today announced that its HDP600 and HDP600-LC have been approved by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) under the card printer station category of the FIPS 201 Approved Products List. The certifications enable government agencies and other organizations to use Fargo's High Definition Printing (HDP®) technology to comply with the FIPS 201 standard as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. The directive establishes a government-wide standard for ID cards for all federal employees and contractors.
HDP is the preferred technology for the personalization of RFID proximity, laser and smart cards with computer chips. The HDP process prints images onto the under side of a special film that fuses to the surface of a card through heat and pressure. Since this process transfers dyes and resins directly onto a smooth, flexible film, the printhead never comes in contact with the card surface itself. As such, print quality is not affected by card surface imperfections such as smart chips that are not even with the card surface, ridges caused by internal RFID antennae or debris.
"Multiple federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Department of State among others have already integrated our technology into their operations," said John Santisteban, director of government sales for Fargo. "This certification will ensure that their card programs will continue uninterrupted. It will also allow us to provide these secure solutions to additional government clients.
"The HDP600 was approved as a stand-alone card printer, unlike earlier GSA certifications for card printer stations that are tied to specific software applications," continued Santisteban. "With the HDP600, agencies have the freedom to choose from multiple card printing and card management system applications. It's compatible with all major software applications. That flexibility will be important in designing solutions that meet the needs of individual agencies."
The HDP600 and HDP600-LC (with lamination) support advanced smart card applications by encoding up to three embedded technologies, plus magnetic stripes. They are able to print single- or dual-sided cards, encode and laminate (LC model) all in one pass. The lamination module applies Fargo's PolyGuardTM Overlaminate to both sides of the printed card for added security and durability.
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