LAX International Airport Upgrades Printers & Re-Badges 50,000 Employees

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 over 50,000 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 worked closely with Advantidge to provide six HDP600LC Card Printer/Encoders. Working round the clock, four full-time employees completed all over 50,000 badges in one week.

"We have nothing but praise for the support provided by Advantidge in the pre and post sales process," said Granger. "With their assistance the machines were up and running quickly, and just didn't stop printing besides regular maintenance between ribbon changes." Granger and his staff, however, weren't surprised after using previous generations of Fargo printers. They were already familiar with printing 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 along with the new iclass smartchip as a part of the TSA TWIC program.

"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 Advantidge recommended the Fargo HDP600LC for LAX.

"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 HDP600LC 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 much more vibrant and accurate than on previous cards," he added. "The blue is bluer, and skin tones are more realistic."

"Another key benefit to making this application work for LAX was the upgraded warranty coverage provided by Advantidge," said Lawrence Grafstein, Sales Manager for one of the top Fargo Solution Providers. "We perform routine maintenance or repair the equipment with the fastest turnaround time they have ever experienced. We will even replace one with a hot swap unit if it cannot be repaired promptly - whatever it takes to keep the customer operational."

In today's world of heightened security at airports and other government agencies, Advantidge is delivering exactly what the most demanding customers require.