Slot Punch

A slot punch provides a rectangular slot in a plastic card so that it can be worn using a badge holder or badge attachment such as a lanyard or badge reel. The slot punch is often part of a plastic card printer system that is purchased to make photo id cards in house. The punch is designed to cleanly punch a consistent hole in plastic cards without cracking the card in two. These punches are created specifically for plastic material and are not made to punch through paper as is a common hole punch at a craft store

Slot punches are marketed with or without edge guides. This guide provides a consistent distance that the hole is punched at. The guide can be set for horizontal or vertical cards and eliminates the guess work it takes to measure the center point of each plastic card when cutting the hole. By selecting a slot punch with guide, the IDs will have a slot that works with the badge holder selected. It will provide a uniform slot in each card which will enhance the professionalism of the printed cards.

Hand held punches are commonly seen with entry level id card printers. These punches are designed for use in a small production environment where only a few cards are printed at a time. High volume printing organizations would not want to obtain hand held punches as the physical requirements to make the slot punch would be wearing after a number of cards were processed.

Stapler style slot punches are easy to find and are easier physically than the hand held punches. Working like a stapler, the slot punch makes the professional hole quickly with a push of the top lever of the punch.

Table top slot punches are even easier to use as the top lever is pressed with your hand. The lever movement creates the slot punch with ease and consistency. The electric slot punch can be operated by electric operation directed from a foot switch. Insert the card and press the foot pedal with your foot to discover a perfectly punched ID card.

Slot punches designed for identification badges are of high quality and designed to last for many years. The punches are designed to restore themselves to their original status by spring load so that punching additional badges is not a difficult process to accomplish.

If you do not want to punch a hole in your card design, search for a badge holder such as a clear vinyl badge holder that encloses the card and does not require a slot hole to wear. Cards printed with ID card printers such as the Evolis printer, will provide a number of different security benefits for the organization that puts for the effort to begin and maintain a badge wearing or carrying policy. Both the quantity of cards printed and badge attachments selected will determine which slot punch will be best for your organization.