In a competitive secure card environment, card issuers are looking for cost-effective alternatives for providing more dynamic, eye-catching and competitor-differentiated card packages. Ensuring the highest degree security and integrity, Bell and Howell offers a unique direct mailpiece that helps build existing customer loyalty and attract new customers.

The Bell and Howell Plastic Card System (PCS) is a versatile, high-speed card mailing system that uses the very latest in card processing technology to ensure cards are processed efficiently and reliably at the lowest cost per piece. In fact, 6 of the top 10 bank/financial institutions' credit cards are issued using the Bell and Howell PCS.

The PCS can integrate with automatic booklet makers, various mail inserters, and a variety of production monochrome or color printers using its Doculink or Weblink modules. Bottom line - the PCS can provide unparalleled versatility, improved productivity and the highest level of security. 

Benefits

• Cycle speeds of up to 8,000 cards per hour, which has improved throughput for some clients by as much as 16 times
• Wide array of document format processing, from 4.75" x 4.75" to 14" x 17" in cut sheet or continuous web in 1-up or 2-up formats
• A tracking system ensuring process integrity during the entire card fulfillment process
• Detailed audit report generation of what cards were mailed and when
• Identification of a wide array of codes such as barcode, 2D Datamatrix, contact or contact-less smart card chips, magnetic stripe and OCR

Specifications

Carrier processing options:

• Minimum size: 4.75" x 4.75"
• Maximum format: 14" x 17"
• Connection to sheet or continuous printer
• Assembling of documents prior or after fold

Card processing options:

• A-Z or Z-A card feeding
• Contact or contactless chip reading
• Magnetic stripe
• Barcode
• ECC200
• OCR
• Card buffer (for POD applications)

Fold options:

• Z fold
• Half fold
• Double parallel fold
• Cross fold

Inserter options:

• No inserter
• Compact: up to 2 enclosure feeders
• Enduro: with up to 18 enclosure feeders
• Marathon: with up to 14 enclosure feeders
• Quattro: with up to 12 feeders
• Vario: up to 12 enclosure feeders

Delivery options:

• Envelope turnover
• Metering
• Diverting
• Extended conveyer
• On edge stacking
• Zip marking
• Automatic postal traying