magnetic

card option – stripe

card
option

HiCo/LoCo magnetic stripe

Magnetic stripe cards are one of the cheapest and the most available solutions of recording information.
Magnetic stripe reader allows for reading the content.

MAGSTRIPE CARDS

The location and parameters of magnetic stripe is specified in ISO/EIC 7811.

Currently we use two types of magnetic stripes:

  • LoCo (low coercivity) – low coefficient of coercivity of magnetic stripe – approx 300 oe (oersteds)
  • HiCo (high coercivity) – high coefficient of coercivity of magnetic stripe – up to 4000 oe (oersteds)

Magnetic stripe is a tape, on which we can encode information. Reading of magnetic stripe takes place during swiping a plastic card through the reader.

Saving and reading data from the card enables their effective operation in self-identification systems, access control, working time registration systems, maintenance-free sales systems and many more.

The HiCo magnetic strip is the most popular strip due to its higher resistance to demagnetization. LoCo magnetic stripe cards are quite susceptible to degaussing and data loss.

Loco hico magnetic stripe card
Loco hico magnetic stripe card
Magnetic stripe cards and encoding

MAGNETIC STRIP CAPACITY

There are 3 tracks on the magnetic stripe with a total storage capacity of 75 alphanumeric characters and 147 numbers.

Relatively small capacity of the magnetic strip is quite enough to save the card number, expiration date, the holder of personal data and other information.

MAGNETIC STRIP CODING STANDARDS

Possibilities of encoding information on magnetic stripe tracks:

  • track 1 (76 characters): 01234567890ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTVWXYZ!@#$^&'()*+-=,./\<>_:;][ (space),
  • track 2 (37 characters): 0123456789:<=>,
  • track 3 (104 characters): 0123456789:<=>.

Control characters:

  • ;? – the start and the end of track 2 and 3,
  • %? – the start and the end of track 1.

Control characters can’t be encoded inside of the track, for example:

  • 12345;123 will encode only 123,
  • 12345?12345678 will encode only 12345.

Some readers show control characters, some readers doesn’t. So both readings ;12345? and 12 345 are correct.

Magstripe gift cards

COLOR VARIANTS – THE MAGNETIC STRIP DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BLACK

In our offer you can find a few colours of magnetic stripe:

  • gold,
  • silver,
  • dark blue,
  • green,
  • black.

Additional options

Eco-friendly material – recycled and recyclable
Laminate of plastic cards
Print visible in UV / IR
Hologram
Coloured pvc material
Barcode
Custom shape and size cards
Scratch-off panel
Transparent material
Contact memory chip
Spot / selective varnish, glossy or matte
Magnetic HiCo/LoCo stripe
Other services
Aroma (e.g. coffee)
Hole (round, oval, euro hole)
Contactless chip (Unique, Mifare and more)
Metallic silkscreen
Panel for a signature / signature strip
Embossing
Customized plastic snap off card | 3 key chain tags