Lanyard Printing: The Basics

The lanyard has long been a staple in most business industries. Most people are familiar with lanyards and what they’re used for.  But for those of your who are not:

A lanyard is a strap or cord that is worn around the neck used to carry accessories such as cards, keys, wallets etc. Lanyards have steadily increased in popularity over the years due to advancements in print technology allowing companies to utilise them for brand awareness with great success

But how does lanyard printing work? What are the limitations and where can I get it done? Today, we’ll guide you through the various methods and specifics relating to lanyard production.

Lanyards are popular for a number of reasons:

  • They’re convenient: simply place around your neck
  • They’re veryeasily customised, making them perfect for branding.
  • They’re versatile, offering a huge range of clips and fittings

Lanyard Basics

Everything we cover in this guide can be applied to standard and printed lanyards. We will, So, lets dive in. Everything we discuss here can be applied to both stock and personalised lanyards.  We will try to cover as much as we can on this topic but if you still have questions relating to lanyard production, you can contact a professional lanyard supplier such as CardLogic.

Lanyard Print Method

When printing lanyards, there are a few methods for imprinting your design onto the strap. There are 3 methods used for doing this

Silk Screening:

Ink is applied directly to the surface of the lanyard strap. During this process, a print of your logo is on a special mesh screen. Ink is then forced through this mesh resulting which allows your design to seep into the lanyard fabric.

This method is little more time consuming than other methods but it provides excellent quality and durability.

Dye Sublimation:

Images are transferred to the strap using heat.  Dye-sublimation is used for multi-colored and complex designs.

This process is much easier and faster than screen printing because dye sublimation uses technology to print your design on the fabric.  It uses a computer printer to transfer the image onto the fabric or even plastic materials.

Woven:

Design is woven directly into the fabric of the lanyard. Woven lanyards are produced from multiple strands of yarn that are stitched together to form a pattern or logo.  These are used for extreme durability but are limited to simple designs.

Lanyard Sizes

Lanyards can be manufactured to suit most needs. How long is a piece of string? Lanyards are available off the shelf in a variety of standard sizes and can be specially tailored to suit customers’ demands. The standard lanyard size is typically 1 inch long and approx. 36 inch in length.

Safety Breakaway

The safety breakaway is a safety feature that is common on most modern lanyards. Lanyards can be hazardous in certain environments, particularly those involving heavy machinery.

The safety breakaway causes the lanyard to break apart should a reasonable amount of stress be placed on the strap.

Safety breakaways are often a requirement in businesses settings that use dangerous machinery.

Finishing Options

The finishing option is what makes a lanyard a lanyard. It gives the lanyard its distinctive loop shape. Without the finishing options, a lanyard would simply be a flat strip of cord. So essential, it is a fitting that joins the lanyard ends.

A variety of finishing options are available. Sewn, crimps or plastic beads are the most commonly used.

End Fittings

This is another crucial part of the lanyard. The end fitting is used to connect the lanyard to your ID Card holder or device. The end fitting depends entirely on what kind of item you will be attaching to your lanyards. A variety of hooks, swivel clips and key rings are available.

This concludes the most commonly asked questions relating to lanyards and lanyard production. We hope it helps you in your search for the perfect lanyard.