submitted by Ali Chekhali, Choose 2 Rent
Ali Chekhali and Denis Badel, both event technology professionals, were returning from a tradeshow in London. While still wearing name badges from the tradeshow, both experienced a new luggage tag at the self-checkin area.
As the distributed luggage tag had no liner to peel off, both were confused as to how the luggage tag folded and then stuck together. They both quickly discovered that the luggage tag featured a self-adhesive back that is only adhesive to itself.
In parallel, Ali and Denis spun their minds about the possibility of using the same material for a new type of name badge that would revolutionize on-site printing of name badges.
They were looking at their traditional name badge that they were still wearing, acknowledging that they do not have an adhesive backing. Traditionally, double-sided name badges remain folded together after a lanyard is attached, creating an air pocket between them.
Over the years, some suppliers have added an adhesive material to the back of a double-sided badge with a peel-off liner. The adhesive, however, adheres to everything, not just the badge. Once the double-sided name badge is put together, the remaining liner produces a great deal of waste.
As both awaited their return flight, they began researching the material and its potential application in the event industry. Upon investigation, the raw material was developed and patented by a German company with experience in the field.
It was then that IntelliBadge was born, beginning a new era of name badges for on-site printing with the new innovative material and creating a solid, flat name badge.
Several meetings with the raw material provider as well as material converting suppliers soon followed. In addition to producing numerous prototypes and conducting many tests, many positive reactions were collected including at live events.
A first positive reaction was that IntelliBadge didn’t take up as much space as a fanfold badge as it comes on a roll. An event registration desk is a first impression and should look clean and organized at all times. It was not always possible to achieve a clean event registration area with traditional fanfold name badges.
Event planners and attendees admire IntelliBadge’s ability to create a double-sided name badge that is flat and solid when folded together.
Also, IntelliBadge can be preprinted with custom designs prior to printing dynamic attendee content on-site, making it a favorite of event planners.
Since it does not require a plastic name badge holder and doesn’t leave any liner paper waste, environmentalists are thrilled with IntelliBadge over traditional name badge options.
Staff supporting registration desks appreciate how easy and quick IntelliBadge is to install and use in Direct Thermal name badge printers. They also value how easy it is to be put together. During live testing events, attendees and event planners said the following:
“IntelliBadge was really easy to use and print”
“I love that it folds and sticks so well”
“The nice thing about it, although it is only sticking to itself, is that you do get a chance to realign the badge if you want to really center off that badge”
As a result of the overwhelming results of the test events, it was only natural to patent IntelliBadge and to introduce it to the market.
IntelliBadge will become widely available worldwide over the next few months. IntelliBadge is actively seeking to grow its reseller network and to expand its global manufacturing facilities.
IntelliBadge is immediately available through authorized resellers in North America licensed to sell the patented product line. It is planned to add support for more on-site printer technologies, including InkJet printing, to the product line.
A thicker version of Intellibadge is also being explored to make the event industry even more environmentally friendly and potentially curbing the use of plastic name badges.
