MyBinding Knowledge Base
What should I know about Badge Reels?
Badge reels are a popular way to display ID cards, badges, and proximity cards. If you don’tknow what a badge reel is, it is an item that attaches to an individual’s clothing so that the person can wear his/her ID. The ID is attached to a retractable cord that makes it easy for the person to pull out his/her ID and swipe it for access to secured areas. There are a lot of different badge reels available these days, so this article will take a look at what’s out there so you can choose the appropriate badge reels for your workplace or other organization.
A very basic type of badge reel is the no-twist variety. These reels contain a piece of plastic on the cord to prevent your ID card from getting twisted around. These items can either be clipped to a belt or you can attach the swivel back to your clothing. There are a lot of different colors available, so you’re bound to find the right one for your employees or volunteers.
Round badge-reels are very popular, especially since you can customize them with your company’s colors and/or logo. These badge reels can either be opaque or translucent and you can get them with a spring clip or belt clip so they can be easily 
If displaying your company’s logo is important, you will be pleased to know that you can buy a Logoreel badge reel. These items have an imprint area that is 150% larger than the ones found on regular badge reels. That way your logo can be seen more easily. The cord is slightly longer and each reel has two different attachment options: a belt clip and a loop that can be easily attached to a lanyard. These are some of the most versatile badge reels you can buy. If you like the idea of attaching a badge reel to a lanyard but you don’t need the extra real estate for your logo, lanyard badge-reels are worth a look. Some lanyard reels are known as “Smart Reel” products because the cord will stay extended unless you press a button to retract it. (There are also Smart Reels that stand alone as opposed to being part of lanyard.)
Carabiner and heavy-duty badge-reels are both good choices if you need badge reels that are high-quality. Both of these types of reels can be customized so you can show off your company’s identity. Some of the carabiner badge reels can be attached to your clothing in two different ways (lanyard and belt clip), plus they won’t twist around. Meanwhile, heavy-duty badge reels have a belt clip and you can choose from several different styles of cords, including chain-link, nylon, and steel wire. These reels range from 18 to 24 inches long.
Finally, there are three other styles of reels you may want to look at. First, there are heart-shaped reels that are available in pink and have a pink ribbon on them to promote breast cancer awareness. (Other colors, such as red, are also available and lack the ribbon graphic.) If you (or your employees) tend to lose track of your keys, you can get key reels that clip on to your belt, so you always know where your keys are. And for you outdoor enthusiasts, there are sports clips that are customizable and can easily clip on to your jacket or backpack. These are especially great for skiers because they can hold on to your lift ticket.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
