Eric Domschine

These not-yet-ready-for-prime-time card products may be the next American idol. From Software developers to plastic card printers and a variety of specialists and consultants in between, smart cards are beginning to attract a lot of attention here in the United States. As expected, costs are coming down, yet they remain prohibitive for most. Still, it is only a matter of time before customers dependent upon a secure, efficient and intelligent approach to operations management are clamoring for this solution. Proactive distributors and manufacturers who begin learning now will be earning later as a result of a smart card education. Slowly but Surely Headquartered in

From gift cards to door hangers, printed plastic products are steadily replacing their paper-made counterparts, and in turn, multiplying industry profits. Just as the coveted department store gift card and the ever-present 60-minute pre-paid phone card have made a name for themselves, plastic cards and products are also taking on an increasingly dominant role in today's business practices. Arthur Blank & Co., a Boston-based supplier of private-label plastic cards, produces a variety of cards, including gift cards, membership and identification cards, access control cards and loyalty program cards. While color and design are usually the first attributes that capture customers' attention, there is more