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International Gemological Institute (IGI), a trusted certifier of quality gemstones and jewelry, sought a reliable partner to supply high-quality custom cards — quickly. They needed a source that could maintain an on-hand “emergency” inventory of pre-printed cards for swift deliveries, while also offering competitive discounts.
Operating 30 laboratories worldwide, the International Gemological Institute (IGI) is the global authority in gem certification. They certify and grade natural or lab-grown gemstones, diamonds, and finished jewelry. When the quality of a gemstone or finished jewelry item is reviewed, its features and certification are custom-printed on a high-quality, “authentic” certificate card. Thousands of gems are appraised, and thousands of appraisal certificates are created daily using custom pre-printed card stock.
IGI relies on K&A’s expertise to acquire, prepare, and print high-quality custom cards at a bulk discount. From sourcing premium pre-printed custom PVC cards to supplying and servicing the printers that personalize each card with gem-specific information, K&A’s White Glove service ensures all of IGI’s needs are seamlessly managed.
To inspire trust and match the quality of the gems, the cards themselves must be high quality. Therefore, the pre-printed cards should be top grade and the printers well-maintained to avoid scratches or faded prints. IGI had trusted various providers over the years, but the cost was extremely high, and the quality was not what they had hoped for. Furthermore, turnaround time was an issue. When large scale retailers like Kay Jewelers launch a sale, they need certified gems and their certifications prepared quickly. That’s why IGI looked for a trusted source that could provide high-quality certification cards FAST without sacrificing quality or increasing expense.
In addition to sourcing high-quality cards, IGI requires local, on-site printer maintenance and service for over 25 card printers across three U.S. locations. Initially, they worked directly with the printer manufacturer, but this arrangement often required shipping their printers to Japan for maintenance, resulting in extended downtime. The frequent disruption of critical workflows made it clear that a more reliable, local service solution was essential.
K&A has a longstanding relationship with IGI, having serviced their card printers since 2001. When IGI needed a printer that could be maintained locally, we recommended a model better suited to their needs. These printers are now supplied, maintained, and serviced solely by K&A. With our deep expertise in custom card printing, graphics, and the card manufacturing process, we ensure that IGI’s needs are always prioritized, delivering top-tier printer support.
Thanks to this trusted partnership, K&A was the natural choice for IGI’s quality card production. Through K&A Industries’ full-service White Glove approach, an emergency stock of custom-printed cards is securely maintained, ready for last-minute orders. With a lead time as short as two weeks, K&A goes above and beyond by also offering economized pricing on custom card stock at lower quantities — which is typically reserved for wholesale bulk discounts.
K&A is proud to be IGI’s provider of pre-printed custom ID card stock, as well as their go-to expert for all card printer needs. Across IGI’s U.S. locations, K&A supplies printer hardware, installation, maintenance, training, and printer supplies. Additionally, as IGI’s lightning-fast custom card provider, K&A handles last-minute orders at wholesale pricing.
STEP 1 – K&A provides card printers, consumables, installation, training, and ongoing maintenance across all U.S. locations.
STEP 2 – K&A designs and supplies pre-printed appraisal cards, using high-quality card stock that is meticulously prepared post-manufacturing for optimum quality.
STEP 3 – K&A maintains large, on-hand quantities of pre-printed appraisal cards at a reduced cost. Stored in our secure warehouse, these cards are ready for immediate, direct shipment to IGI to meet urgent deadlines.
STEP 4 – To protect card quality, K&A ships cards in small, sealed bundles, preventing scratches and debris like cardboard dust, which can cause printer issues. This reduces the amount of wasted materials from defects and degraded print quality.
At every stage, K&A’s expertise makes the difference. We understand the custom pre-printed card market, are experts at servicing and troubleshooting ID card printers, and consistently prioritize our clients’ needs. With our full-service, white-glove approach, we ensure the highest quality custom cards for IGI.
Pre-printed by K&A, customized in-house by IGI every year.
Maintained by K&A at all three IGI U.S. locations.
Working with K&A Industries since 2001.
Our White Glove Services can make the most challenging issue feel easy.
With K&A’s personalized white glove services, you can relax while we provide secure, future-proofed identity management solutions — fit just for you.
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KA Industries, Inc.
155 Pierce Street, Unit 7
Somerset, NJ 08873
Toll-Free (800) 688-9202
Phone: (908) 226-7000
Fax: (908) 226-7007
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