Wristbands are a crucial part of many events in Australia, and have become the ‘go to’ product for identifying guests and patrons at parties and music festivals. But while knowledge of wristbands and their features have become quite well established, there are still certain things that are misunderstood about wristbands. We’ll explore some of these below. As an event organiser or a venue manager, knowing that you are receiving what you EXPECTED to receive is crucial to the security of your event.
Misunderstanding: Tyvek wristbands are not ‘all the same’
Tyvek wristbands are the most popular type of wristband used in Australia. There is a very good chance that you would have worn one yourself, especially if you visit music festivals, aquatic centres, nightclubs, school fetes, concerts etc. Often described as ‘paper wristbands’, this is actually not very accurate.
Tyvek is a synthetic material that is specifically designed to be waterproof and impossible to tear. These properties make it ideal for use as a security wristband.
Of course, with the popularity of these wristbands, there has been a glut of copycat products that purport to offer the same security features as Tyvek wristbands, but which do not. When purchasing Tyvek wristbands here is the key question to ask the supplier:
Are your Tyvek wristbands manufactured in Australia? If you are part of an Australian company reading this article, it is likely that you make an effort, where possible, to buy Australian Made wristbands. When it comes to Tyvek, this is especially important because there are so many elements of the manufacturing process that ensure the wristband is secure. For example, the quality of the adhesive used is vital. A poor adhesive will simply peal off, and this has been a problem for company’s who buy Tyvek wristbands that have originated offshore. Always ask your wristband company where their Tyvek wristbands are manufactured.
Misunderstanding: Woven wristbands are ‘all the same’
As with Tyvek wristbands, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are key elements to a woven wristband that determines it’s quality, which has a direct and immediate effect on how secure the wristband is at an event. Proper woven wristbands should have the following attributes:
- The design should be physically embroidered in to the fabric of the wristband
- The closure / locking mechanism should be proven to have worked at similar events to your own – similar in terms of size, duration and with regards security requirements.
A worrying trend recently is the use of printed fabric bands (often called heat sublimated wristbands) in place of woven wristbands. The key difference here is the method of customisation; a key reason for woven wristbands being so secure is that their designs are physically embroidered in to the fabric of the wristband. This makes them very difficult to copy.
Printed fabric bands, whilst very nice for less secure events, are NOT security wristbands. Repeat, printed fabric bands are not, and should not, be recommended to any event as a security wristband. The smooth nature of the fabric means that slide locks/closures cannot grip the wristband, which is integral to how it works as a security wristband. Additionally, it is incredibly easy to replicate a printed fabric band with some ribbon/cotton fabric and some marker pens.
Misunderstanding: Silicone wristbands CAN be used for identification
A common misconception about silicone wristbands is that they are useless as an identification wristband. This is not so. Of course, due to the ease with which silicone wristbands can be removed and transferred to other people, they are not recommended for security purposes at a paid event like a music festival.
But, in some situations, they work just fine. The most popular use of silicone wristbands in this regard is at hotels and resorts, who use them to identify their guests. This is important in locations that may attract “non guest visitors” to the resort who enter simply to use the available facilities such as swimming pools, gyms, kids centres and even to access buffet meals! A silicone wristband is easily identifiable by hotel staff, and is comfortable to wear for adults and children, since it can also be produced in different sizes.
Most hotels or resorts will rotate the colour of the wristband used every week also as an additional security procedure.
Misunderstanding: Wristbands are not as secure as barcoded tickets
This used to be the case, certainly. But in recent years, and with advances in digital printing methods, wristbands have the capability of becoming wristband tickets. The key to this is variable data or what is called ‘overprinting’.
Tyvek wristbands, plastic wristbands and woven wristbands can all be printed now with unique barcodes and unique numbering or text, allowing events and venues to scrap their paper tickets and use wristbands 100% as their ticketing solution.
Variable data means data that is different for each printed wristband. This will often be supplied in Excel format and then merged in to the artwork file to create hundreds of thousands of unique wristbands. Alternatively, it may involve a multi-step process with variable data and barcodes added in step 1 via a specific process and then the main artwork printed in step 2 via another printing process.
Going another step further, RFID can be incorporated in to wristbands. RFID Wristbands provide a multitude of benefits in conjunction with the systems they are implemented alongside of. We’ve discussed RFID wristbands on numerous occasions but here is a link to a collection of articles that summarises the use of RFID wristbands at events and venues and that also covers cashless transactions, social media integration, brand activation and, of course, access control.
Final Word
Wristbands can really be misunderstood. With so many suppliers out there purporting their wristbands to be the best AND the cheapest, it is hard for consumers to really get to grips with the products they are reviewing. But by asking a few additional questions with regards to quality, source of origin, security, previous use of wristbands etc, a consumer can begin to differentiate between the options available. Wristbands are important at many events. A failing wristband can cost an event a fortune in lost gate revenue, so it is worth taking time to ensure that the wristband you believe you have purchased is actually what you have purchased!
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