How Is a Printed Neck Lanyard Made?

Short answer: A neck lanyard is made by printing the design on sublimation paper and transferring it to polyester satin ribbon with heat and pressure, cutting the ribbon to lanyard length and joining the ends, and attaching the hook and buckles. It is made in 15, 20 and 25 mm widths, printed on one or both sides; 20 mm is the most popular.

A neck lanyard (lanyard, badge lanyard) is a printed ribbon used to carry a card around the neck. The lanyards we produce are made from polyester satin ribbon using the sublimation printing method. In sublimation the ink penetrates the fibres of the fabric, so the print does not form a layer on the surface; it does not crack or peel with use.

Production stages

1. Design: the logo and text are placed so that they repeat along the ribbon. Because the ribbon is narrow, text legibility is adjusted to the width.
2. Printing: the design is printed on sublimation paper.
3. Transfer: the paper and ribbon are passed through together under heat and pressure; the ink is transferred to the ribbon. For double-sided printing, the process is applied to both faces.
4. Cutting and sewing: the ribbon is cut to lanyard length and the ends are joined.
5. Accessory assembly: the hook, neck safety breakaway or detachable buckle is attached.

Choosing the width

• 15 mm: thin and light; for short logos and text
• 20 mm: the most popular width; the logo and text are easy to read
• 25 mm: for wide logos and two-line text

Hooks and buckles

You can choose a wire hook (spring wire tongue, swivel head), a Paris hook or a carabiner; single or double hooks are available. The neck safety breakaway opens at the back of the neck when the lanyard is pulled, providing safety; the detachable buckle splits the lanyard in two, making it easier to scan the card without taking it off your neck.

All options: printed badge lanyards. For the difference between single and double-sided printing, see this guide.