Electrostatic discharge mechanism for a card personalization system

An integrated circuit chip programming station configured for use in a card personalization system and operable with a card which has an integrated circuit chip and an embedded antenna that is electrically connected to the integrated circuit chip, the integrated circuit chip programming station comprising:

• at least one integrated circuit chip programming mechanism, the at least one integrated circuit chip programming mechanism is configured to program the integrated circuit chip on the card received thereby;
• a card track leading to the at least one integrated circuit chip programming mechanism;
• an electrostatic discharge mechanism adjacent to the card track, the electrostatic discharge mechanism includes a static dissipative material, and the electrostatic discharge mechanism is positioned and configured to contact the integrated circuit chip on the card prior to the card being input into the at least one integrated circuit chip programming mechanism.

An electrostatic discharge kit configured for use with an integrated circuit chip programming station in a card personalization system, the integrated circuit chip programming station includes an integrated circuit chip programming mechanism that is configured to program an integrated circuit chip on a card after the card is input into the integrated circuit chip programming station, the electrostatic discharge kit comprising:

• an electrostatic discharge mechanism that is configured to be mounted in the card personalization system, the electrostatic discharge mechanism includes a static dissipative material, and when the electrostatic discharge mechanism is mounted the electrostatic discharge mechanism is positioned and configured to contact the integrated circuit chip on the card prior to the card being input into the integrated circuit chip programming mechanism.