ID cards are no longer common for just employees and students. IDs Aadhar, PAN card, and voter ID cards are used for identification and security purposes everywhere these days. ID cards are often printed on PVC plastic and hence laser printers are not used for them.
ID card printing machines are useful for bulk printing of ID cards in a short time. It is great for institutes and agencies whose work involves frequent printing of ID cards.
Purchasing a good ID card printing machine ensures that you get quality and customizable prints while reducing long-term costs. But which ID printing machine should you use or upgrade to? Some of the best options in the market based on versatility, print speed, budget, volume requirements are discussed here.
ID card printing machine usually comes with camera, PVC cards, refills, software subscription, and other accessories. Using an ID card printing machine is similar to using a normal printer.
Follow the installation instructions provided by the company you buy ID card printing machine from. Once you install and configure the software, you can easily start with the operations. Basic steps for setting up any printing machine include:
During maintenance, be careful with the print head. Avoid using a pre-punch card for opening it or accidentally hitting it with another part while changing ribbons.
The best ID card printing machines in India are:
Magicard Enduro 3e series is an easy, secure, reliable printing option for those who want to print up to 5,000 cards of thickness ranging from 0.51mm to 1.02mm per year. The machine uses Direct to Card (DTC) technology.
Once you fill up the input holder, the machine works automatically till it becomes empty. It has double sided facility to automatically turn over the paper when one side is complete to print easily.
Magicard Enduro 3e series Features
Magicard Enduro 3e series Specifications
Magicard Enduro 3e series Pricing: The ID card printer is available at a beginning price of INR 56,644.
Pros
Cons
Evolis Primacy ID card printing machine in India enables users to print more than 30,000 personalized cards per year including national ID cards, payment cards, student cards, etc. The software can easily integrate with your existing systems and provides control over printing options. You can print on both sides of the card simultaneously.
Evolis Primacy ID Card Printing Machine Features
Evolis Primacy ID Card Printing Machine Specifications
Evolis Primacy ID Card Printing Machine Pricing: Pricing of Evolis Primacy is available at a starting price of INR 62,999.
Pros
Cons: Software issues possible
Suggested Read: Best 3D Printing Software for Beginners in 2022 (Free & Paid)
It is a compact ID card printer for desktops used by small companies with low printing volume needs. You can produce single sided monochrome as well as colored cards with thickness ranging from 15 to 30 mil for employees, guests, etc. It also has optional features like ultraviolet (UV) printing and smartcard encoding.
IDP Smart 21 Card Printer Features
IDP Smart 21 Card Printer Specifications
IDP Smart 21 Card Printer Pricing: As it is a recent launch, you can contact the manufacturer for pricing details of this IDP card printer. 31S model is available at INR 61,177.43.
Pros
Cons: Warranty only up to one year
SD360 ID card printer is used for two-sided printing by SMBs, educational institutions, etc. This desktop card printer ensures that PAN, Aadhaar, PMSYM, Voter ID, etc. have good image quality and high clarity when printed. You can easily load the cards and use the drop-in cleaning roller for maintenance.
Datacard SD360 ID Card Printer Features
Datacard SD360 ID Card Printer Specifications
Datacard SD360 ID Card Printer Pricing: Its approximate pricing is INR 55,000.
Pros
Cons: Warranty period lower for India (18 months standard, 12 months printhead) compared to that in other regions (36 months).
Fargo DTC1250e is a good investment for quick, high-quality single or double-sided printing for cards with a thickness range of 9-40mils. This ID card printing machine in India comes with ribbons for 250 prints to help you get started. You can go for the Eco cartridge option later if you want to refill. The SmartScreen notifies users about every important information.
Fargo DTC1250e Features
Fargo DTC1250e Specifications
Fargo DTC1250e Pricing: Pricing for single-sided printer starts at INR 84,108.25.
Pros
Cons: Its software could be better.
Zebra ZC100 LT is a compact, advanced option for high quality single side printing. The card feeder automatically adjusts based on card thickness. With remote access printing, you can connect to your printer from anywhere and print on the fly.
Its Cloudbadging software has a simple UI design and offers a wide barcode selection, cloning option, drag and drop, etc.
Zebra ZC100 LT Features
Zebra ZC100 LT Specifications
Zebra ZC100 LT Pricing: Its price starts from INR 139470.
Pros
Cons: Driver access only when printer is connected to a system.
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer is popular for printing Aadhar cards and other IDs for educational institutes, companies, etc. It supports both unidirectional and bidirectional printing for high print volumes.
The software enables users to customize their layout and make image corrections. iPrint app enables users to print wirelessly via their Android or iOS devices.
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer Features
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer Specifications
Epson L-805 Inkjet Printer Pricing: Its starting price is INR 18,149.
Pros
Cons: Requires special ink as Inkjet technology works better for paper prints instead of plastic.
Suggested Read: Best Free Photo Printing Software for All-Size Images (PC & Mac)
Not doing proper research before buying may result in you ending up with an ID card printer that you did not need. Some of the main parameters you must check before buying are:
Printing speed: If you are looking to invest in an ID card printing machine, it automatically means that you have a large requirement and require bulk printing. In such a case, you should check the printing speed of the printing machine you are buying. For regular use, an average speed would be sufficient.
Quality: The better quality of print your machine generates, the better it is able to verify the person from the ID card and have a visually attractive design. You can check the dot per inch (DPI) to know how good the print quality is.
Printer size: It is good to go for a printer that is compact and can be easily accommodated anywhere you want. Just ensure that it has adequate features and performance ability too.
Volume: Your printer must be able to handle the number of cards you want to print every year. You must have an approximate idea before buying to select the right printer.
Technology: Card printing machines use either direct to card (DTC) or reverse transfer (retransfer) technology. DTC method is faster but provides lower resolution (300 dpi) compared to that of retransfer method (600 dpi). You can print on uneven surfaces without leaving any white area on paper.
Design: If there are a few details that can be printed on one side, go for the printer that supports single-sided design. However, if you want to include many details and designs, prefer the option that has dual side printing feature too.
Protection: Some printing machines come with hologram layers and lamination to provide confidentiality, security, and long-lasting protection. Thicker lamination coating implies better protection.
Color: If you just want to print cards quickly in simple black and white format, you can choose a monochrome printing machine. However, if you want to have colored prints, you will have to go for more expensive and slower printer that can maintain the visual appeal.
Connectivity: While machines usually support USB interface, many models also provide choice of switching to Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections. This provides the user more flexibility by doing away with the need to be present at the exact printer location for printing.
Conclusion
Each brand mentioned here does the same work but offers different features to suit the needs of different types of users. Choosing the right ID card printing machine can save your time and money significantly.
Maintenance also plays an important role in how long your printer keeps working. So, ensure that you do not damage the fragile and sensitive components of the machine while cleaning or operating it.
FAQs
Printers that support PVC (polyvinyl chloride) printing are suitable for making ID cards for identification. Regular printers cannot print on plastic which is necessary for ID cards.
Choice of best ID card printer depends on the design, volume, printing speed, and other features that you want. Some examples include IDjet, Zebra ZC100 LT, and Magicard Enduro 3e series.
A good ID card printing machine in India starts at an approximate price of INR 10,000 and can go up to several lakhs. You can get lower prices if your feature requirements are not much.
You can contact the official manufacturers, or the dealers listed on their official websites to get an authentic item.
Standard size of an ID card is 3.375’’ W x 2.125’’ H. Minor variations exist in sizes for different purposes.
No. In a regular laser printer, the heat can melt the plastic. While regular inkjet printer may be used in an emergency, you can only get good results with a machine specifically designed to print ID cards on plastic.
Yes, ID card printing machines are designed to work on plastic (PVC). They use thermal or dye sublimation techniques for printing, unlike a regular inkjet printer or laser printer.
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