Plastic Card Printers & Solutions - Buying Guide

Plastic Cards generally are used to make your business card that reflects your identity and they also find their way into host of other applications. Selecting your plastic card printer is never going to be easy as it may vary widely according to your needs and specifications that you are looking for. Sometimes you may require special effects, tint screens and scores of other options; that is where choosing a plastic cards printer can be a bit tricky. Sometimes you may look for plastic cards with customised logo or insignia and an unlimited combination of designs, Pantone Spot Colour & 4-color CMYK options.

How to select a Plastic ID Card Printer

Suppose you may require a wide range of blank PVC Cards that are compatible with your plastic card printers. These PVC cards can be of different thickness and should be available in different colours. Then you have to create an ID badge Program with a plastic card printer integrated with blank PVC Cards and Slot punch. This would be quite useful for making an ID badge instantaneously for new members.

It is quite apparent that your colour & monochrome card printers should offer plastic ID card printing at exceptional quality at cheap costs. Some of the other options that may come color plastic card printers include dual side printing, Software, colorful plastic cards, printer ribbons, overlay laminates, badge holders, scratch-offs, clear overlays, holograms and cards of much more.

Factors involved in selection of Plastic Card Printers:

Form Factor & Dimensions

There are many factors that you have to bear in mind right from the type of application, colour of the printer, form factor which can be desktop or portable and the general dimensions including width, height, depth and weight of the printer.

Resolution

One of the important specifications, the resolution refers to the maximum number of dots per inch (dpi) that you can print and measure both vertically and horizontally. In theory, a printer that has a higher resolution can produce more-detailed text and images.

Speed

Next you have to look out for the type of printer (like for eg. monochrome) & the colour of the printer. See if the plastic card printer has any built-in devices including Magnetic card writer. Next is the Connectivity technology that suggests if it is wired and check whether it has an USB interface. Some plastic ID Card Printers do come with an advanced imaging Technology that you can look out for. Datacard SP35 plastic card colour printer comes with Image Enhancement Technology.

Media Handling

Check out the Media Type that the printer comes with Including PVC and the Card / Label Sizes that can come in the range of inches and the type of card that the printer is compatible with (like for eg. CR-80 Card). Check if it the plastic card printer comes with any Telecom devices including Modem and networking solutions.

Integrated Scanners & Copiers

Some printers have integrated scanners in them and will be useful in case you want to scan a copy of your document. Some plastic card printers come with integrated copiers that help you to take multiple copies of your documents. Again, it eventually boils down to your application, specifications and requirements of whether you need a scanner or a copier available at hand with your printer.

If you are running a small or medium-sized business, it still makes sense to go for a plastic card printer integrated with a scanner or a copier simply because it can save some of your money and space in your office or home. If you require a printer that can help your small business or team within an enterprise, a printer with a scanner, copier or fax machine, you can opt for plastic ID card printer with workgroup features, such as network printing, and larger paper input and output trays.

Expansion/Connectivity

Check if your plastic card printer comes with free expansion bays, free expansion slots, connections and compatible slots. Also most plastic card printers are ‘RoHS compliant standard’ and comes with Ribbon consumables.

Manufacturer Warranty

Manufacturer Warranty is one of the primary factors that go a long way in deciding the purchase of plastic card printers, therefore look out for the warranty period that a particular brand or retailer offers. You also have to watch out for Service & Support Details like the duration of free technical support that a particular manufacturer offers and after sales details.

Top Plastic Card Printer manufacturers - Review

Datacard Group

Datacard group is one of the reputed card printer manufacturers groups globally and their series of Plastic Card Printers are convenient to make use of as they come with one-sided, full-color ID card printing in a plug-and-play and compact design that is convenient to use. With productive print speed, excellent image quality and convenient operation, their line of plastic ID & PVC Card printer is ideal for offering Datacard solutions for healthcare, education, staff IDs and much more.

Adapt ME offers cost-effective Plastic ID Card Printer Solutions, from Datacard Group to suit your various printing requirements. AdaptME, leader in plastic card printing offers Plastic Card Printers & Solutions in Dubai, Middle East, UAE, Abu dhabi & Africa.