Evolis ID card printer

The origins of Evolis: Privilege Card Printer

The history of Evolis dates back to the mid-90s when a small French team created Privilege, a pioneer manufacturer of a new product: the personal or office printer for printing and personalizing plastic cards. A new product, a market to develop, it is difficult, but little by little the companies understand the interest which they can withdraw from the identification through the PVC badge. Sales of printers and cards are increasing.

The takeover of the French company by the American giant

And then the Americans are interested in the small French company. Eltron, manufacturer of label printers for identification by barcode specialized in small office printers, acquires Privilege. The financial resources of the American manufacturer coupled with the inventiveness of French engineers and marketers. A year later, Eltron is absorbed by Zebra, the world’s number one manufacturer of industrial barcode label printers. The American giant thus becomes the number one manufacturer of plastic card printers. The range of Zebra card printers includes the famous models P300, P300c, P310 for printing single-sided color cards, P320 for printing double-sided badges.

The breakup and the creation of Evolis

And then it’s the drama. Well, the separation ... Disagreement between Zebra and the French team, layoffs ... Little by little the old Privilege team is launching a new project. We are in the year 2000; Evolis Card Printer is born and launches the printer that has been the most successful in our industry: Evolis Pebble. A real revolution. The first PVC card printer capable of printing with high image quality. The first printer capable of personalizing cards in large volumes, with true reliability. And already 20 years ago, with an ease of implementation and use simply exceptional.

And for small budgets, there is an Evolis printer?

Evolis has thought of everything, because it’s true, a card printer is an expensive product. For an Evolis Zenius, count almost 1000. For an Evolis Primacy, it is 400 more. Not within the reach of all budgets. So Evolis created the Badgy printer. An economic model for a small budget, displayed at less than 750, very simple to use and recommended for printing small quantities of cards.

Evolis market position in 2020

Evolis is one of the four main manufacturers of the PVC card printer industry, not only at European level but also worldwide. Its competitors are famous brands like Datacard, Fargo, Zebra which, unlike Evolis, are active in other fields or products. The small French company has experienced rapid growth and continues to offer its customers products at the cutting edge of thermal sublimation printing technology. No other manufacturer can compete with the quality of the technical service it provides, either directly or through its importing partners, wholesalers and official technical service. Of which A3M is proud to be a part since 2003.

An article written by Mr. Frédéric Sallandre, Graduate in Economic Sciences and International Trade at the University of Paris-La Sorbonne, internationally recognized expert on the plastic card sector for more than 20 years. Former collaborator of the Privilege company, F. Sallandre was a key element in the development of sales of Evolis printers in France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco.