Evolis Zenius color cardprinter

The Evolis Zenius is a compact, user‑friendly single‑sided card printer capable of printing in colour or monochrome, and ideal for small‑run or on‑demand badge issuance.

• Print Technology: Direct-to-card dye sublimation for colour (YMCKO) and thermal transfer for monochrome.

• Resolution: 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm), printing up to 16 million colours.

• Speed:

  • Colour: ~120–150 cards/hour (~30–40 seconds per card).

  • Monochrome: ~400–500 cards/hour.

• Capacity: Feeder holds 50 cards; output tray holds up to 20 cards. Card thickness from 0.25 mm to 0.76 mm.

Design & Usability

• Form Factor: Extremely compact—approximately A4‑sized footprint and only 3.3 kg in weight.

• Noise Level: Very quiet (~46 dB), suitable for office, front desk, or reception environments.

• Front‑loading design: Both card input and output located at the front; includes LED indicators for status.

Eco‑Friendly & Standards Compliance

• Energy: ENERGY STAR certified with sleep/standby modes; designed to minimize environmental impact in line with European ErP standards.

Versions & Encoding Options

There are two main versions:

1. Classic (Basic): USB connectivity only; no encoding modules.

2. Expert: Adds Ethernet networking and supports encoding options (magnetic stripe, smart contact/contactless cards). Modules can be installed on-site or factory-configured.

Available encoder modules include:

• ISO 7811 magnetic stripe

• Contact smart card (ISO 7816‑2)

• Contactless (MIFARE, DesFire, HID iCLASS, etc.)

Included Software & Consumables

• Software: Usually bundled with CardPresso XXS Lite (or full cardPresso editions), and Evolis Premium Suite for driver control and status notification.

• Ribbons: Uses Evolis High Trust ribbons (e.g., YMCKO for colour printing), which are auto-recognized via embedded chip for easy setup and optimal image quality.

Applications

Ideal for small‑volume or on‑demand printing of:

• Employee ID badges

• Access control or transit passes

• Membership or loyalty cards

• Payment or service cards

Pros & Considerations

Advantages

• Hassle‑free, intuitive to use

• Compact and portable

• Good print quality at 300 dpi

• Quiet operation and energy‑efficient

• Upgradeable encoding covers future needs (Expert version)

Considerations

• Single‑sided printing only; to print double‑sided cards, you must manually flip and re‑feed.

• The printer is designed for low to moderate volume; high‑throughput environments may benefit from Evolis Primacy or Avansia series instead.

• Some users report setup complexity or ribbon ordering issues—make sure to purchase genuine High Trust ribbons.

Quick Specs at a Glance