New Zebra P100i Is Industrys Lowest-Priced, Highest-Featured Single-sided Color Card Printer

Zebra Technologies, a worldwide leader in card printing and bar code labeling solutions, today announced the newest addition to its Value class of card printers, the Zebra P100i, a single-sided, single-card color printer. 

This budget-friendly printer produces single-sided full color or monochrome cards and offers a variety of optional features not typically available in a product in this class, such as Ethernet connectivity and Smart Card encoding.  In moments, the P100i can print and/or encode unique cards for a variety of applications.

The new card printer addresses key industries that require advanced smart card and magnetic stripe encoding such as the financial, banking, hospitality, recreation and retail.  Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for small volume card creation is driving the need for a lower initial capital outlay to achieve a positive return-on-investment (ROI).  With the new P100i, remote and branch locations can now affordably produce personalized high-end technology cards.

Many of our customers have requested a single feed solution card printer, explains Veraje Anjargolian, vice president and general manager of Zebra Card Printer Solutions.  Thats because the demand for card type flexibility is on the rise as businesses are segmenting their customer bases, offering different rewards to varying customers, such as silver, gold and platinum card holders, or offering more customers choices as with different gift card designs.  Thus, the card printer needs to be able to print on more than one type of card stock, and a standard card feeder was impractical in these applications.

The new Zebra P100i lets such customers print monochrome or color employee and student ID cards, loyalty, gift and membership cards, or transit and recreational passes in a single card feed on varied types of cards and technologies, including those that are pre-printed.  Besides providing both magnetic stripe and smart card encoding, the P100i offers both USB and Ethernet connectivity so that customers can deploy and manage card printers on an enterprise-wide basis.  For example, a temporary membership card could be produced at the local outlet so the holder could begin using membership benefits while the permanent card with embossed features is being produced.

The P100i has an integrated cardholder that stores 100 cards in three separate bays to keep different types of cards easily available and clean before printing.  An LCD screen produces an improved user experience with increased status and diagnostic messaging.  Customers will love the small form factor as it uses limited counter space.

The P100i contact smart card encoder is compatible with Europay, Mastercard and Visa for financial applications.  It has received regulatory approvals for EU, United States and Canada, and shortly with other countries.

Ease-of-Use Features

Zebra i Series intelligent supplies and software make setup quick with ribbon type detection, low-ribbon warning and automatic printer configuration to produce high quality card printing.  Zebra i Series offers Microsoft Windows 2000, XP and Vista compatible software drivers that provide plug-and-play operation and compatibility with most applications.  Ethernet network connectivity also lets the P100i be integrated into non-Windows-based environments.

User convenience features include the Load-N-Go drop-in ribbon cartridge with integrated cleaning roller, an LCD message display to guide printer operation and an integrated card storage space. 

The P100i CardSense single card feed lets users insert a single card into the front of the printer where it is pulled in, printed and encoded, then returned to the user at the front of the printer.  This front feed and exit option is particularly important for retail applications such as personalized gift and membership cards.  The Zebra P100i provides single-sided printing in full color or monochrome. 

As with all i Series printers, the P100i uses Zebra TrueColours ribbons.  Zebras color formulation produces superior print quality and a more accurate range of color reproduction.  The ribbon system also features wider ribbons for better edge-to-edge printing.

Pricing and Availability

The P100i is available through authorized Zebra card printer resellers worldwide and offers a two year warranty.  In the U.S., the manufacturers suggested retail price is $1,795.
 

About Zebra Card Printer Solutions

A world leader in desktop card printers, Zebra Card Printer Solutions is a division of Zebra Technologies Corporation, which delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions to businesses and governments in 100 countries around the world.  A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra brand thermal bar code label and receipt printers and plastic card printers (formerly branded Eltron), in addition to RFID and real time locating systems, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs and better customer service.