Aptika's Exclusive Tour of the Evolis ID Card Printer Manufacturing Facility in France

From December 2 to 4, 2025, Aptika traveled to Paris to attend Trustech, the global event dedicated to innovative payment and identification technologies. As the only company in the identification business representing Canada at the show, we were proud to engage with more than 50 partners, clients, and industry leaders over three busy days. The energy, discussions, and shared expertise were a powerful reminder of how vibrant and collaborative the identification ecosystem has become. A special thank you to Evolis for the valuable conversations and the continued partnership that made this trip especially meaningful.

At Aptika, we participate in over ten major industry events every year, reinforcing our commitment to staying close to the global card-issuance community and maintaining a strong Canadian presence on the international stage.

A Weekend in Paris

After the show wrapped up, we stayed in Paris for the weekend, a chance to enjoy the city before heading west to visit Evolis.

Our first cultural stop was the spectacular Opera de Paris, with its ornate golden balconies, grand chandeliers, and breathtaking stage. We attended a performance of "Les Noces de Figaro" and watched with delight, sitting at the edge of our seats as the story unfolded.

The production offered a modern and fascinating interpretation of Mozart's masterpiece. Inspired by Beaumarchais' original play, the opera explores themes of love, jealousy, and power. Although the social conflicts of the era were softened to pass imperial censorship in 1786, the music still carries their emotional intensity. In this staging, the action was cleverly relocated behind the scenes of the Palais Garnier, highlighting the hierarchy and backstage tensions within an opera house.

It was a remarkable performance and a perfect way to begin our Parisian weekend.

The next morning, we walked to the Arc de Triomphe and passed underneath one of the most iconic monuments in Europe. We continued down the Champs-Élysées, glowing with holiday lights, all the way to the huge Christmas Market at the Jardin des Tuileries. Vin chaud, raclette, music, and the perfect winter atmosphere made it unforgettable.

From the Jardin des Tuileries, we continued our walk to the Louvre Museum and admired the contrast between the historic palace and the modern glass pyramid. A perfect Parisian weekend. Time to head back to the apartment.

Heading to Tours, France

On December 8, we departed from Montparnasse on the TGV toward Tours, where we would spend the night before meeting the Evolis team.

Tours is a charming city with a beautifully preserved medieval center, timber-framed houses, narrow streets, warm cafés, and a rich local history. Walking through the old town feels like stepping back in time.

That evening, we enjoyed a local restaurant. I had the “Onglet de boeuf et échalotes confites” and Dominique chose the “Andouillette.” For dessert, Dominique opted for the “Bouchon au rhum” while I finished the meal with a café allongé.

On to Angers

Before sunrise the next morning, we made our way back to the train station. A quick ride brought us to Angers, home of Evolis headquarters. After a short drive, we arrived at the impressive Evolis campus. Flags were waving and the modern building stood out under a clear winter sky.

Evolis, a global leader in card personalization systems, designs, manufactures, and distributes complete ID card solutions from its headquarters in Angers. With nearly 400 employees, subsidiaries worldwide, and 90 percent of its revenue coming from exports, Evolis has proudly maintained its industrial expertise in France for 23 years.

Evolis printers were the first brand we began selling back in 2004, 21 years ago. Evolis has always been a great partner, and both our companies have grown significantly together over the years.

Inside Evolis, The Factory Tour

We were greeted in the lobby by Angela, who guided us through an immersive, behind-the-scenes tour of the entire manufacturing process. This gave us a deeper appreciation for the precision, engineering, and craftsmanship behind every Evolis printer. It was a great privilege for Aptika, as very few ever get the chance to see the full process.

1. Injection Molding, Where Every Printer Begins

Our first stop was the injection molding facility, where all plastic components are created. Large industrial machines produced the internal black parts, the white exterior casings, and the transparent red, blue, and green elements that give Evolis printers their distinctive look.

Having full control over plastic manufacturing gives Evolis a major advantage. While many competitors rely on overseas production, Evolis maintained strong supply and inventory during recent global disruptions, proving the value of local manufacturing.

2. Stamping, Adding Identity to Identity Printers

Next, we visited the marking and stamping area, where each plastic part receives its branding, instructions, and model information. Logos, text, and symbols are all applied with precision and durability.

3. Assembly, The Heart of the Factory

The assembly floor was one of the most impressive parts of the tour. Each line focuses on a specific model such as Primacy, Zenius, Agilia, and Badgy. The workflow was organized with an impressive level of coordination as each team assembled, calibrated, and tested every unit.

Evolis also produces its own ribbons on-site, ensuring tight quality control over every component, from motors and bearings to electronic boards and final housings.

Once assembled, every printer undergoes detailed manual testing and color calibration following strict internal procedures.

4. Shipping, From Angers to the World

Our final stop was the logistics center, where rows of boxed printers were ready to ship to distributors and integrators around the globe. Seeing the entire production chain, from raw materials to final packaging, highlighted the remarkable scale and efficiency of Evolis operations.

End of Visit

A sincere thank you to Angela for the warm welcome and the fascinating tour, and to Sean for helping coordinate our visit. Experiencing the Evolis manufacturing process up close was inspiring and invaluable, and it strengthened our long-standing partnership.

Starting from Montreal to Paris, then to Tours, and finally from Angers to the production lines, this journey was unforgettable. We look forward to sharing more insights and continuing to grow alongside our trusted partners.

Tagged on: evolis, visiting manufacturing, france, angers