Lamination Plates for Plastic Card Production
Lamination plates for plastic card production are essential components in modern card manufacturing. These metal plates, often called "mirrors," play a crucial role in creating high-quality bank cards and payment products with professional finish and durability.
What Are Card Production Plates?
Card production plates are thermally conductive metal surfaces used in press-laminator equipment. During the lamination process, plastic sheets are placed between these plates and subjected to high temperature and pressure, fusing multiple layers into a single durable card structure. The quality of the plate directly affects the final appearance and quality of chip cards and other plastic products.
Standard Format Sizes for Card Production Plates
The dimensions of lamination plates depend on the specific press-laminator equipment used:
- A3 and A2 formats - Used for offset printing production lines with high-volume card manufacturing
- A4 format - Suitable for digital printing and smaller batch production
- 20x25 cm format - Commonly used in digital printing applications for custom card orders
Types of Card Production Plates
Different plate surfaces create different finishes on the final card product. Understanding these types helps choose the right solution for specific card requirements:
1. Mirror Plates
Mirror plates feature highly polished surfaces that create premium cards with brilliant shine. These are ideal for metal cards and luxury payment products where visual appeal is paramount. The mirror finish creates an elegant, stylish appearance that communicates exclusivity.
2. Gloss Plates
Gloss plates produce practical cards with a slightly muted shine. This finish offers an excellent balance between aesthetics and durability. Minor surface scratches remain less visible on gloss-finished cards, making them suitable for everyday use cards and e-wallet cards.
3. Matte Plates
Matte plates create cards with textured surfaces that offer superior durability. The matte finish is easier to work with during lamination and provides excellent resistance to visible wear. This option is popular for corporate cards and identification products.
4. Ultra-Matte Plates
Ultra-matte plates feature a fine relief texture that enables specialized printing techniques. These plates are essential for sublimation printing and allow for magnetic stripe encoding after the printing process. This makes them ideal for bank card production requiring magnetic stripe technology.
5. Textured Plates
Textured plates create distinctive embossed relief patterns on card surfaces. These unique finishes help cards stand out and can incorporate brand-specific patterns. Textured finishes are often used for gift cards, membership cards, and specialty products.
Choosing the Right Production Plates
Selecting appropriate lamination plates requires consideration of several factors:
- Card purpose - Premium cards benefit from mirror finish while functional cards work well with matte surfaces
- Production volume - High-volume production requires durable plates that maintain quality over extended use
- Post-lamination processes - If magnetic stripe encoding or additional printing is needed, ultra-matte plates are recommended
- Brand requirements - Custom textured plates can incorporate unique brand elements
Quality Standards in Card Manufacturing
Professional card production facilities maintain strict quality standards for lamination plates. Regular inspection and replacement ensures consistent card quality. At ASMO, we work with premium lamination equipment and maintain rigorous quality control throughout the production process.
Our card manufacturing services include production of glow cards, wooden cards, and biometric cards, all utilizing appropriate lamination technologies for optimal results.
Related Services
Learn more about our comprehensive card production capabilities: