Abstract: Modular processing system (1) for processing personalization elements, in particular chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards, comprising a large number of processing modules, wherein the processing modules each comprise at least one first and at least one second sub-module (3-7; 12-20) and are arranged in a linear manner one behind the other in such a way that in each case the first sub-module (3-7) as the process module is arranged in a processing area (10) above a common table top plane (21) of a system base frame (2) and the second sub-module (12-20) as the electronics and process component module is arranged in a control and evaluation area (11) below the table top plane (21).