SMART-51D Dual-Sided ID Card Printer
SMART-51D
SMART-51D Dual-Sided ID Card Printer
Professional Duplex Direct-to-Card Printing Built for Speed, Durability, and Scale
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Print speeds up to 212 full-color cards/hour
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Durable metal frame for long-term reliability
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Designed for mid- to high-volume ID programs
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Automatic dual-sided (duplex) card printing
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Backed by a 3-Year Advanced Exchange Warranty
Reliable Performance for Growing ID Programs
The SMART-51D Professional Dual-Sided ID Card Printer is designed for organizations that require fast, reliable double-sided ID card printing without sacrificing durability or print quality. Built with a rugged metal-frame construction and automatic duplex printing, the SMART-51D streamlines credential production for employee badges, student IDs, healthcare credentials, government IDs, membership cards, and secure access control badges.
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Unlike a single-sided printer (like the SMART-51S ID Card Printer), the SMART-51D automatically prints both sides of every card in one seamless workflow, eliminating manual card flipping and significantly increasing productivity. Organizations can easily print photos and branding on the front while adding signatures, emergency contacts, barcodes, QR codes, terms and conditions, or access control information on the back of every credential.
The SMART-51D combines professional edge-to-edge print quality with optional Ethernet networking, magnetic stripe encoding, contact and contactless smart card encoding, and SMARTMark™ UV security printing. Its durable metal frame minimizes vibration, improves print consistency, and delivers dependable performance for growing credential programs.
Backed by IDP’s industry-leading 3-Year Advanced Exchange Warranty, the SMART-51D provides the speed, durability, and reliability organizations need for daily credential issuance.
If your organization requires enhanced credential durability or holographic security, upgrade to theSMART-51L Lamination Module. For true over-the-edge printing on technology cards, consider theSMART-81D Retransfer ID Card Printer.
Looking for a different model? Compare all ID card printers and filter by print technology, features, and applications with our Card Printer Selector.
Technical Specifications
Downloads & Resources
Documentation
Drivers & Firmware
Videos
Getting Started
Printer Maintenance / Cleaning
Printer Comparison
| SMART-21 Card Printer | SMART-31D Card Printer | SMART-51D (Current Printer) | SMART-81D Card Printer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | Low | Low-medium | Mid-high | Mid-high |
| Durability | Standard | Mid-range | High-volume | High-volume |
| Speed (Cards/Hour) | 150 color / 600 mono | 138 YMCKOK color / 720 mono | 164 YMCKOK color / 720 mono | 84 YMCKK color |
| Print Mode | Single-sided | Dual-sided | Dual-sided | Dual-sided |
| Diffientiator | All-in-one starter card printer, smallest footprint | Compact, automatic card feeder | DTC printer, durable long-life metal frame | Dual-side Retransfer printer, durable frame, full-bleed printing |
Key Benefits
Automatic Dual-Sided Printing
Automatically print both sides of every credential for faster, more efficient card production.
Rugged Metal-Frame Reliability
Built for continuous daily operation with enhanced durability and long-term performance.
Flexible Security Features
Support Ethernet networking, smart card encoding, magnetic stripe encoding, and optional SMARTMark™ UV security printing.
Professional Print Quality
Produce vibrant edge-to-edge credentials with crisp text, sharp photos, and exceptional color reproduction.
Lower Operating Costs
Reduce manual handling while maximizing uptime with durable construction and IDP's industry-leading warranty.
Features
Ideal For
Corporate ID programs
Healthcare facilities
Access control & security environments
Government agencies
Education institutions
Government Military Credential Issuance
Improving Military Service Card Issuance with the SMART-51D Dual-Sided ID Card Printer
Government Employee Badge Issuance
Streamlining Investigator Badge Printing with the SMART-51D
Healthcare Patient Card Issuance
Improving Medical Check-Up Card Printing with the SMART-51 Series
Frequently asked questions
The SMART-51D is a professional dual-sided (duplex) direct-to-card printer designed for employee badges, student IDs, healthcare credentials, government IDs, membership cards, and access control credentials that require information printed on both sides.
The SMART-51D is ideal for organizations that routinely print double-sided credentials and require greater speed, durability, and productivity than entry-level card printers.
The SMART-51S is a single-sided (simplex) printer that prints only the front of the card. The SMART-51D automatically prints both sides, making it ideal for credentials requiring signatures, barcodes, emergency information, or additional branding on the reverse side.
Both printers offer automatic duplex printing, but the SMART-51D features a rugged metal-frame construction, faster throughput, a larger card hopper, and greater scalability for organizations with mid- to high-volume printing needs.
A duplex ID card printer automatically prints on both sides of the card without requiring the user to manually flip it, reducing production time and improving workflow efficiency.
Yes. The SMART-51D supports optional magnetic stripe encoding, contact smart card encoding, contactless smart card encoding, and SMARTMark™ UV security printing for secure credential applications.
Yes. Optional Ethernet allows multiple users to share the printer across a network, making it ideal for office, education, healthcare, and government environments.
The SMART-51D’s metal frame improves durability, reduces vibration during printing, enhances print consistency, and extends the overall service life of the printer compared to many plastic-frame desktop printers.
Choose the SMART-51D if you need reliable automatic double-sided printing. If your credentials require enhanced durability, tamper resistance, or holographic overlays, the SMART-51L Card Printer & Lamination Module adds integrated lamination for increased protection.
A direct-to-card (DTC) printer prints images directly onto the surface of a plastic card using dye-sublimation technology. It’s ideal for standard ID cards and badges, offering fast print speeds and cost-effective operation compared to retransfer printers.
The SMART-51 stands out with its durable metal frame, high-capacity 200-card hopper, and upgradeable modular design. Compared to competitors, it offers strong durability, flexible upgrades, and reliable performance for growing ID programs. Additionally, the SMART-51 comes with a 3-year advanced exchange warranty, meaning if we can’t fix it over the phone we will ship you a new one.
If you require true over-the-edge printing, exceptional image quality on smart cards or uneven card surfaces, or the highest level of credential durability, consider the SMART-81D Retransfer ID Card Printer.
Yes. The SMART-51 is designed for mid- to high-volume environments, with fast print speeds (as low as 17 seconds per card) and a large input hopper, making it ideal for batch printing and scalable ID issuance.
Yes. The SMART-51 is specifically designed as a step-up solution, offering faster speeds, higher capacity, and more advanced features than entry-level printers like the SMART-21 or similar competitor models.
