SMART-52S Single-Sided ID Card Printer
SMART-52S
SMART-52S Single-Sided ID Card Printer
Simplex DTC Card Printer with Touchscreen Control—Faster, Smarter, Reliable by Design
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Print speeds up to 280 cards/hour (YMCKO)
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350-Print YMCKO Ribbons—40% More Capacity
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Standard Touchscreen LCD for Direct Printer Control
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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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Backed by a 3-Year Advanced Exchange Warranty
Reliable Performance for Growing ID Programs
The SMART-52S Single-Sided ID Card Printer—re-engineered from the ground up to deliver faster performance, smarter control, and reliable credential printing. Building on the SMART-51 generation, the SMART-52S brings a new level of speed and convenience to mid- to high-volume issuance, from employee badges and student IDs to membership cards and visitor credentials.
A new multi-core CPU and 512 MB RAM enable up to 280 full-color cards per hour with YMCKO ribbon, with the SMART-52 Series delivering 30% faster output than the previous generation. A new variable printing algorithm produces richer, more consistent color, while the standard touchscreen LCD lets you adjust settings, check status, and access diagnostics directly at the printer.
A 350-print YMCKO ribbon offers 40% more capacity, reducing changeovers during busy print runs. Standard USB and Ethernet, optional Wi-Fi, and a multi-platform printer utility simplify setup and management. Optional encoding and a flipper upgrade allow the SMART-52S to support more advanced credentials and automatic two-sided printing as your needs develop, backed by IDP’s 3-Year Advanced Exchange Warranty.
Need automatic double-sided printing? Explore the SMART-52D Dual-Sided ID Card Printer. For organizations requiring integrated lamination and enhanced credential durability, consider the SMART-52L Card Printer & Lamination Module.
Need Tech Support? Visit our support website
Technical Specifications
Consumables & Accessories
Common Ink Ribbon Ordering Information
654013
654014
900911
900912
Downloads & Resources
Documentation
Drivers & Firmware
Printer Comparison
| SMART-32S Card Printer | SMART-52S (Current Printer) | SMART-52D Card Printer | SMART-81D Card Printer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed (Cards/Hour) | 260 color & 720 mono | 280 color & 1000 mono | 280 color & 1000 mono | 84 color |
| Durability | Mid-range | High-volume | High-volume | High-volume |
| Volume | Low-medium | Mid-high | Mid-high | High |
| Print Mode Options | Single-sided | Single-sided | Dual-sided | Dual-sided |
| Differentiator | Upgraded: Faster, higher-quality, LCD Display | Upgraded: Faster, LCD Touch Screen, long-life metal frame | Upgraded: Faster, LCD Touch Screen, long-life metal frame | Retransfer, 300dpi, duplex, durable frame, full-bleed |
Key Benefits
Professional Print Quality
Produce vibrant, edge-to-edge ID cards with rich photos, sharp text, and consistent branding for a professional appearance across your credential program.
Reliable Performance for Busy Programs
Maintain consistent card production through everyday issuance and larger batch jobs, with processing hardware designed to handle complex card data.
Flexible Security Options
Support compatible access cards and add visual verification features with optional encoding and SMARTMark™ printed security.
Easy to Deploy & Expand
Fit card printing into your existing network and choose encoding or a duplex upgrade as your credential requirements develop.
Lower Cost of Ownership
High-capacity ribbons reduce changeovers, while IDP’s 3-Year Advanced Exchange Warranty helps protect your investment and limit the impact of printer downtime.
Features
Ideal For
Corporate ID programs
Healthcare facilities
Access control and security environments
Government agencies
Education institutions
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Frequently asked questions
The SMART-52S is a professional single-sided ID card printer for employee badges, student IDs, visitor credentials, membership cards, and compatible access control cards. It is suited to mid- to high-volume programs that need fast output, direct printer control, and network connectivity.
The SMART-52 Series adds a new multi-core CPU, 512 MB RAM, a standard touchscreen LCD, built-in Ethernet, a new variable printing algorithm, and 350-print YMCKO ribbons. The brochure specifies 30% faster printing and 40% more YMCKO ribbon capacity than the previous generation.
The SMART-52S prints up to 280 cards per hour with YMCKO ribbon and up to 1,000 cards per hour in monochrome. These are maximum speeds; actual output varies with card design, settings, and operating conditions.
The SMART-52S provides single-sided printing as standard and supports an optional flipper upgrade. The SMART-52D dual-sided ID card printer includes automatic two-sided printing for credentials that need information on the front and back.
The LCD Touchscreen lets you change printer settings, monitor status, and access diagnostics without using a connected PC.
Yes. Ethernet and USB are standard, and Wi-Fi is optional. A multi-platform printer utility supports configuration and management across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments.
The input hopper holds 100 cards, or up to 200 with the cover open. The front output hopper holds 40 cards. A YMCKO ribbon provides 350 single-sided full-color prints. Explore IDP printer ribbons and consumables for supply options.
Yes, with the appropriate configuration and supplies. Optional magnetic stripe, contact, and contactless encoding support compatible card technologies. SMARTMark™ UV security printing uses a compatible YMCFKO ribbon to add images or text that can be checked under UV light.
- The SMART-52S does not include a laminator. For integrated printing and lamination, explore the SMART-52L ID card printer and laminator for protective and holographic laminate options.
The SMART-52S supports ISO CR80 cards, with ISO CR79 available as a factory-installed option. Supported thickness is 0.38–1.0 mm (15–40 mil), using PVC, PET, or composite PVC cards. Color and monochrome printing are available at 300 dpi; 600 and 1200 dpi modes are monochrome only.
SMART iDesigner ID card software provides tools for card layouts, photos, text, barcodes, and cardholder data, and is included with IDP printers. SMART iDesigner runs on Windows; the printer’s multi-platform utility and operating-system support are separate from the card-design software.
You can also use compatible third-party card-design and badging software that prints through the appropriate IDP printer driver. Support for encoding and other advanced features depends on the software and your printer’s configuration.
The SMART-52S is covered by IDP’s 3-Year Advanced Exchange Warranty under the applicable program terms. For additional service options, explore IDP ProCare support or contact IDP Americas.
