SMART-51S
Single-Sided Thermal ID Card Printer
High Quality Single-Sided Colour ID Card Printer
*with real-time status LCD display
Feel the precise printer solution from the SMART-51
Ideal solution for printing high-quality ID card in moments.
Single-sided SMART-51S can be field upgraded to a dual-sided printer (51D) or a dual-sided laminating printer (51L) by installing in a Flipper module or a Laminator Module.
FINE™ Imaging Technology
300dpi (Colour), 600dpi / 1200dpi (Mono)
Edge-to-Edge Full Colour Printing
Professional Dye-Sublimation Printing
Automatic Card Feeding
Over 211 Cards per Hour
Upgradable to Dual Sided Printing
24 Months Warranty*
SMART-51S ID Card Printer
Fast. Reliable. Secure. Built for growing print demands.
The SMART-51S is a high-performance single-sided ID card printer designed for organisations that need speed, consistency, and enhanced card security. Built on IDP’s next-generation printing platform, it delivers sharper image quality and faster output—making it ideal for medium-volume card issuance.
Whether you’re issuing staff IDs, student cards, or membership passes, the SMART-51S produces professional results you can rely on
.
Designed for medium-volume printing
The SMART-51S is a direct-to-card (DTC) printer best suited for organisations printing a few hundred cards on a regular basis. It’s a strong fit for:
Schools and colleges
Corporate offices
Clubs and associations
Membership and loyalty programmes
For printing on cards with raised chips or for heavy, edge-to-edge colour designs, a retransfer printer is recommended.
The IDP SMART-51 durable metal-framed card printer is a reliable solution for exceptional card production, offering a perfect blend of durability and cutting-edge technology for full-color or monochrome cards.
This robust photo ID printer simplifies your experience with optional features like duplex printing, laminating, and ethernet connectivity. Ideal for various applications, the SMART-51 card printer excels in producing corporate IDs, access control badges, and student IDs, thanks to its metal frame ensuring better print quality, higher throughput, prolonged printer life, and reduced shipping damages.
Take speed to the next level with high-speed printing, featuring a 200-card input hopper and monochrome printing with magnetic encoding of over 600 cards per hour. Enhance security with SMART-51 Series features like security lamination, UV, and SMARTMark printed security, and options for keyed consumables and Kensington® type locks. Choose from multiple encoding options, including magnetic stripe, contact, and contactless smart cards, with the SMART-51 Series photo ID printer going further with IDP’s OpenMag driver for legacy compatibility. The IDP SMART-51 card printer—where durability meets brilliance, reliability, and advanced security.
Common Ribbon Ordering Information
- 659863 – YMCKO (Full Colour Ribbon with Resin Black & Overlay) with cleaning roller, 100 prints/roll
- 659366 – YMCKO (Full Colour Ribbon with Resin Black & Overlay) with cleaning roller, 250 prints/roll
- 659383 – K (Black Resin) with cleaning roller, 1200 prints/roll
Common Cleaning Kit Ordering Information
- 659008 – T-XL Long Cleaning Card, 10pcs/pack
- 659006 – IPA Cleaning Swab, 25pcs/pack
- 65900CW – IPA Cleaning Wipes, 40pcs/pack
Common Cards Ordering Information
- 11435 – ISO CR-80 Blank White PVC Cards, 100pcs/pack
- 11436 – ISO CR-80 Self-Adhesive Blank White PVC Cards, 100pcs/pack
Specifications Overview
- Colour & Mono Single Sided Printing
- Print Speed: Max. 17 sec/card (YMCKO)
- 300DPI
- Edge-to-Edge Printing
- 2 Lines LCD with LED Buttons for Front Operation
- Support of Transparent Cards
- Low Cost Security with UV Printing
- Installable Encoders: MS, Contact & Contactless
- Upgradable Modules: Flipper, Laminator, Ethernet, WiFi
Faster printing, sharper results
Equipped with IDP’s advanced FINE™ Imaging Technology, the SMART-51S delivers:
Photo-like image quality
Crisp text and barcodes
Vibrant, consistent colours
With improved print speeds over previous generations, cards are produced quickly and are instantly dry, ready for immediate use.
Easy operation with smart alerts
Designed for everyday users, the SMART-51S features a clear, intuitive interface with helpful system notifications such as:
Ribbon status alerts
Print progress indicators
Cleaning cycle reminders
This reduces downtime and keeps card production running smoothly.
Built-in visual security features
Add an extra layer of protection to your cards with optional security enhancements:
Custom SmartMark® watermarks embedded into the card overlay
UV printing for covert images visible only under UV light
These features help deter unauthorised duplication and improve card authenticity.
Typical Applications
- Identification Cards
- Membership / Loyalty Cards
- Staff / Employee Pass
- Visitor Badges
- University / Student Pass
- Conference Cards
- Bank Cards: Personalisation of Credit / Debit Cards
Compatible with common card types
The SMART-51S prints on standard CR80 cards, including PVC, biodegradable PVC, and self-adhesive cards.
Compact, professional design
Despite its higher performance, the SMART-51S maintains a sleek, office-friendly footprint—ideal for front counters, admin offices, and shared workspaces.
Operating system & connectivity
The SMART-51S is compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux.
USB connectivity is standard, with Ethernet available as an optional upgrade for network environments.
Trusted reliability
SMART printers are known globally for durability and dependable performance. The SMART-51S is engineered for long-term use and supported by strong manufacturer backing and technical expertise.
Options & Upgrades
The standard SMART printer can be upgraded to any option you desire.
- Magnetic Stripe Encoder
- Contactless Encoder
- IC Contact Encoder
- Rotator Module
- Ethernet
- WiFi
Warranty
SMART is a high quality hassel free printer provided together with a 24 month warranty.
SMART ID
SMART ID card designing software is bundled with purchase of SMART printers.
Need Assistance?
New to photo ID, have a product question, or need help with your next project?
Our team is here to support you.
SMART-51S Specifications
Printing
Print Mode
Single Sided
Print Type
Direct Dye-Sublimation
Print Area
Edge to Edge
Resolution
300 dpi (Colour & Mono); 600dpi & 1200dpi (Mono only)
Dual Sided Printing
Option (with Flipper)
Card
Card Feeding
Automatic
Card Size
Card Thickness
Card Type
PVC, PET, Composite PVC
Print Speed
Monochrome
5 sec/card (720 cards/hour)
YMCKO
Max. 17 sec/card (212 cards/hour)
Capacity
Input Card Hopper
Output Card Hopper
System
Memory
64MB RAM
Interface
Supported Platforms
Microsoft Windows 10/11, Mac OS, Linux
Communication
USB, Ethernet (Option), WiFi (Option)
Power Supply
Free Voltage (AC100/220V, 50~60Hz)
Power Consumption
48W
Temperature
Humidity
35~70%
Dimensions
Physical Lock
Input Hopper & Ribbon (Option)
Station Itself
Kensington Lock (Option)
Dimensions
Milimeter
Inch
Weight
Kg / Lbs
4.5 kg / 10 lbs
Encoding Option
Magnetic
ISO 7811 (Track I, II, III Read/Write, HiCo/LoCo), JIS II
Contact
ISO 7816 A/B/C Card, ISO 7816 1/2/3/4 Microprocessor Card
Contactless
ISO 14443 (Type A/B), MIFARE, DESFIRE, iCLASS, ISO 18092(NFC), Felica
Encoding Option
Certifications
CB, CE, FCC, KC, CCC
