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Retransfer printing: The most secure ID card printers

most secure printers

If your business requires highly secure visual identification, you’ll need an ID card printer that’s up to the job.

To achieve this, the best choice is without a doubt a retransfer printer. View our current range of retransfer machines here.

Rather than printing straight onto a card, retransfer plastic card printers print onto a clear film overlay which is then adhered to the card. As a result, they offer high-quality prints, a more durable card, and of course, a highly secure form of identification.

But which secure ID card printer should you choose? Here are some of the best retransfer ID card printers.

The most secure retransfer ID card printers


1. Magicard Ultima

Magicard Ultima

£1,880 ex. VAT

£2,256.00 inc. VAT

SPECIAL OFFER: FREE UPGRADE TO DUAL-SIDED PRINTING ON ALL MAGICARD ULTIMA PRINTERS. 

_VIEW MAGICARD ULTIMA_

The Magicard Ultima is one of the newest retransfer printers on the market and is capable of printing cards to an outstanding quality. Like all retransfer printers, the Ultima prints ‘over-the-edge’ card designs, meaning there is no white border left around the edges of the card.

It’s one of the few ID card printers to feature a touchscreen display too, meaning that everything from loading cards to solving errors is completed as intuitively as possible. Retransfer printers might be a complicated piece of office equipment, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way for the user.

On top of being able to print on to smart cards, the Ultima offers a further layer of security thanks to its HoloKote watermark feature. This adds a secure overlay to your cards, making it virtually impossible to clone or copy a card.

Capable of printing up to 100 full-colour photo-like cards per hour, the Ultima is a fantastic choice for organisations needing to print secure, high-quality identification.


You might also be interested in…Retransfer ID card printers | Your ultimate guide


2. Zebra ZXP Series 9

Zebra ZXP Series 9

£1,709.65 ex. VAT

£2,051.58 inc. VAT

_VIEW ZEBRA ZXP SERIES 9_

The ZXP Series 9 is Zebra’s range-topping retransfer printer that is capable of producing photo-like identification at impressive speeds; 180 full-colour cards can be produced in just an hour, making it a great retransfer printer for those that need to meet tight production deadlines.

Security extends beyond the cards themselves too; the ZXP Series 9 is available with an optional locking card feeder, protecting cards from being removed from the hopper after they hasve been printed. This makes it an ideal choice for organisations where cloned or stolen cards could cause a serious security breach.

Being a retransfer model means it can print on the raised edges of access control cards such as those produced by HID and Paxton, and optional encoding modules are available for magstripe, smart card and MIFARE encoding.


3. Datacard CR805

£2,230.00 ex. VAT

£2,676.00 inc. VAT

_VIEW DATACARD CR805_

Datacard is a brand renowned for creating reliable, long-lasting ID card printers, and the CR805 retransfer model is no exception. It’s a popular choice across a range of sectors thanks to an easy-to-use interface, quality card-making capabilities and security options.

The CR805 uses a Pigment Ink technology, making sure every printed card is photo-like, long-lasting and resistant to UV fading. The fact your cards will last longer not only ensures the security of staff, but also reduces reissuance costs too.

The only downside to consider is that this printer is quite bulky, meaning it isn’t exactly a portable machine. We’d advise you to set up a printing station for a printer of its size (54cm long, 39cm high, 12.7kg in weight).


Remember to check out… Retransfer ID card printer FAQs | Customer queries answered


4. Fargo HDP6600

Fargo HDP6600

£2,520.00 ex. VAT

£3,024.00 inc. VAT

_VIEW FARGO HDP6600_

Fargo has been at the forefront of creating retransfer printing technology for years and its HDP5000 remains a popular model. This, however, is the HDP6600, and takes over-the-edge card printing to new levels of security and quality.

For starters, it can print up to 230 cards per hour, making it one of the fastest retransfer printers ever made. Fargo’s patented iON technology helps save even more time; it allows the printer to reach its optimal operating temperature in less than 60 seconds, allowing you to get printing straight away.

Fargo printers are well known for their smart card encoding abilities, and various modules are available to allow you to program HID Prox, iClass, MIFARE Classic, MIFARE Plus and MIFARE DESFire EV1 products among others.


Need more advice before buying?

Here at Digital ID, we appreciate buying an ID card printer is a big commitment. If you need more specific advice, get in touch with our experts by calling 0800 988 2095. We’ll help you find the security and identification solution that meets your needs best.

*Disclaimer: All prices correct as of 09/06/20 and are subject to change