IDP Smart 51L Plastic Card Printer & Lamination (Dual-Sided)

IDP Smart 51L printer and laminator

The IDP Smart 51L printer combines automatic two-sided card printing with inline lamination. It suits organisations issuing CR80 staff, student or other credentials where a suitable laminate helps protect the printed design during regular handling.

Plan the card, ribbon and laminate together

First, choose the approved card stock and the design for each face. Then select the ribbon and laminate for the required finish. IDP lists clear and holographic films, including 0.6 mil and 1.0 mil options. Match any smart-card cutout to the position of the contact chip.

The manufacturer's supplies list includes the 659366 YMCKO ribbon, 659376 YMCKOK ribbon and 659367 black ribbon. Confirm the chosen printing and lamination mode before ordering consumables. Ribbon overlay and a separate patch laminate serve different stages of the process.

Use mode-specific output figures

IDP's technical table lists around 163 cards per hour for YMCK with lamination and 113 for YMCKK with lamination. These describe the stated workflows. They are not universal rates for every two-sided or two-face-laminated design. Artwork processing, encoding, heating and handling also affect the finished job.

Colour output is 300 dpi; 600 and 1200 dpi are monochrome settings. The platform supports approved CR80 stock from 0.38–1.0 mm. Check the card's suitability for both printing and the selected lamination process.

Smart 51L buying questions

Is this a printer or just a lamination upgrade?

This listing describes the Smart 51L dual-sided printer with inline lamination. Compare complete systems with complete systems: a separate lamination module may require an existing compatible printer. Confirm the supplied hardware and any required options in the ACB specification.

Can I laminate both faces?

Confirm the exact laminator configuration and workflow required for your card design. Automatic two-sided printing does not by itself establish that a particular job laminates both faces. State which faces need film when requesting the setup.

Does lamination make a card copy-proof?

A suitable laminate helps protect the printed surface and can add a visual checking feature. Card security also depends on the design, card technology and the way credentials are checked. Specify those requirements as a complete system.

Are Ethernet and card encoding included?

USB is specified for the platform. Ethernet and magnetic, contact or contactless encoding depend on the equipped configuration. Check current drivers, the design-software licence and the exact card technology with ACB before ordering.

What if I only need two-sided printing?

Compare the Smart 51D dual-sided printer when your application does not need inline lamination. Keep IDP cleaning cards available for the manufacturer's maintenance routine. ACB also provides a photo ID card printing service if you prefer to order finished cards.

Manufacturer reference: IDP Smart 51L specifications and consumables.