
As an ID Professional, one of the most important parts of my job is to make sure my customers get the right printer, based on their unique business needs. I've worked with a lot of folks over the years, in a wide variety of markets and industries.
Every customer has a different need, and the Fargo HDP5000 ID card printer offers multiple ways to print on access cards, membership cards, and regular identification cards. I recommend this printer because of the lower priced retransfer printing process, coupled with the ability to print high quality cards in a wide variety of applications.
Matt's Point of View: Most Outstanding & Notable Printer Features
- Outstanding image quality – The HDP5000 printer offers high-definition technology, printing more saturated and vivid colors on cards. Because it's a reverse transfer printer, it prints to the very edge of the card, unlike standard direct-to-card printers that leave a small white border around the perimeter of the card. Another advantage is the ability to print onto a film that is fused onto the surface of the card, so the printhead never touches the card's surface. This is especially beneficial for technology cards with embedded antennas, wires, or smart chips.
- Versatility for any application – Whether your ID card program includes proximity cards, smart cards, or magnetic encoding, the HDP5000 can handle it! This full-feature retransfer printer can print a wide variety of cards from gift or membership cards to access control cards for getting into and out of doors. Unlike other retransfer printers, the HDP5000 allows you to print in these markets at an overall lower cost per card when compared to the competition.
- Standard and optional security – The retransfer film that's applied to the surface of the cards during the printing process actually provides an added layer of security and protection. If a counterfeiter tries to peel this layer off, the image will be destroyed. You also have the option of adding special overlays to enhance the security of cards.
- Endurance and dependability – This medium- to high-volume printer was engineered to last six to 10 years, offering the performance and reliability organizations need to stay ahead of the game. The HDP5000 is the optimal printer choice for card production jobs, both large and small.
Industries Best Served by the HDP5000
In my experience as a Senior Account Manager at ID Wholesaler, I've typically recommended the HDP5000 for folks working in the following industries:
- Higher education
- Government agencies
- Service bureaus
- Healthcare
- Retail (gift cards and loyalty cards)
Matt's Suggested Printer Upgrades
With the Fargo HDP5000, you don't need to worry about "growing out of" your printer. If your business needs change over time, upgrades can be made to your printer to grow along with you. And they're field-upgradeable, so you don't need to spend the extra money or waste valuable time sending them to the manufacturer to make the upgrades for you. Upgrades include the following:
- Lamination – If you need your ID cards to last longer, lamination is the way to go. Whether you want to laminate one side or both sides of your cards, the HDP5000 provides the flexibility to choose which matters most to your ID card program. You can also add holographic imaging to enhance the security of the cards. With the HDP5000, all this is available when you purchase the printer or down the road with the upgradeable paths of this model.
- WiFi – If your workstation is far away or if you travel between offices, the WiFi upgrade option provides the flexibility to make cards whenever and wherever you need them.
- Dual-sided printing – If you buy a single-sided printer and you decide down the road that you want to take advantage of the real estate on both sides of your card, you can always upgrade to dual-sided printing later on and evolve with the market.
- Encoding – This is a smart and budget-friendly method of creating multi-use ID cards that can integrate with other systems like access control or time and attendance tracking.