sales@cardtech.co.za 087 135 7135

Smart ID Card Printers

IDP SMART · ID card printing · South Africa

SMART ID Card Printers

Our best-selling printer brand. Proven reliability. Outstanding value.

SMART card printers from IDP Corporation bring professional ID card printing within reach of organisations of every size. From individual visitor badges to busy staff and access-card programmes, the range combines practical operation with colour printing, encoding options and room to grow.

More than 6,000 SMART printers have been sold and installed in South Africa. SMART is CTS’s best-selling card printer brand, with a track record that makes it our choice for the best value for money in the card printer market.

Ask about clearance pricesCompare SMART printers
SMART-51 ID card printer from CTS South Africa

Current stock clearance: excellent prices available

We are clearing current SMART printer stock as we prepare for the forthcoming SMART-32 and SMART-52. Reach out now for excellent clearance prices and let us help you choose the right equipment for your card programme.

Offers apply to selected current stock while it lasts. Contact CTS to confirm the model, configuration, price and availability, or register your interest in the new S32 and S52.

Request a SMART quotation
6,000+Sold and installed in South Africa
CTS’s No. 1Our best-selling printer brand
Proven valueEquipment, cards and consumables together

Find your fit

Compare SMART-21, SMART-31, SMART-51 and SMART-81

Choose compact manual feeding for occasional cards, automatic feeding for everyday batches, or retransfer printing for demanding card designs. CTS can help match your daily volumes, artwork, card material and encoding requirements to the right SMART printer.

IDP SMART-21 ID card printer

Compact and affordable

SMART-21

A straightforward way to start printing ID cards. The SMART-21S suits small organisations and reception desks issuing individual staff, visitor or membership cards.

  • Single-sided direct-to-card colour and monochrome printing.
  • Manual card feeding in a compact 2.7 kg desktop unit.
  • 300 dpi colour; higher-resolution 600 and 1200 dpi modes for monochrome.
  • Up to 150 full-colour cards per hour with YMCKO ribbon.

USB connectivity and optional magnetic stripe encoding keep the configuration simple. Ask CTS about the right ribbon and card package for your first installation.

View official SMART-21 details
IDP SMART-31 ID card printer

Everyday value for business and education

SMART-31

The SMART-31 adds automatic feeding for practical, repeatable card production. It is a strong fit for schools, businesses and membership programmes that need dependable printing at a sensible cost.

  • Edge-to-edge direct-to-card printing at 300 dpi in colour.
  • Up to 180 full-colour cards per hour with YMCKO ribbon.
  • 80-card input and 25-card output hoppers.
  • Optional flipper for dual-sided printing and optional Ethernet.

Magnetic stripe, contact and contactless encoding can be specified. Choose the configuration around your cards and access-control system.

View official SMART-31 details
IDP SMART-51 ID card printer

Proven performance for busy card offices

SMART-51

The SMART-51 is a versatile choice for regular staff and contractor card issuance in businesses, mines, campuses and municipalities. Its robust construction and front controls make it a practical workhorse.

  • Single-sided colour and monochrome printing, with dual-sided upgrade options.
  • Colour printing in as little as 17 seconds per card using YMCKO ribbon.
  • 300 dpi colour, with 600 and 1200 dpi monochrome modes.
  • Two-line LCD and front LED buttons for status and operation.

Available upgrades include a flipper, laminator, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and compatible encoders. UV printing requires the appropriate ribbon and setup.

View official SMART-51 details
IDP SMART-81 ID card printer

Retransfer quality for demanding credentials

SMART-81

The SMART-81 prints onto transfer film before applying the image to the card. It is the choice to explore when fine artwork, a glossy finish and suitable technology-card materials are central to your project.

  • Retransfer printing with 300 dpi and 600 dpi configurations.
  • Rapid Retransfer Printing technology reduces warm-up time.
  • Up to 144 cards per hour with YMCK ribbon.
  • 200-card input capacity, USB and Ethernet connectivity.

Single- and dual-sided models are available. Discuss encoding, lamination and the right resolution with CTS before specifying your system.

View official SMART-81 details

Speeds are IDP’s maximum ratings for the stated ribbon and process. Actual output varies with artwork, print mode, encoding and finishing. Optional features require the appropriate model and configuration; confirm these with CTS when enquiring.

The next SMART generation

SMART-32 and SMART-52: coming soon

Planning an upgrade or a new card-issuing office? The forthcoming S32 and S52 add faster direct-to-card printing and updated connectivity. Register your interest with CTS now. Local arrival dates, configurations and pricing will be confirmed on enquiry.

IDP SMART-32 (S32) ID card printer

Coming soon to CTS

SMART-32 (S32)

A next-generation direct-to-card option for organisations looking for faster everyday production and built-in network connectivity.

  • Up to 260 colour cards per hour using YMCKO ribbon.
  • 350-print YMCKO ribbon capacity.
  • USB and Ethernet as standard, with optional Wi-Fi.
  • 80-card input hopper and optional dual-sided configuration.

Register your interest now for local launch updates, configuration advice and pricing.

View official SMART-32 (S32) details
IDP SMART-52 (S52) ID card printer

Coming soon to CTS

SMART-52 (S52)

The SMART-52 brings touchscreen operation and faster throughput to busy issuance desks, with flexible card handling and upgrade options.

  • Up to 280 colour cards per hour using YMCKO ribbon.
  • Touchscreen LCD and 350-print YMCKO ribbon capacity.
  • 100-card input capacity, or up to 200 with the cover open.
  • Built-in Ethernet, with optional Wi-Fi and dual-sided printing.

Speak to CTS now about your next installation and expected South African availability.

View official SMART-52 (S52) details

The CTS card solution

Preprinted cards + SMART personalisation

Combine CTS preprinted plastic cards with SMART desktop printing for high-quality, cost-competitive security card solutions. We produce the fixed branding and artwork; your team adds photographs, names, numbers and barcodes when each card is issued.

Consistent preprinted artwork can simplify daily issuance. Where only text or a barcode is required, a suitable monochrome ribbon can help reduce personalisation costs.

SMART ribbons, consumables and support

CTS supplies colour and monochrome ribbons, cleaning products, compatible transfer film and laminates for equipped SMART systems, together with blank and preprinted cards.

Our team can help with printer selection, technical support and the correct consumables for your installed equipment. Share the full printer model and ribbon part number so we can confirm compatibility and current availability.

For card design and issuing workflows, ask us about IDP’s SMART IDesigner software and the encoding options needed by your application.

Protect information after printing

SMART-BIT ribbon shredder

Used printer ribbons can retain impressions of photographs, names and other cardholder information. The IDP SMART-BIT ribbon shredder helps you include used ribbons in your secure disposal process.

Its Twisted Micro-Cut mechanism twists and cuts the ribbon into particles of approximately 2.5 mm. The compact desktop design offers three speed settings, reverse control and automatic stopping when shredding finishes or a ribbon jams.

  • Handles compatible dye-sublimation, resin and wax ribbons.
  • Ribbon widths of 60–90 mm, with cores up to 120 mm wide and rolls up to 80 mm diameter.
  • Maximum shredding speed of 16 metres per minute.
  • Bin capacity equivalent to approximately six 250-print YMCKO rolls.

Compatibility extends to suitable ribbons from several printer brands. Send CTS your ribbon details before ordering; ask separately about the SMART-BIT foil version for topping-foil applications.

View official SMART-BIT details
IDP SMART-BIT desktop ribbon shredder

Make ribbon disposal part of the workflow

Keep used ribbons secure until they are shredded. Train operators on loading, cleaning and jam recovery using the IDP tutorials below, and ask CTS to help you select the correct shredder for your ribbons.

See SMART in action

SMART printer videos and ribbon shredder tutorials

Explore IDP’s product demonstrations and practical operating guides. Play the embedded videos below or use each direct link to view them separately.

SMART-81: retransfer introduction

Open IDP video

SMART-BIT: how to use

Open IDP video

SMART-BIT: maintenance

Open IDP video

SMART-BIT: troubleshooting

Open IDP video

Videos are provided by IDP. The printer, options and consumables shown may differ from your configuration.

Visit IDP’s official YouTube channel · IDP downloads and support

SMART card printer questions

Which SMART printer offers the best fit for our budget?

For occasional single-card printing, start with the SMART-21. Consider the SMART-31 or SMART-51 for regular batches and the SMART-81 for retransfer printing. CTS will compare the equipment and running costs against your actual requirements, including any current clearance offers.

Are the SMART-32 and SMART-52 available now?

They are coming soon to CTS. Contact us now to register interest and confirm expected local availability. We can also quote on selected current stock at excellent clearance prices while it lasts.

Can we print and encode access-control cards?

Compatible models can be configured with magnetic stripe, contact or contactless encoders. Encoding is an option, so tell us which card technology and access-control system you use before choosing the printer.

Why shred used card printer ribbons?

Used ribbon panels can retain readable cardholder information. A compatible SMART-BIT shredder helps destroy those ribbon impressions as part of your organisation’s information-disposal process.

Speak to CTS

Get SMART printer pricing and availability

Ask about SMART-21, SMART-31, SMART-51, SMART-81, current clearance offers, the forthcoming S32 and S52, or the SMART-BIT ribbon shredder. Include your card volumes, single- or dual-sided printing needs, encoding requirements and any consumables you need.

Call 087 135 7135 or email sales@cardtech.co.za, or send your enquiry below.