HID Fargo DTC4500e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (055100)
HID Fargo DTC4500e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (model number 055100) is a high-performance, robust solution designed for medium to large organizations requiring high-volume card printing. This dual-sided printer features dual input card hoppers that maximize card capacity and allow convenient management of multiple card types. With its powerful and reliable…
Introduction
The HID Fargo DTC4500e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (model number 055100) is a high-performance, robust solution designed specifically for medium to large organizations that require high-volume card printing on a daily basis. Manufactured by HID Global, a leader in secure identity solutions, this printer combines powerful capabilities with reliability and ease of use, making it an ideal choice for businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies seeking to produce professional-grade identification cards and credentials efficiently.
Design and Physical Characteristics
The DTC4500e features a sleek, professional design with a predominantly black exterior that fits well in any office environment. With dimensions that balance functionality with space efficiency, and weighing approximately 19 pounds, this printer offers a substantial yet manageable footprint. The printer’s thoughtful design includes dual input card hoppers, a clear card loading chamber, and an intuitive SmartScreen graphical display that provides easy-to-follow prompts and instant printer status information.
The build quality of the DTC4500e reflects its intended use for high-volume environments, with durable components designed to withstand continuous operation. The printer’s robust construction ensures reliability even in demanding printing environments, reducing downtime and maintenance requirements.
Printing Technology and Performance
The DTC4500e utilizes dye-sublimation/resin thermal transfer printing technology to deliver exceptional print quality. This technology enables the printer to create vibrant, full-color images and sharp, clear text on a variety of card types.
Key performance specifications include:
- Print Resolution: 300 dpi (dots per inch), providing detailed, high-quality images and text
- Print Speed:
- Full-color (YMCKO): 16 seconds per card (225 cards per hour)
- Dual-sided full-color (YMCKOK): 24 seconds per card (150 cards per hour)
- Monochrome: 6 seconds per card (600 cards per hour)
- Print Area: Edge-to-edge printing on standard CR80 cards
The printer’s impressive speed makes it one of the most efficient in its class, significantly reducing wait times for card production and enabling high-volume batch printing when needed.
Card Handling and Media Capacity
One of the standout features of the DTC4500e is its dual input card hoppers, which provide several key advantages:
- Increased Capacity: The dual hoppers allow for a maximum input capacity of 200 cards (100 cards per hopper), reducing the frequency of reloading during large print jobs
- Multiple Card Type Management: Organizations can load different card types simultaneously (such as pre-printed and blank cards, or cards of different thicknesses)
- Workflow Efficiency: The dual hopper design streamlines production processes for organizations that issue multiple card types
The printer accepts standard CR80 (3.375″ × 2.125″ / 85.6mm × 54mm) and CR79 (3.303″ × 2.051″ / 83.9mm × 52.1mm) card sizes, with thickness compatibility ranging from 9 to 40 mil (0.229mm to 1.016mm). This flexibility allows the DTC4500e to accommodate a wide range of card types and applications.
Connectivity and Compatibility
The DTC4500e offers versatile connectivity options to integrate seamlessly into existing IT infrastructures:
- Standard Interfaces: USB and Ethernet with internal print server
- Additional Interface: USB-A for added connectivity options
The printer is compatible with all major operating systems, including:
- Windows® 7, 8, 10, and 11 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- MAC OS X 10.5 and higher
- Linux
This broad compatibility ensures that the DTC4500e can be easily integrated into virtually any organization’s existing systems without requiring significant IT changes or specialized equipment.
Software and Driver Support
The DTC4500e comes with comprehensive software support to facilitate easy setup and operation:
- Built-in Swift ID™: This badging application allows users to create ID badges without installing additional software
- FARGO Workbench™: A diagnostic utility that simplifies printer maintenance and troubleshooting
- Color Assist™: A tool that helps match spot colors, ensuring accurate printing of graphics such as company logos
The printer is also compatible with HID’s Asure ID card personalization software and other third-party card design applications, providing flexibility for organizations with specific software preferences or requirements.
Print Quality and Features
The 300 dpi print resolution of the DTC4500e delivers exceptional print quality with the following characteristics:
- Vibrant Colors: The dye-sublimation technology produces rich, accurate colors for photographic images and graphics
- Sharp Text: Clear, readable text even at small font sizes
- Edge-to-Edge Printing: Full card coverage without borders
- Consistent Output: Reliable color reproduction across print jobs
The printer supports both color and monochrome printing, providing flexibility for different credential designs and requirements. The high-quality output makes the DTC4500e suitable for creating professional ID cards that include photographs, logos, and other detailed graphic elements.
Dual-Sided Printing Capability
As a dual-sided printer, the DTC4500e can print on both sides of a card in a single pass, eliminating the need for manual card flipping and reinsertion. This capability offers several advantages:
- Increased Card Real Estate: Organizations can include more information on each card
- Enhanced Security: Additional security features can be printed on the back of cards
- Improved Efficiency: Dual-sided printing is completed in a single operation
- Professional Appearance: Cards with content on both sides present a more polished, professional look
The dual-sided printing functionality is particularly valuable for applications where comprehensive information needs to be displayed, such as employee ID badges with company policies on the reverse, or student IDs with academic calendars or emergency information.
Security Features
The DTC4500e includes several security features to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized use:
- Password Protection: Restricts printer access to authorized personnel
- AES-256 Data Encryption: Secures data transmission to the printer
- Optional Physical Locks: Secures card hoppers and consumables to prevent unauthorized access
- Fluorescent Panel Printing: Provides a cost-effective way to enhance card security with UV-visible elements
These security features make the DTC4500e suitable for organizations that need to maintain high standards of data protection and card security, particularly those issuing cards for access control or identification purposes.
Optional Encoding Capabilities
While the base model (055100) is primarily a dual-sided printer with USB and Ethernet connectivity, it can be enhanced with various encoding options to expand its functionality:
- Magnetic Stripe Encoding: For access control and payment applications
- Contact Smart Card Encoding: For secure authentication
- Contactless Smart Card Encoding: For proximity-based applications
These encoding options allow organizations to create multi-functional cards that serve various purposes, from visual identification to electronic access control and secure transactions.
Environmental Considerations
The DTC4500e is designed with environmental sustainability in mind:
- GreenCircle Certified: For energy efficiency
- Support for ECO Refill Ribbons: Reduces waste by allowing ribbon core reuse
- Rewritable Card Compatibility: Eliminates the need for new cards for temporary credentials
- Energy-Efficient Operation: Reduces power consumption during standby or sleep modes
These features help organizations reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality ID card production capabilities.
Maintenance and Reliability
The DTC4500e is engineered for minimal maintenance, making it particularly suitable for organizations without dedicated technical staff. Key maintenance features include:
- Easy-to-Replace Print Ribbons: With a simple drop-in design
- Integrated Card Cleaning Roller: Included in the ribbon cartridge for easy maintenance
- Automatic Ribbon Identification and Calibration: Simplifies consumable changes
- Built-in Diagnostic Tools: Facilitates troubleshooting and maintenance
The printer’s robust construction and reliable performance, backed by a comprehensive 3-year warranty on both the printer and printhead, ensure a low total cost of ownership over the printer’s lifecycle.
Applications
The HID Fargo DTC4500e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer is suitable for a wide range of applications across various industries:
Corporate
- Employee ID badges
- Visitor management credentials
- Facility access cards
- Corporate membership cards
Education
- Student and faculty ID cards
- Library cards
- Cafeteria payment cards
- Event access credentials
Government
- Municipal employee IDs
- Citizen ID cards
- Service access cards
- Local program identification cards
Healthcare
- Staff identification badges
- Patient identification cards
- Visitor passes
- Facility access credentials
Retail and Hospitality
- Loyalty program cards
- Gift cards
- Membership cards
- Event passes
Warranty and Support
The DTC4500e comes with a comprehensive 3-year warranty that covers both the printer and printhead, demonstrating HID Global’s confidence in the printer’s reliability and build quality. This warranty provides peace of mind for organizations making a significant investment in their ID card issuance capabilities.
HID Global also offers extensive technical support through various channels, ensuring that organizations can quickly resolve any issues that may arise during the printer’s operation.
Conclusion
The HID Fargo DTC4500e Dual-Sided ID Card Printer (055100) represents an excellent balance of performance, quality, and value for medium to large organizations with high-volume card printing needs. Its combination of dual input hoppers, high-capacity ribbons, fast print speeds, and exceptional print quality makes it an ideal solution for organizations that need to produce professional ID cards and credentials efficiently.
The printer’s robust security features, environmental considerations, and comprehensive warranty further enhance its appeal for modern organizations. With its durable construction and reliable performance, the DTC4500e provides a dependable solution for ID card printing needs while offering the flexibility to expand capabilities through optional features and upgrades as organizational requirements evolve.
