Extend the capabilities of your ID card printer with our range of upgrades and encoders. Options include magnetic stripe encoders, contact and contactless smart card chip encoders, and lamination module upgrades for select printer models.
These accessories are compatible with leading brands including HID FARGO, Zebra, and Entrust Sigma, allowing you to expand your card issuance capabilities without replacing your existing hardware. Contact our team for guidance on which upgrade is compatible with your printer model.
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Encoder & Upgrade Buying Guide
If your needs have grown beyond simple printed cards, you can often add capability to the printer you already own rather than replacing it. Encoding modules write secure data onto the card during the print run, turning an ID into a working access or payment credential. This guide explains the main encoding types and how to check what your printer supports.
Magnetic stripe
A magnetic-stripe encoder writes data to the black stripe on the back of a card for swipe-based access, time-and-attendance, and loyalty schemes. Stripes come in high-coercivity (HiCo) for durable, long-life cards and low-coercivity (LoCo) for short-term passes. It is a proven, low-cost way to make a printed card machine-readable.
Smart card and contactless
Smart-card and contactless encoders read and write to chips such as MiFare, DESFire, and proximity cards, storing encrypted credentials for secure access and cashless payment. Contactless is the modern standard for buildings and campuses because users simply tap, and the data can be far better protected than a magnetic stripe. Choose the chip type that matches your access-control system.
Field-installable upgrades
Many encoders are designed to retrofit into existing HID FARGO, Zebra, and Entrust printers, so you gain new capability without the cost of a new machine. Some modules are user-installable, while others are fitted by a technician, depending on the printer. It is the most economical path when your printing is fine but your security requirements have moved on.
Match your access system
The encoder must match the technology your door controllers and software already use, otherwise the cards will not open anything. Before ordering, identify your existing access-control or time-and-attendance system and the card type it reads. Tell us those details and we will confirm exactly which encoder or upgrade is compatible.
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