HID 096600 HDP5000e Single-Side ID Card Printer
Overview
The HID 096600 is a dye sublimation thermal resin card printer designed for on-premises ID credential issuance in access control and security environments. Operating at 133 cards per hour in full color, this base model handles CR-80 card format (3.375 in × 2.125 in) and integrates directly into Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and Windows 10/11 workstations. The 096600 is built for security integrators, IT architects, and facility managers who require reliable single-side badge production without external card manufacturing dependencies. An internal power supply eliminates desktop clutter, and the compact footprint fits standard badging operations in security departments, access control centers, and credential issuance facilities.
Key Features
- Dye Sublimation Print Technology: Thermal resin-based printing produces vibrant, full-color output with up to 16.7 million colors and 256 shades per pixel. Dye sublimation fuses colorant directly into card substrate, resulting in fade-resistant credentials suitable for multi-year validity cycles in secure facilities — no surface coating to chip or peel.
- Print Speed of 133 Cards per Hour: Maximum color throughput of 133 cph eliminates bottlenecks in high-volume issuance workflows. For a 500-card employee badge refresh, expect 4 hours of runtime, or roughly 20 cards per minute if you're mixing color and monochrome jobs.
- CR-80 Card Format with Over-the-Edge Printing: Supports standard ID badge dimensions (3.375 × 2.125 inches) with over-the-edge bleed capability, enabling full-coverage designs without white borders — critical for security badges that require edge-to-edge branding or holographic overlays.
- Single-Side Printing Configuration: Base model prints one side only, reducing mechanical complexity and maintenance intervals compared to dual-side units. Ideal for visitor badges, temporary access credentials, and standard employee IDs that don't require magnetic stripe encoding or back-side security features on the printer itself.
- Internal Power Supply: Integrated power eliminates the need for an external adapter or dedicated power outlet directly behind the device, saving desktop real estate in crowded badging command centers and reducing cable clutter.
- Windows Ecosystem Integration: Native support for Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and Windows 10/11 ensures compatibility with enterprise identity and access management (IAM) platforms that rely on standard credential issuance APIs. Print jobs route from centralized identity databases, enabling on-demand card provisioning without external service dependencies.
- 16.7 Million Color Depth: Full RGB color palette with 256 shades per color channel allows photo-quality badge images, multi-color security printing, and barcode encoding directly onto the card in a single pass.
- 3-Year Limited Warranty: Covers defects in material and workmanship for 36 months from purchase, providing operational confidence in 24/5 badging environments.
Integration & Compatibility
The 096600 operates within Windows Server and Windows client networks, accepting print jobs from centralized identity management systems. The printer supports magnetic stripe encoding and barcode integration on the primary side, enabling multi-factor credential architectures — for example, a photo ID with embedded barcode on the front, magnetic stripe handled offline. When paired with standard badging software on Windows 10/11 workstations or Windows Server infrastructure, the unit provisions cards on-demand without reliance on external card manufacturers, reducing lead times for emergency badge replacements or large-scale access control rollouts.
Single-side printing is optimal for facilities prioritizing fast primary-credential issuance: visitor badges, temporary access cards, standard employee ID refreshes, and contractor credentials. Integrators should confirm card stock compatibility (polyester, PVC blends, specialty substrates) and ensure adequate supply of dye-sublimation ribbon and cleaning rollers to maintain print quality across extended production runs. For deployments requiring dual-side printing with integrated magnetic stripe encoding or laser engraving, consult the extended HID FARGO product family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the warranty on the HID 096600?
A: The 096600 includes a 3-year limited warranty covering defects in material and workmanship from the date of purchase.
Q: Can the 096600 print on both sides of a card?
A: No. The 096600 is a single-side base model. It prints only on one side of the CR-80 card. If your deployment requires dual-side printing or magnetic stripe encoding on the back, contact an integrator for extended HID FARGO configurations.
Q: What operating systems does the 096600 support?
A: The 096600 is compatible with Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and Windows 10/11 workstations. It does not support macOS, Linux, or cloud-only environments.
Q: What card sizes does the 096600 print?
A: The 096600 prints CR-80 card format only (3.375 in × 2.125 in / 85.6 mm × 54 mm). This is the standard ID badge size used in most enterprise deployments.
Q: How fast can the 096600 produce cards?
A: Maximum color print speed is 133 cards per hour. Actual throughput depends on card complexity, drying time, and job queuing from your identity management system.
Q: Does the 096600 require an external power supply?
A: No. The 096600 includes an internal power supply, eliminating the need for an external adapter and reducing desktop footprint.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The HID 096600 fills a specific niche: single-side, high-throughput badge production for access control environments that don't need dual-side encoding or laser engraving in-house. At 133 cph, the 096600 handles 2,000+ cards per day running 8 hours straight — enough to cover most enterprise visitor badge programs, temporary contractor credentials, and standard employee refreshes without choking production. The dye sublimation approach (thermal resin transfer) gives you 16.7 million colors and genuine fade resistance, meaning your badges remain readable and secure for 3–5 years in typical office and warehouse conditions.
Technical Highlights:
- Dye Sublimation Thermal Resin: Colorant fuses into substrate, not onto surface — no peeling, no ink flaking under moisture or friction. Far more durable than inkjet for multi-year credential validity.
- 133 cph Color Print Speed: Single-side focus means no complex dual-feed mechanics or flip-and-rescan delays. Straightforward input queue to output tray, minimal jam risk.
- Over-the-Edge Bleed on CR-80: Full 3.375 × 2.125 inch printable area lets you extend background color and graphics to card edges — eliminates white borders and makes the badge look finished, not draft-stage.
- Internal Power Supply: Self-contained unit reduces cable mess and frees you from hunting for an extra outlet. Matters more than it sounds in crowded badging pods.
Deployment Considerations:
- Windows-Only Network: No macOS, no Linux, no direct cloud printing. Your badging software must run on Windows Server or a Windows 10/11 workstation. If you're in a heterogeneous OS environment, you'll need a dedicated Windows VM or dedicated Windows machine just for this printer — plan your network layout accordingly.
- Single-Side Limitation: If you need magnetic stripe encoding, barcode on the back, or any secondary security feature printed inline, the 096600 can't do it. You'd have to source a separate encoder or upgrade to a dual-side HID FARGO model. Make that call early in procurement — swapping printers mid-deployment is costly.
- Card Stock & Consumables: Dye-sublimation ribbon, cleaning rollers, and card substrate (polyester/PVC blends) are ongoing costs. Confirm supplier availability in your region before committing — some markets have spotty access to specialty card stock. A supply chain hiccup can shut down your badging operation for days.
The 096600 is your answer if you operate an on-premises badging facility in a Windows infrastructure, issue high volumes of single-sided credentials (1,000+ cards per month), and need production to stay in-house. It's not a solution for dual-side encoding, mobile printing, or cloud-connected architectures. Choose it for what it is: a fast, reliable, low-maintenance single-side production printer.
