Description
FARGO® by HID® 82137 UltraCard™ Premium 30 Mil Composite Cards with Hi-Co Magnetic Stripe – 500 Cards
The FARGO® by HID® 82137 UltraCard™ Premium provides a durable, professional-quality card stock solution for organizations producing photo identification cards, employee badges, membership cards, loyalty cards, student IDs, visitor credentials, and magnetic-stripe cards. Each card features a 30 mil composite polyester construction, a clean white printable surface, and a high-coercivity 2750 Oe magnetic stripe for storing compatible encoded data.
Engineered to better withstand the heat and pressure associated with retransfer printing and lamination, UltraCard Premium offers greater resistance to warping and cracking than standard PVC card stock. Part number 82137 is packaged with 500 cards per box and is priced and sold by the complete box.
Designed for demanding card-printing applications: UltraCard Premium composite cards are especially well suited for High Definition Printing™ (HDP®), retransfer printing, lamination, and fluorescent-panel ribbon applications where ordinary PVC cards may be more susceptible to heat-related distortion.
FARGO 82137 Product Specifications
| Manufacturer | HID Global / FARGO |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 82137 |
| Product Family | UltraCard™ Premium |
| Card Construction | Composite polyester |
| Card Size | CR-80 |
| Dimensions | 3.375 x 2.125 in. (85.6 x 54 mm) |
| Card Thickness | 30 mil |
| Magnetic Stripe | High coercivity (Hi-Co) |
| Magnetic Coercivity | 2750 Oe |
| Card Color | White |
| Package Quantity | 500 cards per box |
Key Features and Benefits
- Durable composite construction: Offers increased resistance to card warping and cracking compared with standard PVC cards.
- Preferred for HDP printing: Composite construction withstands the heated transfer process used by High Definition Printing™ retransfer printers.
- Hi-Co magnetic stripe: The 2750 Oe stripe supports compatible magnetic encoding applications and provides greater resistance to accidental erasure than low-coercivity stripes.
- Clean printable surface: The polished, dye-receptive card surface supports sharp photographs, logos, text, barcodes, and other identification graphics.
- Broad printer compatibility: Suitable for direct-to-card and retransfer card printers from FARGO and other major manufacturers.
- Lamination compatible: Designed to tolerate the heat and pressure associated with compatible card-lamination systems.
- Fluorescent-panel applications: The non-fluorescing card body makes UltraCard Premium useful as a replacement for SmartShield™ cards in compatible fluorescent F-panel printing applications.
- Bulk packaging: Supplied in a 500-card box for efficient production of medium- and high-volume ID card programs.
Why Choose UltraCard Premium Composite Cards?
Standard PVC cards work well in many direct-to-card applications, but printing environments involving retransfer film or lamination subject the card body to additional heat and pressure. The composite polyester construction of the FARGO 82137 UltraCard Premium helps the card remain flatter and better resist cracking or warping during production and everyday use.
This added stability makes UltraCard Premium a preferred choice for FARGO HDP retransfer printers, laminated employee badges, secure photo credentials, and other applications where card appearance and service life are important. These cards may also be used with compatible direct-to-card printers, allowing organizations to standardize on a more durable card stock across multiple card-printing systems.
Sometimes referenced by buyers using the legacy search term UltraCard III, HID part number 82137 is currently identified by the manufacturer as an UltraCard Premium 30 mil composite card with a Hi-Co magnetic stripe.
High-Coercivity Magnetic Stripe Guidance
Each FARGO 82137 card includes a high-coercivity magnetic stripe rated at 2750 Oe. Hi-Co stripes are commonly selected for identification cards that will be issued and used repeatedly because the encoded information is more resistant to accidental erasure from ordinary magnetic exposure than information stored on a low-coercivity stripe.
Please note: The magnetic stripes are supplied unencoded. Writing data to the stripe requires a compatible Hi-Co magnetic-stripe encoder and appropriate card-issuance software. Confirm the required track configuration, data format, and encoding specifications for your application before production.
Common Applications
- Employee photo identification cards
- Corporate and government credentials
- School and university ID cards
- Healthcare identification badges
- Membership and fitness-center cards
- Loyalty and customer rewards cards
- Visitor and contractor credentials
- Magnetic-stripe transaction cards
- Laminated and fluorescent-security ID cards
Printer Compatibility
UltraCard Premium cards are designed for broad use across the card-printing industry, including:
- FARGO® HDP retransfer card printers
- FARGO direct-to-card printers
- Direct-to-card printers from other major brands
- Retransfer printers from other major brands
- Compatible card-lamination systems
- HID ELEMENT UV-cured inkjet systems
Compatibility reminder: Verify that the printer and magnetic encoder are configured for CR-80, 30 mil composite cards with a 2750 Oe Hi-Co stripe.
Standard 82137 Configuration and Other Available Options
FARGO part number 82137 is the standard white UltraCard Premium composite card with a Hi-Co magnetic stripe. The cards are blank and ready for compatible printing and magnetic encoding.
The broader UltraCard Premium family may also be available without a magnetic stripe or in other configurations. These other configurations require separate ordering specifications and are not included with standard part number 82137.
Recommended Card Storage
For optimal printing performance, keep unused cards in their original packaging and store them in a clean, dry environment. HID recommends storage temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C to 30°C) with relative humidity between 40% and 70%.
Handle cards by their edges whenever possible. Oils, dust, moisture, and fingerprints on the printable surface can affect image quality and may contribute to premature wear of printer components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are FARGO 82137 cards PVC or composite?
They are composite polyester cards. This construction provides greater durability and improved resistance to heat-related warping compared with ordinary 100% PVC cards.
Do these cards include a magnetic stripe?
Yes. Each card includes a high-coercivity magnetic stripe rated at 2750 Oe.
Are the magnetic stripes already encoded?
No. The cards are supplied blank and unencoded. A compatible Hi-Co magnetic-stripe encoder and the appropriate software are required to write information to the stripe.
Can UltraCard Premium cards be used in a direct-to-card printer?
Yes. HID lists UltraCard Premium as compatible with direct-to-card printers from all brands, as well as retransfer card printers. Always confirm your printer accepts CR-80, 30 mil composite cards.
Why are these cards recommended for FARGO HDP printers?
HDP retransfer printing applies an image to transfer film and then bonds the film to the card using heat and pressure. The composite construction better withstands this process and helps reduce warping and cracking.
Manufacturer Resources
Review the official HID manufacturer datasheet for UltraCard, UltraCard Premium, and UltraCard PC specifications, construction details, available configurations, printer compatibility, and recommended storage conditions.
UltraCard Non-Technology Cards Datasheet PDF HID UltraCard Premium Product Information
