Evolis Agilia Retransfer Printer: Simplex vs Duplex Guide

If you know you need cards but aren’t sure which printer to buy, you’re not alone. Most teams just want great-looking, durable cards that work with their access control or loyalty system and don’t slow the office down. That’s exactly the gap Evolis’s Agilia retransfer printer fills.

If you print ID, access, loyalty, financial, or government-grade cards, the Agilia card printer is perfect. Agilia has the best card image quality, card durability, and enhanced security for any company.

Evolis’s new Agilia is a retransfer (also known as reverse transfer) printer designed for companies that require premium, edge-to-edge, high-definition cards.

Below, we unpack what makes Agilia special. When to choose Simplex vs Duplex, who will benefit most, and how Card Monster supports you end-to-end with supply, setup, media, and maintenance.

Card Monster is proud to be part of this new generation of card technology in South Africa.

What is Agilia and why retransfer?

Agilia is a retransfer (a.k.a. reverse-transfer) printer. Instead of putting ink straight onto the card (like most “direct-to-card” printers). Agilia prints onto a clear film and fuses that film to the card, creating a smooth, photo-grade finish that truly reaches the edge of the card.

You get 600 dpi resolution, vibrant colour, clean micro-text, sharp barcodes/QR codes, and consistent results even on cards with embedded chips.

Check out the difference between retransfer card printing and direct to card printing with our blog.

Agilia is Evolis’s flagship retransfer printer: it prints your design onto a clear film and then bonds that film to the card with heat. Retransfer has three big advantages over direct-to-card:

1. Perfect edge-to-edge coverage: Prints cards without a white border around them (even prints well on chip-embedded cards, which are usually hard to print on).

2. Higher resolution (600 dpi): for crisp micro-text, line art, barcodes/QR, and lifelike photos. The cards come out beautifully in rich colour. 

3. Media flexibility: print on PVC, composite PVC, polycarbonate, PET, PET-G, and more, including uneven surfaces and cards with contact/contactless chips. Perfect because it does not skip over the card or cause any issues with the printhead. 

4. Colour management: colour profiles help keep brand colours consistent across batches and sites.

Agilia delivers all three: over-the-edge output at 600 dpi with retransfer film designed to adapt to different card materials and specs.

Simplex vs Duplex

Think of Simplex as a one-sided card printer, and Duplex as a printer that flips the card inside the machine to finish the back automatically.

When Simplex (single-sided) makes sense

• You only print the front: photo, name, company logo.

• Any back content (if needed) is rare or can be stamped/labelled later.

• You want the lower initial price and can live with manually flipping cards for the odd two-sided job.

• You just want to laminate the front or protect the front with holograms, etc.

• Great for: visitor badges, gift/loyalty cards that keep T&Cs on signage or packaging, basic staff IDs where back data isn’t standardised. 

• You want to upgrade later to more capabilities that the duplex has, of double-sided printing.

When Duplex (dual-sided) is the smarter buy

• Your back of the card is busy: T&Cs, emergency info, barcodes/QR, department codes, serials.

• You care about throughput and simplicity (no manual flipping).

• You’ll likely add lamination to both sides for durability.

• Great for: corporate/industrial access cards, hospitals, universities, transport, and any programme with barcodes or compliance text on the back. 

• You want to protect both sides of the card with holograms or other security features. Read our blog on why special finishes are great for your cards.

Both models share Agilia’s retransfer engine: 600 dpi, edge-to-edge, 200-card feeder, up to 150 cards per hour single-sided (≈100 cards per hour dual-sided). You’re choosing a workflow, not a lower-quality printer. 

Agilia is expensive. Why choose it over a cheaper printer?

Totally fair question. Here’s the straight answer.

1) Image quality & legibility you can trust

• 600 dpi is a big step up from typical 300-dpi Direct To Card printer units. Fine text stays readable, logos stay on brand, and barcodes/QRs scan reliably. The print comes out beautifully on each card.

2) True edge-to-edge finish even around chips

• Because Agilia lays down a film, it can cover the entire surface and cope with uneven smart-card areas. Direct-to-card printers often leave a tiny white border and can struggle around raised features by skipping over the card prints. 

3) Rugged, long-lasting cards with lamination

• By adding the card lamination feature, you can apply clear or holographic films, boosting life and tamper resistance and pushing lifespan toward 10 years (useful for mines, transport, campuses, and high-wear cards). 

4) Flexible media & encoding

• Retransfer lets you choose the right card body (PVC, PET, PC, ABS, composites) and work confidently with contact/contactless chips. Agilia supports multiple encoders so your card prints and programs in one pass.

5) Solid throughput and autonomy

• For a 600-dpi retransfer, up to 150 cards per hour, single-sided with a 200-card feeder and 100-card hopper, keeps the queue moving, and the LCD makes cleaning and media changes easy.  The Agilia comes with a large LCD touchscreen with guided alerts (ribbon low, cleaning prompts), easy side access for maintenance, and quick-load consumables. 

Bottom line: If your company values professional look, durability, and fewer reprints, Agilia’s higher upfront cost pays off in lower hassle and lower lifetime cost.

Helpful comparison: Agilia vs Entrust Sigma (DS series)

This is the match-up many teams ask about.

Who Agilia is built for (with real-world examples)

• Corporate & Industrial Security
  Smart-card access, photo IDs with micro-text, and dual-side lamination for long life at turnstiles. Duplex recommended. 

• Universities & Schools
  Full-bleed branding with role/affiliation on front; T&Cs, barcode, or cashless wallet info on back. Duplex recommended.

• Hospitals & Clinics
  Clear staff photos for fast visual checks; laminated fronts to survive cleaning/disinfectants. Simplex + CLM (front) often enough. 

• Transport, Mining, and Warehousing
  Rugged, laminated cards that won’t fade or scuff after constant reader contact. Duplex + CLM (both sides). 

• Retail & Hospitality (Loyalty / Gift)
  Premium, edge-to-edge cards that feel “on-brand” in hand. Simplex is common; add varnish for scuff resistance.

What you’ll experience day to day with Agilia

• Cards look better: colours are even, text is crisp, and there’s no white halo at the edge. 

• Less micromanaging: the LCD walks you through cleaning and media changes; the 200-card feeder means fewer stops. 

• Fewer “redo” prints: retransfer is forgiving on smart cards and composites; fewer rejects mean less film/ribbon wastage and more predictable runs. 

Why buy through Card Monster 

Card Monster is proud to bring Evolis Agilia to South Africa. We’ll help you:

• Choose Simplex vs Duplex based on your actual card design and volumes.

• Decide on lamination (clear vs hologram, single vs dual side) to balance cost and lifespan. 

• Stock official consumables & cleaning kits so your print head warranty and print quality stay intact.

• Set up, train, and support your team. Phone, WhatsApp, and email support are available during business hours.

Security and durability on the card and in the workflow

• Security prints: micro-text, fine guilloches, and high-definition QR codes raise the bar for counterfeiting. These can be added on or bought with the card printer. Making the cards much more secure. 

• Encoding options: build ID + access in one pass using common encoders (contact, contactless, magstripe, etc.).

• Add lamination when needed: pair Agilia with the official Evolis Card Lamination Module (CLM) for single or dual-sided varnish or patch laminate. Including custom or generic holograms to extend card life up to 10 years and harden against abrasion, UV, and tamper attempts.

If your cards must survive turnstiles, wallets, and sun exposure (transport, campuses, mines, retail), lamination significantly reduces re-printing cards and extends the lifetime of your cards.

At a glance: should you choose Agilia?

Choose Agilia if you need:

• 600-dpi, edge-to-edge, brand-true cards.

• Secure features like micro-text, high-def codes, and holographic options.

• Consistent throughput with networked control.

• Flexible media support (chips, composites, uneven surfaces).

• Long service life via lamination for rough environments.

Choose Simplex if you mostly print front-only or are cost-sensitive. Choose Duplex if the back includes standard content or you want maximum productivity.

Talk to Card Monster

• Phone / WhatsApp: 076 850 9257

• Email: sales@cardmonster.co.za

• Hours: Mon–Thu 09:00–16:30; Fri 09:00–16:00

• Address: 18 St Johns Rd, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, 2198

Prefer a quick chat? There’s WhatsApp Chat Support on our website. 

TL;DR (for decision-makers)

• Choose Agilia if you want 600-dpi, edge-to-edge cards that look premium, scan reliably, and can be laminated (even holographically) for long life. 

• Choose Simplex if you’re front-only most of the time; Duplex if backs are standard or you need speed and simplicity.

• If you’re comparing with Entrust Sigma, remember: Sigma (DTC) favours speed and lower cost; Agilia (retransfer) favours quality, durability, and smart-card compatibility, and that’s why it costs more upfront but saves you headaches later.