CARD DISPENSER

Card dispensers for professional unattended solutions

Operating principle and typical applications

Card dispensers are electro-mechanical modules that automate the issuing of plastic cards, parking tickets or paper-based passes. Cards are stored in vertical magazines or stackers and are moved to the outlet by rollers and motors under precise sensor control. Sensors ensure that exactly one card is dispensed at a time, detect jams and signal low stock levels to the host controller. Most devices communicate via RS232, USB or Ethernet interfaces, which makes it easy to integrate them into parking systems, access control solutions or self-service ticketing kiosks. Card dispensers are widely used in car parks, office buildings, hospitals, airports, customer flow systems and public transport applications, where fast, reliable and traceable card handling is essential.

Product families, concrete examples and manufacturers

Within this category you will find several types of dispenser units. The CRT-541 card dispenser with front bezel is a compact, embedded module that focuses on simple and reliable card issuing. The CRT-571-(001)ER-BNJ motorised dispenser is designed for parking systems, offering robust mechanics optimised for 24/7 duty. The CRT-591 RS232 unit combines card handling and dispensing functions, with a reject bin and support for IC/RFID/magnetic stripe technologies. CUSTOM PP54 EVO and CUSTOM PROP PP54 parking card verifier and printer units are capable of issuing, reading and printing on cards or tickets, acting as complete parking front-end modules. In addition, ticket printers such as the CUSTOM TK202-III, KPM180H, KPM862 DUAL feeder and KPM302-III provide heavy-duty printing for card and ticket workflows and can be combined with dispensers in complex systems.

Leading manufacturers like CRT, Custom and Eltra supply devices that are purpose-built for unattended operation. Their modules support a wide input voltage range, multiple communication protocols and often include built-in diagnostics, status LEDs, sensors and configurable firmware. This allows straightforward integration into advanced payment, identification and ticketing systems, while giving service teams clear information for troubleshooting and optimisation.

Quality, service, operating conditions and financing

Because card dispensers operate continuously and are exposed to dust, temperature variations and sometimes vandalism, mechanical strength and design quality are critical. High-grade materials, optimised card paths, appropriate surface treatments and carefully designed power electronics all contribute to reliable operation. To maintain uptime over many years, it is important to work with partners who provide strong technical support, clear documentation and flexible commercial models.

• availability of local technical support for commissioning, integration and fault finding;
• preventive maintenance plans covering regular cleaning and inspection of magazines, rollers, sensors and outlets;
• compliance with specified environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, supply voltage, IP rating) for indoor and outdoor sites;
• stock planning and scheduled deliveries to support spare parts, upgrades and new kiosk installations;
• flexible shipping options, customs handling and logistics services for national and international deployments;
• post-payment terms, invoicing in multiple currencies and banking support for larger, multi-site investments;
• project-specific offers that bundle card dispensers with ticket printers, readers and complete kiosk systems.

FAQ – Card dispensers in unattended systems

• Question: How do industrial card dispensers differ from basic, non-industrial devices?
     Answer: Industrial dispensers are designed for high traffic and continuous duty, with rugged mechanics, extended temperature ranges, enhanced environmental protection and advanced diagnostics. This leads to fewer failures, shorter downtime and a lower total cost of ownership.
• Question: What should you consider when selecting a card dispenser for a new project?
     Answer: Key aspects include card type and size, required capacity, available interfaces (RS232, USB, Ethernet), mechanical space, environmental conditions and the availability of local service and spare parts.
• Question: What are the benefits of integrated parking card dispenser and verifier/printing modules?
     Answer: Integrated units handle issuing, reading and printing in a single device, reducing the number of components, simplifying cabling and making installation and service faster, while ensuring that the entire card path is managed by a single, coordinated system.
• Question: Which extra capabilities are typically available on industrial dispensers but missing from consumer devices?
     Answer: Examples include multi-magazine operation, detailed status and error logging, remote firmware updates, advanced sensor monitoring and support for multiple communication protocols, all of which contribute to safer and more transparent operation.