Matica MC310 vs MC210 vs MC110 Direct to Card Printers for UAE Businesses
Every Dubai business that issues ID cards, access badges, or membership cards faces the same question: which Matica printer is right for us?Â
The Matica MC series — MC110, MC210, and MC310  covers everything from a small clinic printing a handful of visitor passes to a government department producing thousands of secure smart-card credentials each month.
This guide gives you a side-by-side technical breakdown, a clear recommendation matrix, and practical advice on ribbons and local support — so you can make a confident purchasing decision without being oversold on features you’ll never use.
eTOP is an authorized Matica reseller in Dubai with hands-on experience deploying all three models across UAE organizations. Everything below is based on real-world installation data, not just spec sheets.Â
What Is the Matica MC Series?
The Matica MC series is a new line of direct-to- card (DTC) dye-sublimation printers developed by Germany-based Matica Technologies. All three MC models from the series offer high print quality at 300 dpi in a uniform body design. There is however a huge difference when it comes to printing speed, card encoding, expandability as well as pricing.
- MC110 – An entry level desktop printer designed for low volume environments which require less than 50 cards to be printed per week.
- MC210 – The Mid-range Workhorse for the SME with dual-side printing capability and increased print speeds to support growing businesses.
- MC310 – MC310 is our flagship ENTERPRISE model. The MC310 printer features a modular design with inline laminating, complete smart-card encoding capabilities and our 4 year warranty with our “ChromXpert” ribbons.
Matica Technical Spec Comparision
| SPECIFICATION | MC110 | MC210 | MC310 | UAE BUYING NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Print Technology | Dye Sublimation DTC | Dye Sublimation DTC | Dye Sublimation DTC | All models produce identical colour depth at 300 dpi |
| Print Resolution | 300 dpi | 300 dpi | 300 dpi | Sufficient for photo-quality ID cards |
| Print Speed — Full Colour | ~100 cards/hr | ~150 cards/hr | 180 cards/hr (YMCKO) | MC310 suitable for same-day batch issuance in large Dubai offices |
| Print Speed — Dual-Sided | N/A | Available | 256 cards/hr (YMCKOK) | Dual-sided is essential for cards with barcode/text on reverse |
| Print Speed — Monochrome | ~300 cards/hr | ~500 cards/hr | 1,000 cards/hr | MC310 monochrome ideal for visitor passes at high-traffic UAE venues |
| Card Input Hopper | ~40 cards | ~60 cards | 100 cards | Higher hopper = fewer interruptions during bulk runs |
| Card Output | Stacker | Stacker | 30 front + 80 rear/reject | MC310 split output separates reject cards automatically |
| Card Thickness | 0.76 mm standard | 0.76 mm standard | 0.76 mm standard | All models accept standard PVC CR80 cards |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 + Ethernet 10/100 | MC310 Ethernet enables network printing from multiple UAE office workstations |
| Onboard Memory | — | — | 128 MB | Essential for simultaneous colour print + encoding data streams |
| Dual-Sided Printing | No | Yes (module) | Yes (factory/field upgrade) | |
| Inline Lamination | No | No | Yes (single or dual side) | Lamination adds physical security layer — required for UAE govt credentials |
| Magnetic Stripe Encoding | Optional | Optional | Factory-fit (HiCo/LoCo) | ISO 7811 compliant — works with most UAE access control systems |
| Contact Smart Card (EMV) | No | No | Yes | EMV encoding required for payment-enabled or high-security ID cards |
| Contactless Encoding | No | No | MIFARE, DESFire, ISO 14443A/B, ISO 15693, HID iCLASS | Covers all major UAE access control card standards |
| Modular Upgrades | No | Limited | Full platform upgradeable | Only the MC310 lets you add lamination + encoding post-purchase |
| Security Locks | — | — | Mechanical + electromagnetic | Critical for UAE environments where printer handles sensitive credentials |
| Dimensions (mm) | Smaller footprint | Medium footprint | 256 × 202 × 405 | MC310 still fits on a standard desk despite its capabilities |
| Weight | ~3 kg | ~5 kg | 6.8 kg | |
| Warranty (UAE) | 2 years | 2 years | 4 years (chromXpert ribbons) | 4-year warranty is a major differentiator in UAE’s hot/humid climate |
| Ribbon Type | YMCKO | YMCKO / YMCKOK | YMCKO / YMCKOK (chromXpert) | Only genuine Matica ribbons maintain MC310 warranty — available from eTOP Dubai |
| Software Compatibility | IDTOP | IDTOP | IDTOP + SDK | eTOP provides licence activation and onboarding across UAE |
| Recommended UAE Segment | Small offices, clinics, hotels ≤50 cards/wk | SMEs, membership orgs, 200–500 staff | Government, healthcare, enterprise, high-security issuance | |
| Approx. Volume Sweet Spot | < 200 cards/month | 200–1,000 cards/month | 1,000+ cards/month |
Compare other Models : Matica MC660 vs Matica XID8300 vs Matica XID8600
Explore Wide Range of Matica ID Card Printer in UAE
Key callouts:
- The MC310 Print up to 256 dual-sided cards (YMCKOK) per hour compared to the MC210 printer.
- The MC310 controller is the only MC3 unit to feature inline lamination, supplied either factory fitted or as a field upgradeable module.
- MC310 includes Ethernet connectivity ideal for multi-user network environments found in larger offices located in Dubai.
- Smart-card encoding options (MIFARE, DESFire, EMV, HID iCLASS) are available for the MC310 model only.
Matica MC110 : Small Dubai Offices & Clinics
This plan is designed for Hotels, Clinics, Small Schools & businesses with offices who require occasional printing of cards – typically less than 200 cards per month.
The MC110 is the smallest device in the range, yet still offers the same high quality 300 dpi 300×300 dpi edge-to-edge full colour printing. The smaller 150 page hopper capacity is still adequate for running sessions of reasonable length, but this model is not suited to high volume or security applications where higher quality encoding options are required. It is simply plugged into a single workstation via USB.
Best use case for this technology: A medical clinic in Dubai that is in operation on a day to day basis and is required to produce patient ID cards on a daily basis, one at a time. Alternatively a boutique hotel who are catering to guests who require guest access cards on the spot.
DON’T go for MC110 IF: You need smart-card encoding, inline lamination or your card programme is going to grow in the next 12 months.
Our Staff Card Solution for mid-sized organisations (200-500 staff) includes a ruggedised, dual-sided card that can be printed with employee details. The card does not include enterprise encoding, making it suitable for clubs and associations and other organisations of a similar size and scale.
Matica MC210: Growing UAE SMEs
The MC210 printer is positioned between the entry level MC110 printer and full-featured MC310 printer. The MC210 printer is dual sided and comes with two card capacity hoppers and increased print capacity for higher production jobs. The MC210 printer comes with one USB port, but can have up to 4 Ethernet ports.
Best Use Case: This company is based in Dubai and requires the printing of Employee ID cards with Photo printed on the front and a barcode printed on the back. They require this service on an ongoing basis and are looking for a hassle-free process.
Don’t go for MC210 If: You Need Contactless/Smart-Card Encoding, Inline Lamination, Or Multi-User Ethernet Printing – Step Up To The MC310.
WHO IS THIS FOR? This software is suitable for Government departments (Abu Dhabi / Dubai), Large Corporations, Hospitals and Universities as well as large organisations that require secure automated issuing of credentials. Note this product is not appropriate for small organisations.
Matica MC310: Enterprise & Government UAE
The MC310 is Matica’s flagship flexible printing ID card printer designed for ID carding in general issuance environments. The MC310 is a printer that can grow with you. Start printing single-sided black and white or monochrome cards and then upgrade inline within your own environment to double-sided prints, single or double side inline laminations as well as Magstripe, EMMIC and contactless and RFID card encoding. There is no need to purchase a dedicated printer for each function, instead, upgrade step by step as your needs evolve.
KEY SPECS:
• Standard Print Speeds: 180 cards per hour (YMCKO), 256 cards per hour (dual-sided YMCKOK), 1,000 pages per hour black and white.
• Hopper Volume: The 3-Function Hopper Sorter holds 100 cards in the input slot. The front output and rear/reject output each hold 30 card batches and 80 card batches, respectively.
• Account number and expiry date (Mag stripe HiCo/LoCo ISO 7811) • Contact EMV data • MIFARE/DESFire/ISO 14443A/B/ISO
• Connectivity: USB 2.0 + Ethernet (10/100BaseT)
• Memory: 128 MB onboard
• Warranty: 4 years with genuine chromXpert ribbons
• 256 x 202 x 405mm. 6.8 kg.
Best Use Case in UAE: A government entity in Abu Dhabi issues smart-card employee credentials with contactless access control readers to access to the facility. A leading hospital in Dubai prints patient cards with chip data to ensure data security.
WHERE IS THE 4-YEAR WARRANTY OF USEFUL?
The environment here in the UAE is very demanding and the high temperatures, high humidity and the dusty conditions make the printheads of card printers deteriorate much faster than in Europe. While using third party ribbons voids any warranty immediately, the warranty offered by Matica for its card printers is still very relevant to local customers and is included in the standard price if you print with supplied chromXpert ribbons.
Why Source Matica Printers from an Authorised Dubai Supplier?
When purchasing a Matica printer from an unauthorised reseller / grey-market seller, there are three critical risks that are applicable in the UAE and world-wide.
- WARRANTY Matica provides an international Warranty for its products. The Warranty has to be registered via authorized distributors and resellers. Products purchased on the so called “grey market” are not covered by Warranty.
- SUPPORT: Parts such as Printheads and even firmware updates can only be performed by certified technicians. eTOP offers on-site service support within Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
- 3D card design and issuance software from Matica needs a valid licence which was bought together with the latest Matica printer model. Our eTOP team will help to activate the licence and the software as well as provide training for our customers.
eTOP has supplied Matica card printers to locations across the UAE including Government bodies, Hospitals, Universities and the Head Office of a Fortune 500 Corporation. Please contact eTOP to select the correct model and configure to print onto your existing network with support provided in English and Arabic languages.
eTOP is UAE’s Authorised Matica Partner.Â
Contact us for a no-obligation consultation, demonstration or quote on any of the range of Matica printers.