Sales director John Norwood said the 75-staff, 3.5m-turnover firm would continue to operate independently and existing management would stay in place. The benefit for all our employees is that were now part of a bigger group, were more financially sound and well have bigger sales.

When the firm set up in Canvey Island in 1991 it predominantly offered book-binding and finishing services. It then became involved with the manufacture of the Trivial Pursuit board game, and card manufacturing now makes up 70% of business.

It currently produces cards for games such as Monopoly and Top Trumps and was the European manufacturer for Pokemon cards. The firm is also in talks about other Pokemon-type business with a few large titles in America, added Norwood.

Carta Mundi has a sales office in Guildford, but its main activity is playing cards for the retail, premium and casino businesses, which require security elements.

Weve worked with Carta Mundi for a long time. But nothing will change here: theres just a different name tucked away under the letterhead, said Norwood.