The acquisition was completed last Tuesday (1 December) and will see Evohold’s machinery and manufacturing centre relocated to Cards-x’s 186sqm distribution and manufacturing facility in Malton near York. The company’s branding will be retained.
Founded in 2016 by Max Fretwell, Evohold was run by Fretwell, his wife and other family members who between them produced more than 100,000 ID card holders every week. The family have now gone to pursue another business venture.
The company's products are exported globally. Its most popular product is 100% recyclable and it also produces antimicrobial and compostable badge holders.
Cards-x sells a wide range of plastic card printers and related consumables that enable businesses and organisations to produce their own personalised ID cards. Its card production plant in Germany also prints plastic cards in ISO credit card format, as well as other special card formats, for all types of uses.
The company’s UK division is headed up by managing director Andy Reeves, who called the acquisition “a perfect fit [that] gives us another range of first-class products that we can offer customers”.
He added: “As with most sectors, the green agenda is shaping the future of our industry and, crucially, Evohold is at the forefront of this. All its products are manufactured in the UK and use recycled plastic or materials that are compostable in just four weeks.
“In addition, the antimicrobial products, that stop the cross contamination of germs, are proving particularly popular in the Covid-19 pandemic, in all types of environments from schools to hospitals, which makes this a key growth area.”
Fretwell said: “Over the last four years we’ve built a successful business on the foundations of being a UK manufacturer with solid eco-credentials. Andy immediately understood the importance of maintaining this ethos and I’m looking forward to seeing the products continue to flourish as part of Cards-x.”
Cards-x currently employs five staff in the UK and plans to create 10 new jobs over the coming year. Its UK turnover target is £5m in three years.
The UK facility, which was opened on 1 October, was set up partly due to the pandemic, which the business said had accelerated the migration to cashless payments in sectors including catering.
