The UK division, based at a 186sqm distribution and manufacturing facility in Malton near York that was opened last autumn, acquired Evohold, which manufactures ID card holders, in December.

The company now produces hundreds of thousands of card holders each week, which are exported to countries throughout the world.

To meet the increasing demand, it has expanded its team with the appointment of Craig Kail to oversee the manufacturing process and Charlotte Hoggard, who has joined the customer services team and will manage the distribution of completed products.

Both newly created roles, Kail started in January while Hoggard began with the company in February.

Cards-x said further investments in both staff and machinery are planned as the company continues to expand its product range.

Over the next six months it will be recruiting for roles in sales, technical support, and marketing, while it will also be investing in two production machines and two robots in the coming weeks to handle the products from the machines to the conveyor, automating the process as much as possible.

The company said its new fully biodegradable ID card holder “uses innovative technology to significantly increase the biodegradation rate of polymers in anaerobic microbe rich environments such as landfill and oceans”.

This product complements Evohold’s existing range, which includes recyclable, compostable, and antimicrobial products, as well as detectable products that include metal particles.

The UK division of Cards-x is headed up by managing director Andy Reeves. He said: “Since expanding into the UK and then acquiring Evohold late last year, we’ve enjoyed a very busy six months with high demand across our product range and particularly for our card holders.

“As the only manufacturer of these products in the UK, we’re now on target to surpass 12 million units a year.”

He added: “The appointment of Charlotte and Craig, combined with further investment in new machinery, will support this growth. Craig brings a wealth of experience in the plastics industry to the role and Charlotte has spent more than five years working in customer services and has immediately hit the ground running.

“Our new biodegradable card holder is proving very popular and particularly with businesses and organisations that are keen to demonstrate their green credentials. Our innovative technology means it biodegrades approximately five times quicker than conventional plastic.”

Reeves said the launch also coincides with many countries banning the use of oxo-degradable plastics.

“Until recently these were marketed as a solution to plastic waste, but it was discovered they actually fragment into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, but don’t break down at a molecular or polymer level like biodegradable plastics, making them a major contributor to plastic pollution.

“This makes it a really exciting time to be adding this pioneering product to our range of recyclable, compostable, antimicrobial and detectable card holders, as well as flying the flag for eco-friendly British manufacturing.”

The company told Printweek that since it started in the UK late last year it has turned over nearly £500,000 “in a pandemic with limited products available”.

The UK operation now employs four people, while the full group including the German entity has over 20 members of staff.