York security company expands European presence following German acquisition

A York company is significantly expanding its product and service range, after acquiring a German business

cards-x, which supplies security ID cards and print equipment, has acquired Adon Development, which is based in Ratingen near Dusseldorf and is one of the world’s most prominent suppliers of turnstiles, barriers, gates and electronic door systems.

The company’s products are available to lease or rent, serving clients including the Eurovision Song Contest, Ski World Cup Croatia, as well as global motor racing events.

With bases in the UK and Germany, cards-x has become one of Europe’s main suppliers of security products, ID cards, and Matica printers. In the last 12 months cards-x’s team has grown from six people to a team of eight at Malton near York with a further 20 people in Germany, following this latest acquisition.

Andy Reeves, COO, at cards-x, said: “cards-x is now at the forefront of the market in terms of security ID cards and the print equipment used to create them, and this latest acquisition is a key part of our ambition to become much more than a distributor and manufacturer.”

Norman Kämmerling, CEO at cards-x, added: “Adon Development is a world leader in access control systems with an innovative product range that is supported by an advanced online system that can provide an array of bespoke services to ensure sports fans, music lovers, exhibition attendees, and anyone else visiting an event, have an outstanding experience.

“It’s very exciting to be able to incorporate these products and services into our offering and the acquisition will enable us to continue growing our client base throughout the UK, Europe and beyond.”

This latest deal follows cards-x acquiring the world’s most eco-friendly manufacturer of ID card holders, Evohold at the end of 2020. Following the acquisition, ‘Made in Britain’ member, Evohold, relocated from Preston to Malton and the company now produces hundreds of thousands of card holders each week, which are exported to countries throughout the world.