Cartamundi

Cartamundi is a Belgian company specializing in the manufacture and distribution of playing cards, card games, and related products. Its name combines the Latin words “carta,” meaning card, and “mundi,” meaning world. The company was established in 1976 in Turnhout, Belgium, a city with a long history of printing playing cards. Cartamundi’s headquarters remain in Turnhout, where the organization operates a visitor experience known as the House of Card, presenting the history and production of playing cards.

The company’s origins are connected to the merger of several Belgian playing-card manufacturers, including Brepols, Van Genechten, and Biermans. This structure gave Cartamundi an industrial base in Turnhout and allowed it to develop an international network. Over time, Cartamundi expanded through manufacturing facilities, sales offices, and acquisitions across Europe, North America, and other regions. Its activities include producing traditional playing cards, collectible cards, promotional decks, and licensed card games, as well as manufacturing components for board games and toys.

A major development in Cartamundi’s history was its acquisition of The United States Playing Card Company in 2019 from Newell Brands. The United States Playing Card Company owns or markets several historically important brands, including Bicycle, Bee, and Hoyle. Bicycle cards, first introduced in 1885, are especially recognizable for their role in American card culture and magic. Through this acquisition, Cartamundi added a substantial North American heritage business to its established European operations.

Cartamundi also owns Fournier, the Spanish playing-card manufacturer founded in 1868 in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Fournier is known for producing Spanish-suited decks and supplying cards for casinos and national markets. The group manufactures both standard decks and specialized products, including cards for collectors, magicians, casinos, and branded entertainment. Its licensed work has included products connected with major entertainment and consumer brands, although the specific licenses vary by market and period.

The company serves business customers as well as consumers. Its custom-production business allows publishers, retailers, entertainment companies, and organizations to create branded decks and card-based games. Cartamundi has also promoted sustainable manufacturing, including the use of responsibly sourced paper and certified materials in selected products. Its history therefore combines Turnhout’s traditional printing expertise with a multinational strategy built around recognizable card brands, acquisitions, licensing, and customized game production. Cartamundi remains one of the most significant dedicated playing-card manufacturers, with operations spanning the production, development, and distribution of card-based products worldwide.