Cartamundi

About Cartamundi

Cartamundi is an international player in… games. Awesome, right? Playing games for a living. But there’s a lot more to those card games than you might think.

In Turnhout, Cartamundi is increasingly specializing in complex collectibles, where each pack is put together differently. That means a lot of manual work. And because every new series is subject to a strict embargo, every step must be executed to perfection. Precision, discretion, and reliability are essential.

And that is exactly where the strength of our partnership lies. We know each other inside and out, and we complement each other where necessary. Together, we ensure that all that fun—which people around the world look forward to—ends up on the shelves exactly as it should, without a single mistake.

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How We Work Together to Strengthen Cartamundi

For many years, A-kwadraat side by side with Cartamundi on everything related to the assembly, packaging, and finishing of their game products.

Flexibility is key here. Schedules sometimes shift, deliveries arrive earlier or later than expected, and new batches sometimes have to be shipped out at a rapid pace. At times like these, our team steps up to the plate.

Specifically, we assist Cartamundi with the following, among other things:

• assembling and packaging collectibles and trading cards,
• unloading and loading displays,
• special packaging for limited editions and game series,
• and assisting with time-sensitive releases and embargoes where security and discretion are essential.

Or as Marc, who is in charge of purchasing for the entire Cartamundi Group and the supply chain at the Turnhout location, so aptly puts it:

“Here at Cartamundi, we automate as much as possible, and when manual labor is required, A-kwadraat is the first partner we turn to.”

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This is how we grow together

A partnership that feels like it's always been there

When a partnership flows so naturally, it’s hard to go back to the beginning. That’s also the case with Cartamundi. No one remembers exactly when it started. It just feels like we’ve always been neighbors, partners, and teammates.

Elly Nooyens, who has been a mainstay at Cartamundi for more than forty years, has seen that bond grow only stronger: 

“We’ve been working with social enterprises for over thirty years. A-kwadraat right near us, and there are daily deliveries between our two companies. Of course, by now we know each other inside and out. We’ve truly grown together.”

Marc Sylverans also witnessed that growth up close, on various levels:

“There’s so much more structure now in how we collaborate, exchange information, and coordinate our schedules. A-kwadraat grown in professionalismand competitiveness and capacity. Today, they have more people ready to work for Cartamundi than ever before.”

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Working Together in Sync

Our collaboration is woven into the daily rhythm of Cartamundi. We maintain contact at all levels: from weekly planning meetings to daily follow-ups. And because we work with confidential, valuable, and time-sensitive products, clear agreements and quality procedures are essential.

With each new collectible release—often every few months—the composition, workflow, and even security measures change. Each card can have a different value, and new series are subject to embargo. That’s why processes are checked every half hour, and completed batches are immediately recorded and prepared for their next destination.

Even the transportation is fully coordinated. The trucks are A-kwadraat directly at A-kwadraat and head straight to the customer. During busy periods, there can be as many as ten per week.

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The Added Value of A-kwadraat

For Cartamundi, A-kwadraat is A-kwadraat more than just an operational partner. We have become a reliable, trusted link in a supply chain that sometimes moves at breakneck speed and at other times experiences peaks or shifts. When things get complicated, we bring calm, hard work, and heart to the table.

• Flexibility
  In the world of Cartamundi, plans don’t always match up with reality. And that’s okay. Our team adapts, reassigns people, jumps between assignments, and keeps a cool head—even when deadlines suddenly loom closer than expected. That’s exactly what we excel at.‍
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  ’s Reliability Elly puts it so well: “Even when we can’t deliver on time ourselves, you never hear any frustration on the phone. They always work with us to find solutions.” And for us, that goes without saying. That’s how we work. That’s how we want to collaborate.‍
• Precision & Confidentiality
  With collectibles, there’s simply no room for error. Every pack must be correct, and every flow must be just right. That’s why we follow clear procedures, conduct thorough checks, and maintain a keen eye for detail. This is essential when new cards are under embargo and the value of each component varies.‍
• Sustainability
  This is where our values align perfectly. Plastic-free packaging, using FSC-certified cardboard, opting for handmade products where it makes sense, and above all: collaborating with our neighbors instead of outsourcing production to the other side of Europe. That makes the supply chain shorter, greener, and more humane.

“Time and time again, we’re amazed at how they put the right people in the right places,” says Elly. That might just be the best compliment of all. Because behind all that fun lies true craftsmanship—from our people who work with care, precision, and pride.

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How We Make an Impact Together

Our partnership with Cartamundi proves day after day that craftsmanship, innovation, and social entrepreneurship are a powerful combination. What we do makes it possible to keep part of their production close to home—close to the people who make it and close to the customers who look forward to it.

That’s only possible because there’s trust, because we understand each other, and because we ’ve been adapting to each other’s pace for years. Thanks to that closeness and our professional approach, Cartamundi doesn’t have to turn to distant locations for work that can be done right here, locally, with care.

Marc sums it up beautifully:

“Thanks to a partner like A-kwadraat to offer products that are less automated and better tailored to the market.”