ID card company expands through acquisition

Digital ID, the Stockport-based ID card company has acquired Oxford company, Essentra Security, a trading division of Essentra Components, for an undisclosed sum.

As part of the Components division of Essentra plc, Essentra Security is one of the UK’s most recognised ID card companies specialising in the supply of ID card printers, consumables and accessories to a well-established client base of both end-users and trade customers.

The acquisition cements Digital ID’s position as the UK’s leading ID card company with more than 100 staff located across four offices throughout the UK.

Digital ID managing director Jonathan Fell said: “Essentra has an excellent reputation in the industry, an impressive team of staff and loyal client base.

“This acquisition enables the Digital ID Group to evolve its growth strategy to enhance the organic growth we have achieved already this year, and I very much look forward to working with the Essentra team.

“We now have a real wealth of passion and experience in every department within the business and I’m looking forward to the journey over the next few years.”

Simon Jones, commercial director at Essentra Security, said: “With our specialist industry knowledge and technical expertise combined with strategic manufacturer relations, we represent a sound opportunity for Digital ID to expand their leading UK presence further.

“We can already see a benefit in joining our processes and systems to offer customers a simpler and easier ordering experience.”

The Essentra Security team will remain based in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, but will not retain the Essentra brand. In the future, the company will sell commercially under the Digital ID brand to enhance the company’s strong market presence and leverage the Digital ID brand.

Alongside continued organic growth, the acquisition of Essentra Security will see Digital ID grow to a £32m turnover company in 2019.