The beginning: the adventure starts
1980
Gérard Rateau, Claude Mercier, and Jean Sanchez founded SRAMAG (Société de Recherche et d’Applications pour les Arts Graphiques).
They started with nothing but a simple tool bag each, drawing on the experience they had gained at Müller Martini (MM), the Swiss leader in industrial bookbinding equipment manufacturing.
Their initial activity focused on:
- repairing MM bookbinding machines,
- providing technical service and maintenance for MM equipment,
- complete overhauls and reconstructions of MM machines,
- and gradually, designing and manufacturing their own range of peripheral equipment dedicated to bookbinding.
SRAMAG was born in a small facility in Savigny-sur-Orge, 20 km south of Paris (France).
1986
Acquisition of one of their main subcontractors, SAMC, the French leader in manufacturing cylinders for folding machines. Following this takeover, the company relocated to Montrouge, near Paris.
1988
Construction of their own building and return to Savigny-sur-Orge — a symbol of stability and growing industrial ambition.
1994: The strategic shift toward adhesive labels
As the commercial bookbinding market slowed down, the founders decided to invest in a promising new sector: label printing and converting, which was experiencing rapid growth.
They entrusted this new activity to the second generation, who had just joined the company: Stéphane Rateau, Pascal Mercier, and Jean-Marie Mercier.
This new business was developed under a dedicated brand — SMAG — with a clear vision:
“To design printing machines that combine technical precision and innovation.”
1995: A major breakthrough in the international market
Presentation of the Galaxie Classic (a roll-to-roll flatbed multicolour screen printing concept) at Labelexpo Brussels.
The Galaxie Classic quickly became the global reference in flatbed screen printing — and remains so today.
1995–2000
SMAG also represented Nilpeter in France, strengthening its position in the French label industry.
The 2000s: Family succession and global expansion
Early 2000s
SRAMAG was fully taken over by the second generation, and a second building was constructed in Savigny-sur-Orge to support growth.
2000–2020
The company expanded significantly in export markets, becoming particularly active in:
- Europe
- North America
- Australia
SMAG established itself as a leading international player.
2020: Launch of the ICON platform
SMAG unveiled ICON, an innovative multiprocess platform immediately adopted by the market.
It was available in several sub-configurations for various applications — including RFID — confirming the company’s technological leadership.
2022–2023: A difficult but revealing period
After the pandemic, SMAG was heavily impacted by the global electronic component crisis.
Supply lead times increased from 8 weeks to 16 months, placing major pressure on production and causing a general slowdown in activity.
2025: Integration into the X’llence Group
SMAG joined the X’llence Group under the leadership of Alexandre Burgot-Dervin.
This integration marked the beginning of a new era:
- restructuring,
- modernization,
- industrial investment,
- commercial relaunch,
- reconquest of historical markets.
Today: Preserving and strengthening our excellence
In response to rapid market changes and major industry transformations, a structured action plan is being implemented to ensure customer satisfaction and long-term sustainability:
- preserve the continuity of French expertise,
- secure quality and delivery times,
- strengthen competitiveness,
- accelerate innovation,
- rebuild sustainable commercial momentum,
- reaffirm our identity, driven by shared values embodied daily by all teams.
Excellence is manufactured. The future is printed.
Our French expertise is not just a legacy.
It is a daily commitment — carried forward with determination, humility, and the will to pass on to future generations what we have built for more than 45 years.