Site Spotlight: 60 years of paper roll manufacturing (1966) and 50 years of self-adhesive labels production (1976) in France

Schades Group has 11 sites across Europe – from Denmark to Turkey – built on a legacy of over a century’s worth of paper roll and label manufacturing expertise.

In this blog series, we will explore the rich history of these sites, diving into each one’s individual journey – from the people who built the business in these locations to the products and customers that helped it to grow.

Paper roll manufacturing in France is marking a significant milestone this year, with 60 years in operation. Entrepreneurs Mr. Barrère and Mr. De Girardi began producing paper rolls in 1966 from a garage in Mérignac near Bordeaux. What started as a modest operation under the name ‘Aramis’ evolved into a booming business, taken on by Schades Group three decades later in 1990.

From small beginnings in a garage near Bordeaux, the paper roll business Aramis expanded in 1976 to adhesive labels, when Mr. Girardi founded new company Athos. In the early days, Aramis alone produced Telex rolls (up to 12 plies), telegram discs, rolls for dry cleaners, and two-ply rolls for bank card terminals. Labels were added with Athos in 1976.

A decade later in 1985, the companies merged under the name Aramis & Athos, following an acquisition by a new shareholder FIDECO. Under this merger, the company experienced rapid growth, with revenue doubling in three years to €12.19 million by 1987.

During these three years of intense activity, innovation and investment, the company built an impressive business with 90 employees driving production. 3,200 tonnes of paper were processed, and 16 million paper rolls and over 1 billion adhesive labels were produced.

Aramis & Athos manufactured over 4,000 distinct products for more than 3,000 customers. A key customer was the French National Lottery – France Loto or La Française des Jeux from 1991– for which Aramis & Athos had produced 1.6 billion tickets by 1988.

Recognising the rapid growth of Aramis & Athos, Schades Group acquired the company in 1990. At the time, Schades had sites in England and Belgium, the company headquarters in Denmark and a sales office near Paris – so the Bordeaux site presented a new opportunity to expand our offering and operations.

The first order of business was to consolidate operations at the Le Haillan site in Bordeaux – which was expanded to accommodate 120 employees.

The 1990s brought challenges for the business, with multiple changes in site directors. Stability returned with the arrival of Jan Larsson, whose leadership successfully turned the company around and provided continuity until 2010.

2007 marked a pivotal moment for Schades Group in France. The production of paper rolls at Le Haillan was discontinued and transferred to the Schades factory in Denmark, including the relocation of the Goebel machines which produced paper rolls.

This marked the end of an era for Le Haillan, but the beginning of a new identity focused on adhesive label manufacturing. From this point onward, the site has specialised exclusively in self-adhesive label manufacturing, building on decades of experience to become a dedicated centre of expertise for Schades.

Throughout its history, the Le Haillan site has built a diverse and prestigious customer base. From 1998 to 2003, the site ran a dedicated machine to meet demand for La Francaise des Jeux. It also supplied rolls used for coin packaging to La Monnaie de Paris, paper for the Saphir telex network for Gendarmerie nationale, and adhesive labels for wine bottles in the infamous Bordeaux region.

These partnerships reflect both the technical capability of the site and its deep connection to French industry and heritage, whilst contributing to the wider success of Schades Group across Europe.

As we reflect on 60 years of paper roll manufacturing and 50 years of self-adhesive label production under the Schades Group name, we want to thank the people who have made this journey such a success.

Mme. Biron and M. Ducau are retiring after more than 40 years with the company. They have both witnessed the company’s transformation from their hiring both in 1984 through mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and reinvention, and we thank them for their dedication.

From a garage in Mérignac to a specialised adhesive label manufacturing site in Le Haillan, our journey in France reflects resilience and adaption to modern technologies, products and market demands. Throughout this time, our team’s commitment to quality, innovation and partnership has remained a constant.

Get in touch with our France team to find out how they can supply the self-adhesive labelling solutions you need.