METROPOLE

What METROPOLE does

METROPOLE (legally METROPOLE ATELIER S.A.S.) is a French large-format printing and visual communications atelier headquartered at 167–189 avenue des Grésillons, 92230 Gennevilliers, in the Greater Paris metropolitan area, operating since approximately 2000. The company provides end-to-end services spanning in-house graphic design, large-format digital printing on flexible and rigid substrates, sublimation printing on textiles, confection/finishing, and on-site installation, delivered through a 3,000 m² integrated production facility with ~85 employees and an annual output of 300,000–400,000 m² of banners, adhesives, and rigid substrates (daily capacity of 2,500 m²). It serves roughly 1,000 clients with a vertical focus on cinema chains, shopping center operators, airports, exhibition venues, municipalities, museums, and transportation infrastructure.\n\nThe company's technology stack centers on what source material describes as the most advanced large-format printing equipment base in France, anchored by the Massivit 1800 — characterized as the only 3D printer in France capable of producing objects up to 180×150×120cm via Gel Dispensing Printing (GPD) — supplemented by two DURST RHO 512R 5-meter UV printers (6 colors, 900 DPI, multi-roll capability), HP Latex LX3000 and LX360 water-based printers (no solvents), a DURST P10 200 flatbed (6 colors plus white ink, 1000 DPI), and an EFI FABRIVU 520 sublimation printer (5 meters, 1800–2400 DPI, aqueous inks). Finishing is supported in-house by Esko Kongsberg C64 robotic cutting, Durkopp sewing machines, and Leister heat welders; installation is delivered with a fleet of 15 utility vehicles, a high-volume van, and 3 lifting platforms including a bi-energy unit at Porte de Versailles.\n\nRevenue is generated predominantly through project-based (one-time) printing and installation work across retail, cinema, and event campaigns, supplemented by recurring revenue from ongoing framework agreements with municipalities, shopping center operators, and cinema chains. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with dedicated account management and no intermediaries; pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with no public list. Notable long-tenure enterprise relationships include Gaumont (15 years, 50+ cinema sites), Aéroports de Paris (since 2012, all Paris airports), VIPARIS (Paris exhibition venues including Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris expo Porte de Versailles, Carrousel du Louvre, Palais des congrès d'Issy-les-Moulineaux), Unibail-Rodamco / Klépierre / Carmila (shopping centers), SNCF Gares & Connexions (2017 Corto Maltese 3D exhibition at Paris Austerlitz), Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais (since 2013), Mairie de Nanterre, and Mairie de Saint-Denis. METROPOLE is privately held as a French SAS with €50,000 share capital, holds the Imprim'Vert environmental certification (since 2009) and an EcoVadis Bronze rating, and shows no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, M&A, subsidiaries, or leadership changes in the available data.

Name

METROPOLE

Legal name

METROPOLE ATELIER S.A.S.

Website

https://metropole.me

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

METROPOLE (METROPOLE ATELIER S.A.S.) is a Gennevilliers-based French large-format printing atelier providing end-to-end digital, sublimation, and 3D grand-format printing, confection, and installation services for enterprise clients in cinema, retail/shopping centers, airports, exhibition venues, museums, and municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gennevilliers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Large-Format Digital Printing Services: One-time project-based printing services for banners, adhesives, rigid substrates, vehicle wraps, and event displays. Revenue generated per project based on material quantity, size, complexity, and installation requirements.
2. Sublimation Printing: Custom textile printing services for retail displays, events, and interior/exterior decoration. Produces vibrant colors on fabric substrates for banners, light boxes, flags, wall coverings, and furniture.
3. 3D Grand Format Printing: Large-scale 3D printing services for retail displays, art installations, architecture, events, and prototyping. Premium pricing for specialized 3D production capabilities unique in France.
4. Ongoing Service Contracts: Framework agreements with municipalities, shopping centers, and cinema chains for recurring printing and signage maintenance services. Provides predictable recurring revenue from established client relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

METROPOLE ATELIER S.A.S. is a French large-format printing atelier delivering digital printing, sublimation textile printing, and 3D grand-format printing services from a 3,000 m² facility in Gennevilliers. The company provides an end-to-end offering that combines graphic design, production at 2,500 m² per day, in-house confection/fabrication, professional installation, and recycling, serving cinemas, retail chains, shopping centers, municipalities, airports, museums, and major construction projects.

Product overview

METROPOLE operates as a unified production atelier offering three core large-format printing services: digital printing, sublimation printing, and large-format 3D printing. The company integrates complementary service modules including graphic design studio, confection/assembly with robotic equipment, professional installation services, and recycling capabilities. The portfolio spans from traditional large-format digital printing (up to 5-meter width, 2,500 m²/day capacity) to sublimation on textiles, to revolutionary 3D printing using Massivit 1800 technology. All services are performed in-house across 3,000 m² of workshops in Gennevilliers, enabling end-to-end production from conception to installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Large-Format Digital Printing (Impression numérique grand format) Large-format digital printing on flexible and rigid substrates for enterprise clients in cinema, retail, shopping centers, municipalities, airports, museums, construction, and event communication; delivered with a 2,500 m² per day production capacity and bundled with in-house confection and installation.
• Sublimation Printing (Impression par sublimation) Aqueous-ink sublimation printing up to 5 meters wide on washable, reusable textile substrates at 1800–2400 DPI for retail campaigns, custom interior design, and event materials including banners, light boxes, flags, wall coverings, backlit fabric, stand coverings, and signage.
• Large-Format 3D Printing (Impression 3D très grand format) Large-format 3D printing service for professionals using Massivit 1800 Gel Dispensing Printing (GPD) technology, capable of producing objects up to 180×150×120 cm with dual print heads that allow simultaneous printing of two objects; positioned by the company as the only large-format 3D printing offering of its kind in France, targeted at advertising, retail, art, architecture, design, events, and prototyping.
• Graphic Design Studio (Studio Graphique) In-house graphic design and file preparation service covering layout, creation, adaptation, and graphic execution for print, sublimation, and 3D projects; delivered by the company's own design team using Adobe Creative Cloud and offered to enterprise clients as part of the production workflow.
• Installation Services (Pose) Professional installation of banners, adhesives, and rigid supports performed by METROPOLE's internal teams using a fleet of 15 utility vehicles, a high-volume van, and 3 lifting platforms (including a bi-energy platform at Porte de Versailles) for sites such as shopping centers, airports, museums, and construction projects.
• Confection and Fabrication (Sewing & Assembly) In-house confection and fabrication of printed substrates using an ESKO Kongsberg C64 robotic cutting table, DURKOPP sewing machines, and LEISTER heat welders to deliver eyeleting, welding, sewing, and custom assembly for finished signage, banners, and decorative products.
• Recycling Service (Recyclage) Environmental recycling service combining on-site waste sorting and compaction, collection by specialized partners, and the development of new recycling programs that transform printed waste into downstream products such as flooring and shoe soles, supporting the company's Imprim'Vert and EcoVadis Bronze sustainability commitments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500 m² daily production capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• SNCF Gares & ConnexionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partner for Corto Maltese 3D exhibition at Paris Austerlitz station, creating life-size 3D reproduction of iconic comic character.
• CASTERMANmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Publisher partnership for Corto Maltese 3D exhibition, enabling reproduction of the iconic comic character.
• Réunion des Musées Nationaux - Grand PalaiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Won 2013 competitive tender for exterior signage at Musée du Luxembourg and Musée de Cluny. Provides ongoing printing and installation services for cultural institutions.
• Aéroports de PariscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Selected through competitive tender process in 2012. Provides all large-format printing services for Paris airports including barricades, adhesives, and campaign communications exceeding 100 copies per order. Teams hold security clearance for access to all airport zones day and night.
• VIPARIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric partner for exhibition venue signage. Handles all technical services including file preparation, printing, fabrication, and installation across Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris expo Porte de Versailles, Carrousel du Louvre, Palais des congrès d'Issy les Moulineaux, Espace Grande Arche, Paris Le Bourget, and Espace Champerret.
• Unibail-RodamcocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor shopping center operator partnership for interior and exterior barricade installation, signage maintenance, photo exhibition printing and installation, and permanent or event-driven communication support.
• CarmilamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShopping center operator partnership for signage and communication services.
• KlépierremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShopping center operator partnership for signage and communication services.
• Mairie de NanterrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement holder for municipal printing and installation services.
• Mairie de Saint-DeniscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement holder for municipal printing and installation services.
• GaumontcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year partnership for weekly interior and exterior signage at 50+ cinema sites in Paris and Île-de-France. Services include file processing, printing, installation, and removal.
• PathécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinema chain partnership for signage services.
• UGCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinema chain partnership for signage services.
• MK2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinema chain partnership for signage services.
• JCDecauxmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for 3D display installations on Champs-Élysées bus shelters during Festival Photo La Gacilly, in partnership with Atelier Michel Bouvet and supported by Fondation Yves Rocher.
• Atelier Michel BouvetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative collaboration for Festival Photo La Gacilly 3D installation project, providing design expertise for the camera reproduction displayed on Champs-Élysées.
• Palais de TokyomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for banner and adhesive printing services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• JCDecaux: French outdoor advertising and street furniture giant. Comparable as a large visual communications incumbent that consumes and operates large-format print assets; serves overlapping enterprise and municipal customers but operates a fundamentally different business model (advertising sales vs. print services). METROPOLE is also an existing partner on Champs-Élysées 3D installations.
• Clear Channel France: French subsidiary of global outdoor advertising operator. Comparable as a large visual communications incumbent using large-format printed signage across French urban environments, though business model centers on ad space rather than print production services.

Direct peers

• Lecoultre (Groupe Lecoultre): French large-format and commercial printing group serving enterprise customers. Directly comparable to METROPOLE in terms of product offering (large-format printing, installation), customer segments (retail, events, public sector), and geographic footprint in France.
• Maille Imprimeur: French commercial printing company offering large-format digital printing and finishing services. Directly comparable service offering (large-format print, confection, installation) for similar enterprise and public-sector customers in France.
• Marais Groupe: French commercial printing group with large-format capabilities. Comparable as a French printing services competitor serving enterprise customers across similar end markets including retail, events, and corporate communications.

Others

• Antalis: European paper, packaging, and visual communications distributor headquartered in France. Comparable as a France-rooted visual communications ecosystem participant supplying substrates and materials that feed large-format print operations like METROPOLE's.
• HP Inc. US-based large-format printing equipment manufacturer supplying the HP Latex LX3000 and LX360 systems METROPOLE operates. Comparable as a critical ecosystem supplier; not a direct competitor but shapes the technology roadmap METROPOLE adopts.
• Durst Phototechnik: Italian manufacturer of large-format UV and digital printing systems, supplier of METROPOLE's DURST RHO 512R and DURST P10 200 equipment. Comparable as a key ecosystem partner; technology leadership here directly affects METROPOLE's product capabilities.
• Massivit 3D Printing Technologies: Israeli manufacturer of large-format 3D printing systems, supplier of METROPOLE's unique Massivit 1800. Comparable as the enabling technology provider; METROPOLE is currently its only French operator, making this supplier-customer relationship strategically pivotal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about METROPOLE