Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs

What Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs does

Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs is a French specialty printing company founded in 1873 in Tours by Jean-Baptiste Gibert and Alfred Clarey, today operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Firopa (integrated 2012). The company operates from a single integrated production site in Chambray-lès-Tours, employing approximately 82 people and serving roughly 400 clients across publishing, luxury packaging, communication, and point-of-sale display (PLV). Notable customers include LVMH, Chanel, Lancôme, Moët & Chandon, Bollinger, Coach, and Ladurée for premium packaging, alongside publishers such as L'École des Loisirs and Réponses Photo for high-end books and magazines.

The technical platform is built around seven co-located workshops: a study office, photogravure/prepress, offset printing (five presses, including a Komori 6-color hybrid unit installed in October 2020 that supports both conventional/acrylic and UV/UV varnish modes), digital printing (including large format up to 3x2m), enhancement (screen printing, hot stamping, embossing/debossing, coating, lamination), book and communication finishing (perfect binding, Otabind, Swiss binding, Bodonian, hardcover, Wire-O), packaging finishing (cutting, folding-gluing, glued boxes), and an integrated logistics cell. In July 2021 the company created the PackVal folding-carton workshop (financed partly by France Relance) and acquired GRAPHIVAL's large-format digital assets, extending the offering into packaging and visual-communication segments.

The business model is B2B project-based with custom quotes per engagement, sales-led direct, and reliant on reputation and referrals rather than active marketing. No public pricing, e-commerce, or retail channel exists; clients submit inquiries through website forms categorized by project type (packaging, publishing, signage). Revenue is one-time per project rather than subscription. The customer base is segmented vertically (Publishers, Packaging/PLV as primary, Communication/agencies and Cartoniers as secondary), with industry certifications (PEFC, FSC, Imprim'Vert, Imprim'Luxe, PRINT ETHIC) supporting premium positioning in luxury and sustainability-conscious procurement.

Name

Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs

Legal name

Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs

Website

https://gibert-clarey-imprimeurs.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs is a 1873-founded French specialty printer in Chambray-lès-Tours, wholly owned by Groupe Firopa, serving roughly 400 publishing, luxury packaging, and PLV clients via an integrated seven-workshop production site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), Printing (32311)

SIC

Book Printing (2732), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJALAF

Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Print Production Services (Printing, Binding, Prepress)

SECONDARYIMALAKAH

Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Packaging & Containers/Labels, Sleeves & Packaging Printing

SECONDARYIMALAKAM

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Packaging & Containers/Labels, Sleeves & Packaging Printing

Keywords

• Commercial offset printing
• Premium packaging printing
• Luxury finishing services
• Book and magazine printing
• Large format digital printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chambray-lès-tours

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom printing services: B2B printing services including offset and digital printing, finishing, and packaging solutions for publishers, agencies, companies, cartoniers, and PLV producers. Revenue generated through project-based orders with quotes provided per job.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Gibert-Clarey Imprimeurs produces custom printed communications, books, periodicals, packaging, and point-of-sale (PLV) materials for B2B clients. Service delivery combines offset and digital printing with integrated on-site finishing capabilities, including screen printing, hot stamping, embossing, coating, and binding. Sub-brands PackVal (folding cartons) and GRAPHIVAL (large-format digital signage) extend the offering into packaging production and visual communication, all operated from a single production site in Chambray-lès-Tours.

Product overview

Gibert-Clarey Imprimeurs is a traditional printing company founded in 1873, operating as a single unified production site with multiple complementary workshops. The company offers three main product lines: (1) Offset and digital printing services for publishing and communication, (2) Packaging under the PackVal sub-brand launched in 2021 for folding cartons, and (3) Large format digital printing under the GRAPHIVAL sub-brand also acquired in 2021. The integrated production site houses 7 workshops including Study Office, Prepress, Offset Printing, Digital Printing, Finishing/Ennoblissement, Book Finishing, Packaging Finishing, and Logistics. The company employs 82-84 employees and serves approximately 400 clients including publishers, agencies, companies, carton makers, and POS display specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PackVal: Packaging brand for folding cartons in compact cardboard, created in July 2021 with its own dedicated workshop and sales team.
• GRAPHIVAL

Products and services

• PackVal - Folding Carton Packaging Sub-brand and dedicated workshop for the production of folding cartons in compact cardboard, launched in July 2021 with France Relance program support. Offers a 100% integrated packaging solution covering feasibility study, design, printing, finishing, folding-gluing and delivery for brands needing packaging production.
• GRAPHIVAL - Large-format Digital Printing and Visual Communication Sub-brand and acquired division specialized in large-format digital printing (up to 3x2 meters), signage and point-of-sale (PLV) visual communication for agencies, retailers, cultural venues and brands. The GRAPHIVAL workshops were transferred to the Gibert-Clarey site in Chambray-lès-Tours in 2021.
• Offset Printing Service Core offset printing service for publishing and packaging clients, operated by 2 workshop managers and 12 operators across 5 offset presses with complementary technical characteristics, including a hybrid Komori 6-color press with varnish (launched October 2020) capable of conventional/acrylic or UV/UV ink and varnish modes for high-end publishing and packaging.
• Digital Printing Service High-end digital printing service for short runs without compromising quality, covering both small-format and large-format jobs (including output up to 3x2 meters). Targeted at agencies, publishers, brands and PLV producers needing flexible quantities or personalized runs.
• Book & Communication Finishing (Façonnage édition) Integrated finishing service for books and printed communications including cutting, scoring, folding, stapling, perfect binding (square spine), Otabind, Swiss binding, Bodonian binding, hardcover with rounded spine, ribbon bookmark, headbands, Integra binding and Wire-O binding. Offered in combination with partner AF37 (formerly Façonnage 37) for fully integrated book production.
• Packaging Finishing (Façonnage packaging) Integrated packaging finishing service covering cutting, scoring, straight flaps, automatic bottoms, 4-corner glued boxes, 6-corner glued boxes, and integrated cushioning, supporting the PackVal folding-carton offering with end-to-end finishing on the same site.
• Study Office / Project Advisory (Bureau d'études) Three-person expert advisory service supporting customers on packaging project feasibility, technical choices and print specification, providing pre-project consulting to ensure projects are technically achievable and aligned with the company's integrated capabilities.
• Prepress & Photogravure Expert graphic file preparation and prepress services (including photogravure) ensuring plates and files are press-ready before entering the offset or digital production workflow.
• Integrated Logistics On-site logistics cell managing storage, packing and delivery of finished printed materials and packaging to ensure deadlines and customer satisfaction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% integrated solution for packaging
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AF37 (Atelier Façonnage 37)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Formerly Façonnage 37, taken over by Firopa Group in 2016 and renamed AF37. Provides integrated book binding solutions including perfect binding with and without sewing, Otabind, Swiss binding, and quality finishing. Enables 100% integrated solution for book production with Gibert-Clarey.
• Firopa GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2012Parent group that Gibert-Clarey joined in 2012. Denis Jacqueline, President of Firopa, supported the acquisition of two 120x160cm offset presses and recruitment of experienced staff from Mame Imprimeurs.
• PaprecminorOthersWaste management and recycling partner for proper disposal and recycling of industrial waste.
• Lycée Albert BayetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with vocational school for training and developing future printing professionals.
• EsepacminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with packaging school for training and developing future packaging professionals.
• FiropacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership through Firopa network for printing services. Gibert-Clarey serves as production facility within the group.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CPI (Compagnie des Imprimés): French commercial printing group offering offset and digital printing plus finishing for publishers and corporate clients — a comparable integrated print service provider.
• Imprimerie Chirat: Mid-sized French commercial printer offering offset and digital printing plus finishing for publishers, agencies, and brands — directly comparable integrated B2B print model serving the same French market.
• Brodard et Taupin: French book and publication printer with offset capacity and integrated binding — a direct comparable on the publishing/book printing side of Gibert-Clarey's business.
• Imprimerie de Champagne: French commercial printer with offset, digital, and finishing capabilities serving publishers and regional brands — comparable mid-scale integrated printing model.
• Stipa Imprimerie: French printing group offering offset and digital print with integrated finishing, serving publishers, agencies, and corporate clients in the same premium French market.
• Groupe Maury Imprimeur: French printing group with comparable offset, digital, and finishing capabilities for publishing and brand marketing, targeting similar publisher and corporate clients.

Broad incumbents

• Mondi: Global packaging and paper group with significant folding-carton and converted paper operations — broader incumbent overlapping with the PackVal packaging business.
• Quad/Graphics: Large US-based commercial printer with broad catalog, magazine, and direct-mail capabilities — a broader-scale incumbent illustrating where the industry consolidates.
• Smurfit Kappa: Pan-European paper-based packaging giant with extensive folding-carton and corrugated operations; broader and more industrial than Gibert-Clarey but competes for premium folding-carton work.

Others

• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: Global manufacturer of offset and digital presses plus finishing equipment; not a direct competitor but the supplier of much of the capital equipment that underpins Gibert-Clarey's offset and finishing capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Gibert Clarey Imprimeurs