After several months of discussions, French manufacturer of printing, converting and finishing machinery Smag enters a new era by joining forces with Chinese giant Rhyguan. According to Stéphane Rateau, Smag's CEO and the second generation at the head of the group, this alliance was necessary, as the company was in a situation where it was "too big to be small and too small to be big" with no family succession in sight.
Rhyguan's acquisition of a stake in Smag opens up new prospects. It will provide rapid access to the Asian market and benefit from Rhyguan's economies of scale, while enriching the existing product range.
Smag's iconic machines, such as the Galaxie Classic, Iconcept and Iconnect, will continue to be manufactured in France.
Smag Easy lines will be assembled by Rhyguan, but finished in France.
All these products will continue to be distributed through the Smag sales network, which will also offer the entire Rhyguan portfolio in France and French-speaking African countries.
Rhyguan's customers in France will benefit from easy communication in French, as well as improved service.
Stéphane Rateau and Jean-Marie Mercier remain CEO and CFO respectively, while Daniel Van Zelst, Managing Director of Rhyguan Europe, becomes President of Smag Holding.
Rhyguan, which manufactures around 700 label finishing and converting machines a year, plans to maintain existing jobs and create new ones from 2024. The focus will be on innovation, service and the growth of Smag's business.
