Ernst & Young Innovation Award for Michel Mateu of Hexis

L’Entreprise, one of the leading business magazines in France, singled out Hexis amongst numerous medium sized businesses competing for the prize.

The prize rewards Mateu and his business, which operates 2 production sites in France, for his sustained innovation performance and an annual growth rate of over 35% over the past 7 years.

Hexis manufactures a wide range of sign vinyl and digital printing media used for sign making and vehicle markings. The company recently launched a series of high performance cast vinyl films used as media for full vehicle wraps.

Hexis owns 2 manufacturing sites in the South of France and exports over 40% of its sales to over 40 countries worldwide, while enjoying sales of EUR 29 million in 2006.

At its main site Hexis boasts a high tech R&D laboratory equipped with the latest scientific gear and is particularly proud of their innovative development of cast vinyl films and a structured adhesive named Hex’Press that allows complete elimination of air bubbles during the application of self-adhesive media.

Michel Mateu founded Hexis in 1989. The group head office is located in Frontignan, near Montpellier, with subsidiaries in the USA and Germany. The group has 140 employees.

The award is part of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year competition which aims to recognize the most successful and innovative entrepreneurial business leaders around the globe.