The CPI story started in 1996 with the acquisition of Bussière, a French printer on the fringe of bankruptcy. The company was turned around in 6 months. In 1998, Brodard & Taupin joined Bussière to form what became the CPI group.

Early 1999, Hérissey and Firmin Didot became part of CPI. The group then took a big step and crossed the Channel to acquire Cox & Wyman and Liberfabrica, to which belonged Wöhrmann, the Dutch printer. This phase of UK acquisitions was completed in September when Mackays of Chatham joined the CPI group.

In 2000 and 2001, CPI jumped across another border and acquired German firms Clausen & Bosse and Ebner & Spiegel. The group became the number one printer for monochrome books in Germany.

Other acquisitions followed; Überreuter in Czech Republic (2004), Antony Rowe (2005) and Fulmar (2006) in the UK, Aubin in France and Clowes in the UK (2007).

Between Bussière in 1996 and CPI in 2009, there are a few million books and quite some tonnes of paper. But above all, our group has developed by harnessing its unique blend of skills and technologies.
Everyday, our 3,800 employees go to work with a passion for making good books.