FAQ

The Sepec Group brings together three complementary entities:

Sepec: Offset printing, short and medium runs, traditional and LED-UV.

Sepec Numérique: Digital inkjet and toner printing, short and medium runs.

Sepec-AGM: Offset printing, medium and long runs.

We manufacture books in the broadest sense, in all their forms:

• General literature
• Coffee-table books
• Comics & manga
• Children’s books
• Educational & school books
• Diaries & stationery
• Magazines & periodicals
• Catalogues
• Technical and professional books
• And more.

We manage the entire production chain in-house:

• Prepress / DTP
• Offset AND digital printing
• Bookbinding & finishing
• Value-added enhancements
• Packing & shipping

This ensures controlled quality, reliable lead times, optimised costs, and excellent responsiveness – even for complex projects or numerous short runs.

This fully integrated model also gives our clients greater flexibility, with the possibility to combine offset and digital printing within the same project.

No. We support all individuals and organisations carrying a publishing project and seeking a trusted partner to bring it to life:

• Publishing houses
• Self-published authors
• Companies and professionals
• Museums & galleries
• Associations
• Agencies
• Institutions and organisations
• Other professional clients
• And more.

Our specialised sales and production teams always look for the most suitable technical and economic solution for your project, whatever your profile.

You can request a quote online via our dedicated form or contact our sales team directly through the “Contact” section.

To help us study your project, it is useful to specify:

• The type of book
• The final trim size
• The page count
• The quantities required
• The chosen paper for the interior and the cover
• The binding style
• Any finishing or embellishment options
• The desired delivery date
• The delivery address(es), if applicable

Of course, you can contact us at any stage of your project, even if you do not yet have all this information. We will gladly advise you and help you shape your specifications.

The choice depends on several factors: quantity, type of book, deadlines, and budget.

General guidelines:

• Offset printing: best for medium and long runs, and for projects requiring high-precision colour reproduction. LED-UV offset offers even greater quality, especially on uncoated papers, thanks to instant ink curing.
• Digital printing: ideal for short runs or variable printing, fast turnaround, and print-on-demand models.

However, this is not a strict rule — the choice depends on your specific project. Our sales team will advise you so you can make an informed decision.

We also offer hybrid solutions (e.g., offset-printed covers + digitally printed interior) to optimise both quality and cost. This flexibility is one of our main strengths.

We offer — among others — the following binding types:

• Perfect binding (Hotmelt or PUR)
• Sewn perfect binding
• Otabind
• Case binding (round or square spine)
• Integra binding
• Exposed-spine sewing
• Saddle-stitching

We also offer numerous finishing details: rounded corners, micro-perforations, elastic bands, bookmarks, inserts & accessories, jackets, belly bands, stickers, metal corners, and more.

We offer a wide range of embellishment options:

• Edge-printing and edge-colouring (solid colours, CMYK illustrations, text…)
• Lamination (gloss, matte, soft-touch, anti-scratch matte, satin, silver or gold)
• Hot stamping, flat or recessed
• Foil stamping (flat, recessed or sculpted)
• Spot varnish (gloss or matte, 2D or 3D)
• Embossing
• Debossing
• Inlaid vignettes

Our teams will guide you through all options and help you choose the enhancements best suited to your project.

You upload your PDF files via a secure online platform. Our prepress team checks and optimises your files: image resolution, bleed, margins, fonts, colour management, layout, etc.

We use professional colour-management tools (GMG, FUJI XMF workflow, certified FOGRA proofs, calibrated proofers…) to guarantee accurate reproduction.

You then receive a proof (BAT) for approval — a digital proof by default, and/or a printed proof if requested. Once the proof is approved, we launch production.

For offset printing, plates are created on our CTP equipment after proof approval, before the job goes to press. You may also attend the press make-ready (optional) for your project.

Yes. We deliver throughout France and internationally, and we can ship the same order to multiple destinations (bookstores, logistics platforms, points of sale, end customers, etc.).

We develop our own tools, designed to be simple, efficient and fully aligned with your needs. You benefit from:

• A complete client portal: quote tracking, proof upload and approval, real-time production updates, access to all documents (quotes, purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices…).
• A dedicated interface for digital printing: autonomous quote generation, order placement, reprints via an online library, delivery address management, online payments.

All books are printed and bound in France, on our sites in Péronnas (Ain) and Forges-les-Eaux.

All binding and finishing operations are carried out in-house, except for selective varnish, which is subcontracted locally.

Our decisions are guided by common sense — socially, environmentally, and economically. Our commitments include:

• Certifications and labels: PEFC, Imprim’Vert, ClimateCalc.
• Regular investment in modern equipment (reduced energy consumption, reduced waste).
• Installation of solar panels and heat-recovery systems on certain machines.
• A largely integrated production model that minimises transportation impact.
• A strong focus on working conditions, safety, well-being and professional fulfilment of our teams.
• A commitment to long-term, transparent and trust-based client relationships.