In July 1989, Michel Mateu left the family business, which specialised in the manufacture of insulation for electric motors and transformers, to found HEXIS. He set up the limited liability company with a capital of € 7,600, at Balaruc, Hérault in Southern France. .
His aim? To make plastic film suitable for Computer Aided Cutting (CAC) to serve as a advertising media.

With a small enthusiastic team, he carried out research to refine a range of 1000-mm standard width products.

In 1992, the purchase of a new machine capable of producing 1600-mm wide film signalled the Hexis take-off for the export markets.

1999, a great breakthrough was made
Hexis bought a factory at Roquevaire in the Bouches du Rhône (France), reinforcing its manufacturing capacity for digital imaging supports: a site of 2,630 m², three coating machines, a daily production capacity of 20,000 linear metres with a width of 1.5 metres.
Hexis began running two production shifts (2 x 8 hours) and implemented a 35-hour working week.
Capital was further increased to € 600,000 in 2000. The company increased its clientele by launching a range of general public, multimedia products.
In 2001, Hexis further increased the emphasis on quality. It doubled the production capacity at Frontignan to 5,000 m², invested € 380,000 in research and development, and set up a digital imaging training and consultancy centre within the research lab.