Alexandre Bourguignon, Manufacturing Manager at Opera Print

Alexandre Bourguignon followed a five-year course at GOBELINS, starting with a Bac Pro Réalisation de Produits Imprimés et Plurimedia before going on to study for a BTS Etudes de Réalisation d'un Projet de Communication, from which he graduated in 2021. Now Production Manager at Opéra Print, he looks back on his career and his passion for printing.

I started my career at Cloître Imprimeurs in Brittany, Finistère, first as an offset operator's helper , then as an offset operator. I stayed just under two years.

It was a very enriching experience, both humanly and professionally. I was able to deepen my knowledge and skills in offset printing and meet some great colleagues and friends. I have fond memories of this adventure.

In April 2023, I returned to Paris, to Opera Print, the company where I had done my work-study, and took up the same assignments.

Ianalyze production files to anticipate any problems that might arise during production and guarantee impeccable quality , and I ensure that they run smoothly in the workshop, so that documents are delivered on time.

Since February 2024, I've also had the pleasure of working on a magnificent 1965 Heidelberg letterpress. I've been able to carry out embossing, hot stamping (gilding) and die-cutting work on this machine.

For me, this silver medal represents the culmination of all the hard work I put in at the start of my apprenticeship in Bac Pro RPIP, Printed Production option in July 2016!

I put a lot of effort into my two sandwich courses (Bac Pro and BTS) to acquire as much knowledge and skills as possible. This award is the culmination of years of hard work and passion!

My father was also a printer, so he used to take me with him on school vacations, and I would watch him, fascinated. My offset classes with Mr. Paris in Bac Pro brought back all those memories. Today, I'm proud to do what he did !

Working on the letterpress! It's very gratifying, because this machine, which is entirely manual, requires real know-how to achieve impeccable results.

I sometimes advise customers on their choice of paper, printing and finishing/shaping, and seeing customers satisfied with our work is also a great source of pride.

As far as I'm concerned, printing will still be around for years to come. This sector, which has existed for several centuries, has always been able to evolve with the times and adapt to technological innovations.

Today's machines are far more productive than they were 20 years ago. According to a 2023 GreenIT study, the digital sector accounted for 3.4% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. With the development of artificial intelligence, these emissions are likely to increase still further. A joint study by ADEME and ARCEP predicts an increase of 60% by 2040. It is therefore essential to strike a balance between digital and print in order to optimize our carbon footprint.

The graphic arts industry has already come a long way in recent years, notably by using vegetable inks rather than mineral inks (which contain highly polluting petrochemical products), recycling paper offcuts, using cleaning products that are less harmful to the environment and sorting waste (ink cans, soiled rags, etc.).

All this is supported by labels such as Imprim'Vert and Print Environnement. There are also certifications such as FSC or PEFC, which guarantee that the paper used comes from sustainably managed forests.

It was a real pleasure to learn my trade at GOBELINS. The whole teaching team has been very kind to us, and I've really blossomed during these five wonderful years.
Time has gone by incredibly fast! Sometimes I wish I could go back to class to relive those moments!