Eurhode Business Services

After 5 years of experience in management of a German motor vehicle equipment manufacturer and almost 4 years in the European centre of research, first placed worldwide for ophthalmic products (an American pharmaceutical company), Rose Stuppfler decides to create her own business with the idea of reconciling professional activity with parental availability. EURHODE Service, translation and multilingual secretarial work sees the day as a proprietorship.

As the translation department took on a larger scale, it was necessary to hire an employee. The proprietorship became a SARL (private company limited by shares; a corporation) with a capital of 100 000 F, with one employed translator. A network of professional translators, translating only into their native tongue and in their areas of expertise, was established. English and German to French translations were done in-house. Those done by networked translators were revised and delivered to clients in the strictest respect of the required page settings.

Well before the arrival of Internet in France, EURHODE was a pioneer of NTIC (New information Technology) and freed itself of postal delays by exchanging documents by modem with equipped translators and clients.

EURHODE established itself in a larger commercial space and began reprography under the corporate name COPY Plus.
This is the beginning of colored photocopiers and a similar market which seemed interesting to develop. With a B&W copier, a color laser copier and a small finishing workshop, this new activity allowed EURHODE to extend its services and to offer to its clients a complete solution from translation to finished product.

This evolution of services came with the hiring of an apprentice.

Translation developed. Copy Plus was equipped with a B&W production copier. The product range expanded: electronic publishing (first McIntosh station with Quark X-Press), personalised CVs, address management and direct mail.

Recruitment of an executive assistant doing a cooperative education (work-study) program. The services were more technical, thanks to new computer resources and their optimal use.

Copy Plus: Replacement of the laser color copier for a more precise and efficient machine.

The development of the printing department required the hiring of a new employee, of which the position would progressively grow from part time to full time.

Hiring of a full-time secretary to replace the co-op contractual. The employed translator left to pursue a new career direction. Rose Stuppfler takes over at full-time to do both general and translation management. Two full-time employees are hired for the printing department, secretary work and advertising design.
EURHODE takes over the administrative management and development of a France-wide mid-wife training centre.
The translation department is in full expansion.

Internet’s development in France facilitated translator/Eurhode and Eurhode/client correspondences. Once cable arrived in Colmar, Eurhode had access to the cable network to speed up its electronic conversations.
The printing department grows: with a new B&W production copier, the creation of a self-service station, the release of a liquid ink printing system (allowing to print in many colors for the price of B&W), investing in professional finishing equipment.
Installation of two more computer stations.

Translation develops and EURHODE becomes the first business in Haut-Rhin to use machine-aided translation: management software with terminological data, translation memory by client and domain, and electronic dictionaries.

EURHODE acquired a new MAC platform with X’Press, Photoshop and Illustrator to allow for translations in electronic publishing files to be offset printed.

This year was the arrival into the world of digital printing.
EURHODE networks its computer equipment; Copy Plus invests in a digital B&W copier and a connection for the color copier; and becomes one of the first to use an Internet server to manage online orders.
Creates and posts online its first website at: www.eurhode.com and www.copy-plus.fr.
All the factors came together to offer clients a complete set of optimal services, from translating to on-demand printing, just-in-time.

Translation develops and there is a need to hire a native French language technical translator for project management and translation.
The year 2000 is also the year EURHODE went to a 35 hour work week, with all its joys and hardships.

EURHODE Service celebrates its 10th birthday!
It’s time for a reception at Villa Fleck with all the business partners. Over a hundred guests discover EURHODE’s “savoir-faire” and professionalism.
Communications services are more in demand, indicating the step towards this new department’s development.

Recruiting for a new printing operator marked a new step in this activity’s development.
Upon ADSL’s arrival to Colmar, EURHODE was connected to improve its performance in information exchange.

Recruiting of a graphic arts specialist to develop a computer graphics department: new graphic art tools; offset printing and wide format photo-imaging are added to EURHODE’s services, in partnership with local suppliers.
An investment of 14 000 € served to buy a complete copy/print and finishing digital workshop, through liquidation subject to supervision by court. EURHODE thus acquires its first wide format colored poster printing plotter.

EURHODE moves to its new offices, modern and spacious (210 m²), in Ingersheim - 177a, route de Colmar. This new step was accompanied by some major changes:

EURHODE Service becomes EURHODE business services, business corporation with a 20 000 € capital, with perfectly complimentary services with four distinct names:

EURHODE translation
for translation, interpretation, linguistic consulting, etc.

EURHODE communications
for visual and graphic design, all document types management, publishing, secretary work, NTIC (new information and communication technologies) linked services, etc.

COPY+ printing
for copying, printing, finishing of documents and maps, photo-imaging, stuffing envelopes, etc.

EURHODE consulting
for consulting services, training and other subsidiary activities.

EURHODE business services invests 65 000 € to install the new offices, an efficient computer network, two complete graphic art stations (PC and MAC), a new photocopier for a user-friendly, self-service station and various other equipment.

Recruiting of a computer graphics designer to expand the team.

Each department develops, especially communications with new markets in multilingual communications with international industrial clients. A network of partners for the communications department is put into place: graphic designers, illustrators, photographers. EURHODE communications creates its first corporate identity with logos, graphic charts, marketing concepts, etc.

Digital printing develops with investments in new B&W and color copying systems to meet the needs of communications clients’ demand for high quality printing.
Market development for private publishing of authors’ works and training manuals, with adhesive square-back binding.
EURHODE consulting gets involved in designing and duplicating interactive CD-ROMs and creating graphics for websites.
EURHODE communications designs and prints its first kiosk for expositions: posters, totems, kakemonos, umbrella stands, modular stands, etc.

New investment of 18 500 € for computing equipment and software updates.

EURHODE concludes a partnership with Groupe LOOS allowing for a cost reduction, pooling of resources and of expertise.

The printing department is equipped with a new large format color plotter and a cutting plotter; develops the color photo-imagery and the customized adhesive (kiss-cutting or through-cutting) market.
Important communications development especially for the realisation of visual aids and trade show displays. The first animated e-card is made.
Recruiting of a new employee, who is completing her higher education in marketing, to eventually become the communications project manager.

The whole EURHODE team has a two day training on the theme: "A high performance team at EURHODE". The result: a united vision for EURHODE.

"To be a supplier of innovative and efficient solutions in the area of multilingual and multicultural communications.
To be a profitable business in which it is good to live and work."

The completely made-over website www.eurhode.com is released. It is a dynamic information resource: events, sales, news, advice and tips, technical glossary, client access…

EURHODE presents its activities at the Mulhouse’s Exhibition Park, at the Groupe LOOS exhibition: over 400 visitors met 4 businesses and their suppliers for their printing solutions. Presentations, conferences, conversations, tests, etc. helped create a dynamic and friendly environment to the satisfaction of all the participants.