The company specialised in both surplus military equipment of World War I vintage and modern weapons produced by Polish factories.
The SEPEWE name itself was initially an abbreviation meaning "Arms Industry Export Syndicate" (Polish: Syndykat Eksportu Przemysłu Wojennego), but the full name was rarely used.
As domestic orders for new weaponry dwindled, Polish arms industry tried to find new clients abroad, mostly in Romania, Yugoslavia and Turkey.
The private companies tried to join forces by forming a Section of Military Industry (Polish: Sekcja Przemysłu Wojennego, SPW) lobbying group as part of the Metal Industry Exporters Union, but European markets of early 1920s were filled with surplus rifles, bullets and artillery pieces and the sales drive brought little effects.
While Spanish Republic wanted to buy the PZL P.11e fighter in 1935, Polish government feared that the design might leak to the Soviet Union and the deal was denied.