Compagnie Châtillon-Commentry
| Industry | Iron and steel |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Société Bouguéret, Martenot et Cie (1846) |
| Successor | Usinor, others |
| Founded | 1862 |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
The Compagnie anonyme de Châtillon et Commentry was a French steelmaking company, formed as a limited company in 1862 from the Société Bouguéret, Martenot et Cie., a creation from the combination of several French iron makers in 1846.
In 1898 the company merged with the Société métallurgique de Champigneulles et Neuves-Maisons to form the Société des forges de Châtillon-Commentry-Neuves-Maisons.
In 1979 the works became part of Usinor, forming part of the Unimetal division in 1984. By 2000 the plant in Neuves-Maisons had become part of the Riva Group and as of 2011 produces mainly long products including rebar from scrap metal using electric arc furnaces.
Metal working in the Châtillonais region dated back to the Iron age, with a ready supply of wood from the region's forests, and near surface deposits of iron ore the area became one of the major production centres of iron in France in the 19th century, the company Bazile, Louis-Maître & Cie. was formed in 1824 by several ironworks owners, one of whom Auguste de Marmont had introduced the 'English process' of using coke from coal in iron production.
In Allier, Nicholas Rambourg took advantage of the availability of wood for charcoal production in the Forest of Tronçais and started iron production in 1788.
The organisation Société Bouguéret, Martenot et Cie. was formed in 1846 from the merging of the businesses of forgemasters in Allier and Châtillon. The founders of the company include members of the families Bouguéret, Martenot, Bazile, Rambourg, Maître, Humbert and others; the new société had 37 blast furnaces, 56 forges, 3 wire works, and 4 puddling furnaces.
In 1862 conversion to a limited company took place, the company then took the name Compagnie anonyme de Châtillon et Commentry.
The Société Métallurgique de la Haute-Moselle was formed in 1872 by Victor de Lespinats and others; the loss of Alsace-Lorraine by France as a result the 1870 Franco-Prussian War meant the loss of many iron and steelworks; new production sites were needed and the site in Chavigny (Neuves-Maisons) was chosen a due to the presence of iron deposits, and proximity to the Nancy-Dijon railway line and the planned Canal de l'Est. The first blast furnace opened in 1874, and a second in 1882. The company also operated the mine of Maron-Val de Fert in Neuves-Maisons.
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