Saint Chamond (manufacturer)
| Industry | Iron and steel manufacture |
|---|---|
| Founded | Saint-Chamond, Loire, France (14 November 1854) |
| Headquarters | Saint-Chamond, Loire, France |
| Products | Iron and steel |
The Compagnie des forges et aciéries de la marine et d'Homécourt (FAMH) (Company of marine forges and steelworks and of Homécourt) was a French industrial enterprise that made iron and steel products for the French navy, army and railroads. It is often known as Saint-Chamond from its main location in Saint-Chamond, Loire.
In 1815 James Jackson, a manufacturer from Birmingham, England, set a steelworks near Saint-Étienne at Trablaine. Jackson returned to England around 1823. His sons, naturalized Frenchmen, established an important steelworks at Assailly in 1830. In 1837 H. Pétin and J. M. Gaudet, mechanics and forgers, set up shops at Saint-Chamond and Rive-de-Gier. In 1841 Pétin et Gaudet introduced one of the first steam hammers at their works. Later they introduced innovations such as a mobile crane for moving large pieces around the works, and a hydraulic press. Starting in 1771 the Neyrand brothers became owners of several coal mines and ironworks in the valley of the Gier river. The company of Neyrand frères et Thiollière was formed in January 1845 to exploit an enlarged and modernized factory at Lorette. The partnership of Parent, Schaken, Goldsmid et Cie was formed on 28 February 1854 to acquire and exploit the forges of the Vierzon company located at Vierzon, Clavières, Reblay, Bonneau and Courbançon.
These four companies became one on 14 November 1854 when Jackson Frères and Pétin et Gaudet merged and combined with Neyrand-Thiollière, Bergeron et Cie of Lorette, and Parent, Schaken, Goldsmid et Cie of Paris. The new company was called the Compagnie des Hauts-fourneaux, forges et aciéries de la Marine et des chemins de fer. The company, which engaged in extracting, processing and selling iron and coal was initially based in Rive-de-Gier. On 9 November 1871 it moved its headquarters to Saint-Chamond and became a limited company. The factories were mainly concentrated in the Loire basin, in Saint-Chamond and Assailly.
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