Société Métallurgique de Normandie

In 1910, the Thyssen Group obtained the concession for mining iron in the lower region of Calvados between Soumont and Urville.

The Société des Hauts Fourneaux et Aciéries was created by Baron Thyssen two years later, in 1912.

The plant was built along the right bank of the River Orne and of the Canal de Caen à la Mer.

Product was exported to the UK, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, North Africa and other coastal regions of France.

From the beginning of 1942, the Germans gained interest in the plant and it began production of steel bars destined to become bomb casings.

The steel works' activity increased until 1974 when the plant was forced to adapt its production to the new modern metallurgic environment.