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Our industrial footprint

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The latest chapter of a story that began in the 19 th century, our new industrial footprint has three essential advantages: a well-balanced system adapted to the geography of each of our markets; routes optimized for time and cost, from production all the way to delivery; and centralized planning to guarantee that each customer’s needs are satisfied.

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Our new production routes

Our new production routes have been revolutionary for Vallourec and had a major impact on the group. This transformation increases our competitiveness while protecting us from currency fluctuations and allowing us to better respond to customer needs. The direct benefits are clear: these routes open new points of access to different markets and also strengthen our commercial approach by using our production sites to their full capacities and making use of their complementarity. In addition, these routes promise flexibility for deliveries and the highest possible responsiveness to customer needs, all at the best cost.

A complex process

Vallourec performed key work in advance to define the industrial focus of each site. Once the roles were assigned, the next step was to redesign the entire product qualification process. Afterward, the supply routes were created and optimized from the factory doors to the destination ports, even all the way to the customer sites. The group turned constraints into opportunities. By developing this organizational scheme, Vallourec is now able to offer additional services that were previously unavailable—an effective way to set the group apart from its competitors. Finally, as the finishing touch on the new system, Vallourec created a centralized unit to coordinate commercial needs and production capacities. This coordination unit manages schedules worldwide—a true accomplishment. 

The three advantages of the new routes:

  • We increase our market share for low-end and mid-range products 
  • We can serve our customers in Asia/the Middle East/Africa from Brazil and China 
  • We take a service-centric approach 

Coordination of Vallourec’s commercial needs and production capacities is managed by the central Technology & Industry and Development & Innovation divisions. They ensure that customer needs are satisfied at the best cost.

Philippe Carlier Senior Vice President of Technology & Industry

A unique geographic mix

Rail freight, trucks, barges, cargo ships—all means of transport are used to deliver our tubes as close to our customers as possible, all while managing the time/cost variable. To achieve these results (which are recognized and appreciated worldwide), we had to reconfigure our supply chain. This monumental effort led to the creation of new competitive industrial routes. This feat was made possible by one of our key advantages: our geographic mix.  

Our story

The Vallourec name officially appeared in 1931, but its history stretches back to the last two decades of the 19th century. In 1889, the Mannesmann brothers created a momentous invention: a process for rolling seamless steel tubes. This process remains at the heart of the group’s activity today. 
Spanning three centuries, the history of Vallourec is one of adventurers, pioneers, and inventors who always wanted to push the limits of innovation. Follow the journey of these trailblazers through the enthralling story of the Vallourec Group.

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Invention of the rolling process for seamless steel tubes

The Mannesmann brothers’ invention revolutionized the tube industry.

1886

1890's: Establishment of the founding companies

Tube manufacturers in France began to adopt the seamless tube production method developed in Germany by the Mannesmann brothers. Industrial production sites were created in Burgundy and in the "Nord" Department, birth place of the future Group.

1890

"Société métallurgique de Montbard" listed on the Paris Stock Exchange

The Société française des corps creux, located in Montbard, Burgundy was founded in 1896 and renamed upon listing on the Paris stock exchange in 1899. The company would become one of the historic cornerstones of Vallourec.

1899

1920s: First movement towards concentration of the steel tube industry

After WW I, factories which had previously been widely dispersed and non-specialized began to combine and specialize. The Haumont site merged with Recquignies, then with Louvroil. At the time, Recquignies manufactured seamless tubes, and Haumont and Louvroil furnished small welded tubes.

1920

1930s: Manufacturing tubes for the oil industry

A new factory primarily designed to manufacture tubes for the oil sector was built in Aulnoye. Its first customer was the Compagnie française des pétroles (CFP, later to become Total). Tubes for the oil industry were the initial catalyst driving Vallourec's internationalization.

1930

Birth of Vallourec

The depression of the 1930s led French tube manufacturers to establish closer ties. This resulted in the creation of an industrial and commercial partnership among manufacturing plants in Valenciennes, Louvroil and Recquignies, managed by a new company, Vallourec.

1931

Vallourec listed on the Paris stock exchange

After the merger of the Société des Tubes de Valenciennes and the Société Louvroil-Montbard-Aulnoye – Vallourec became the second largest steel tube manufacturer in France.

1957