Ougrée-Marihaye
Encyclopedia
The Belgian iron and steel producing company Ougrée-Marihaye was formed in 1835 by the merger of the iron and steel works in Ougree (nr. Seraing
) in the province of Liège
, and the coal mines of Marihaye. The company merged with the Société anonyme John Cockerill in 1955 to form Cockerill-Ougrée.
not Ougrée. (English: Iron factory of Ogree) was founded, and in 1834 converted into an integrated works. In 1835 the Société des Charbonnages et Hauts-Fourneaux d'Ougrée (English: Coal and blast furnace company of Ougree) was founded.
In 1892 the two companies merged to form the Sociéte anonyme Ougrée, this then merged with the Société des Charbonnages de Marihaye (English: Coal company of Marihaye) in 1900 to form the Sociéte anonym Ougrée-Marihaye.
In 1905 it merged with the Sociéte anonyme des Hauts forneaux de Rodange (Rodange
, Luxembourg). In 1929 it took over the SA des Charbonnages de Fontaine-l'Évêque (English: Coal company of Fontaine-l'Évêque
), and in 1931 Alliance Monceau based in Monceau-sur-Sambre
.
It was one of the primary metal producers in Belgium; by 1914 it operated 8 blast furnaces, and had a steel production capacity of 500,000 tonnes, producing semi and finished products such as bar, plate, beams and rails. German occuptation during the First World War brought much damage to the plant at Ougrée, after the war only two blast furnaces were operational; rebuilding took place between 1919 and 1924. Also between 1905 and 1928 the company operated an industrial rack railway
at one of its factories in Ougrée.
In 1923 in association with the Société de l'Air Liquide the company founded the Société Belge de l'Azote, based in Ougrée which produced synthetic ammonia
. The negative effects of the 1930s depression
caused the company to require financial assistance; restructuring followed; in 1936 the company's facilities in Hainaut became a separate company Aciéries et Minières de la Sambre (AMS),Later to form Thy-Marcinelle et Monceau, a predecessor of Hainaut-Sambre
and in 1937 the Rodange plant became an independent entity as Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange
(MMR)
In 1955 the company merged with the Société anonyme John Cockerill to form Cockerill-Ougrée.
Seraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
) in the province of Liège
Liège (province)
Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...
, and the coal mines of Marihaye. The company merged with the Société anonyme John Cockerill in 1955 to form Cockerill-Ougrée.
History
In 1809 the Fabrique de Fer d'OugréeActually based in SeraingSeraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
not Ougrée. (English: Iron factory of Ogree) was founded, and in 1834 converted into an integrated works. In 1835 the Société des Charbonnages et Hauts-Fourneaux d'Ougrée (English: Coal and blast furnace company of Ougree) was founded.
In 1892 the two companies merged to form the Sociéte anonyme Ougrée, this then merged with the Société des Charbonnages de Marihaye (English: Coal company of Marihaye) in 1900 to form the Sociéte anonym Ougrée-Marihaye.
In 1905 it merged with the Sociéte anonyme des Hauts forneaux de Rodange (Rodange
Rodange
Rodange is a town in the commune of Pétange, in south-western Luxembourg. It lies next to the border with Belgium, across which is the town of Athus. The town is to the south-west of the town of Pétange and to the west of the smaller town of Lamadelaine...
, Luxembourg). In 1929 it took over the SA des Charbonnages de Fontaine-l'Évêque (English: Coal company of Fontaine-l'Évêque
Fontaine-l'Evêque
Fontaine-l'Évêque is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Fontaine-l'Évêque had a total population of 16,687. The total area is 28.41 km² which gives a population density of 587 inhabitants per km²....
), and in 1931 Alliance Monceau based in Monceau-sur-Sambre
Monceau-sur-Sambre
Monceau-sur-Sambre is a section of the Belgian town of Charleroi within the Walloon region in the Province of Hainaut. It was a commune of its own before the merger of the communes in 1977.thumb|left|the castle |300px|...
.
It was one of the primary metal producers in Belgium; by 1914 it operated 8 blast furnaces, and had a steel production capacity of 500,000 tonnes, producing semi and finished products such as bar, plate, beams and rails. German occuptation during the First World War brought much damage to the plant at Ougrée, after the war only two blast furnaces were operational; rebuilding took place between 1919 and 1924. Also between 1905 and 1928 the company operated an industrial rack railway
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
at one of its factories in Ougrée.
In 1923 in association with the Société de l'Air Liquide the company founded the Société Belge de l'Azote, based in Ougrée which produced synthetic ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
. The negative effects of the 1930s depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
caused the company to require financial assistance; restructuring followed; in 1936 the company's facilities in Hainaut became a separate company Aciéries et Minières de la Sambre (AMS),Later to form Thy-Marcinelle et Monceau, a predecessor of Hainaut-Sambre
Hainaut-Sambre
Hainaut-Sambre was a Belgian group of steel companies based in the Charleroi region, it was founded in 1955 by the merger of Usine Métallurgiques du Hainaut , and the metal making division of Sambre et Moselle .The company absorbed another Charleroi based steel group Thy-Marcinelle et Providence...
and in 1937 the Rodange plant became an independent entity as Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange
Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange
The Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange was a Luxembourgian blast furnace steel producer and mining company originally established in 1872 as the Hauts-Fourneaux de Rodange...
(MMR)
In 1955 the company merged with the Société anonyme John Cockerill to form Cockerill-Ougrée.