This know-how will be perpetuated and improved and later, during the revolutionary period, Saint-Etienne will temporarily take the name Armeville. But it was in the 19th century with the significant exploitation of coal that the Saint-Etienne steel industry came into its own. The Loire coal basin will long be the leading French producer of coal ahead of the Northern basin.

This coal will be at the origin of the significant development of the steel industry in the Saint-Etienne region. Saint-Etienne will then be a recognized center of attractiveness; many artisans and engineers will fuel the city's creativity.

Saint-Etienne will see the birth of the first railway line on the European continent (Saint-Etienne – Andrézieux for goods in 1823 and Saint-Etienne – Lyon for travelers in 1826).

The Saint-Etienne region will also be a major player in the production of cycles. Today the Loire steel industry has evolved but several important players, particularly in special steels, are still present.

The steel industry is the leading consumer industry of refractory materials. BONY offers a wide range of silico-aluminous and aluminous refractories (chamotte, andalusite, bauxite, corundum) for the steel industry. In particular, our extruded hollow products for ingot casting or source casting offer excellent results in operation with major clients in the sector. The ingots cast using BONY refractories show excellent inclusionary cleanliness.