Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain

What Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain does

Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain (FAD) is a French industrial foundry and steelworks founded in 1844 in Denain, Hauts-de-France, operating today as a subsidiary of the privately held Groupe CIF (Compagnie Industrielle et Financière de Bussy) since 1988. The company provides integrated custom manufacturing services to industrial clients across four core capabilities: Fusion à façon (custom metal melting and valorization of industrial scrap, chips, and sensitive equipment), Usinage à façon (custom large-format machining via vertical lathes up to 13m diameter, a horizontal lathe of 2.5m diameter and 12m length, large-capacity boring machines, and radial drills), Traitement Thermique (heat treatment in furnaces up to 14.4m × 9m × 4.4m at 950°C, supporting normalization, multiple quenching methods, tempering, stabilization, and cast iron treatment), and Montage & Stockage (assembly and storage across 55,000 m² of covered workshops with 14m hook clearance and 80-ton lifting capacity). It also resells white metal (Babbitt) bearings under the ALC Bearings brand, a 60-year-old product line.

The business model is B2B custom industrial services sold through direct sales to enterprise clients, with pricing on a quote-basis per project depending on specifications, materials, and volume. Primary customers are industrial manufacturers requiring custom metal components and recycling of industrial byproducts, with heavy equipment manufacturers serving as a secondary segment requiring large-part machining capacity. Distribution leverages proximity to the Port of Denain and within 200km of the Port of Antwerp for international logistics. The company employs approximately 120 professionals, holds four ISO certifications (9001, 14001, 45001, 50001) from LRQA, and operates within the broader Groupe CIF network of complementary industrial companies including Ferry Capitain, CMD Gears, CMD Couplings, FCMD, and ALC Bearings. Marketing is primarily direct B2B sales supported by a corporate website, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels, plus membership in the La French Fab industrial ecosystem.

Name

Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain

Legal name

Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain

Website

https://fad-denain.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1844

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain is a 180-year-old French foundry and steelworks subsidiary of Groupe CIF providing custom melting, large-scale machining (up to 13m diameter), heat treatment, assembly, and storage services to industrial manufacturers across Europe and international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Foundry and Metal Casting Services

NAICS

Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (3327), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)

SIC

Fabricated Plate Work (Boiler Shops) (3443)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAIAJAJ

Metal Melting & Secondary Smelting/Refining (Recycled Feedstock Producers)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/Scrap Metal & End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling

Keywords

• Custom foundry services
• Industrial metal casting
• Heavy machining services
• Heat treatment services
• Steel foundry manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Denain

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Melting Services (Fusion à façon): Custom metal melting and casting services for industrial clients, including processing of metal chips, scrap, and sensitive equipment. Provides second-life valorization for industrial products.
2. Custom Machining Services (Usinage à façon): Custom machining of large-scale metal components using vertical and horizontal lathes, boring machines, and radial drills. Billed per project based on complexity and specifications.
3. Heat Treatment Services: Comprehensive heat treatment services including normalization, various quenching methods, tempering, stabilization for steels and cast irons. Capacity for very large components.
4. Assembly and Storage Services: Assembly, storage, and logistics services leveraging strategic location near ports for international trade facilitation.
5. White Metal Bearings (Paliers en métal blanc): Design and manufacture of white metal bearings (also called Babbitt metal/bearing metal) through ALC Bearings brand, with over 60 years of expertise.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain (FAD) is an industrial foundry and steelworks that provides custom melting (Fusion à façon), large-scale precision machining (Usinage à façon), heat treatment (Traitement Thermique), assembly and storage (Montage et Stockage), and distribution of ALC Bearings white metal bearings. The company produces mechanical parts in steel or cast iron for industrial clients, processing metal chips, scrap, and sensitive equipment.

Product overview

Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain (FAD) is a traditional foundry and steelworks company offering integrated custom manufacturing services under the Groupe CIF umbrella. The portfolio centers on five core services: custom foundry melting (Fusion à façon), custom precision machining (Usinage à façon) with equipment up to 13 meters in diameter, comprehensive heat treatment (Traitement Thermique) in large-format furnaces, assembly and logistics/storage (Montage et Stockage) with 55,000 m² facilities, and resale of white metal bearings (Paliers en Métal Blanc) from ALC Bearings. These services are designed to support industrial projects from raw material processing through final assembly and storage, leveraging proximity to European ports for international logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fusion à façon (Custom Foundry Melting) Custom foundry melting service that processes industrial products including metal chips, scrap, and sensitive equipment for recycling and second-life valorization. Targeted at industrial manufacturers needing metal recycling or custom casting.
• Usinage à façon (Custom Machining) Custom machining services featuring vertical lathes (4 to 13 meters diameter), horizontal lathes (2.5m diameter, 12m length), large-capacity boring machines, and radial drilling for heavy industrial components.
• Traitement Thermique (Heat Treatment) Heat treatment services using furnaces up to 14.4m x 9m x 4.4m operating at 950°C maximum, supporting normalization, air quenching, blown air quenching, stepped quenching, water quenching, tempering, stabilization, and cast iron treatment.
• Montage et Stockage (Assembly and Storage) Assembly, storage, and logistics services with 55,000 m² of covered workshops, 14m hook clearance, and lifting capacity up to 80 tonnes. Strategically located near Denain port and within 200km of Antwerp port for international logistics.
• Paliers en Métal Blanc (White Metal Bearings - ALC Bearings) White metal (babbitt) bearings developed by ALC Bearings with over 60 years of technology expertise, combining reliability and robustness, sold through Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Groupe CIF (Compagnie Industrielle et Financière de Bussy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAD is a member of Groupe CIF, an industrial group based in Bussy, Haute-Marne, France. Groupe CIF encompasses multiple specialized companies in foundry, machining, and industrial services. FAD joined the group in 1988 when it was sold by Fives-Cail Babcock. The group provides a network of complementary industrial capabilities.
• Ferry CapitaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, Ferry Capitain provides complementary industrial capabilities in the foundry and manufacturing sector.
• CMD GearscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, CMD Gears offers industrial gear and power transmission solutions.
• CMD CouplingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, CMD Couplings provides mechanical coupling solutions for industrial applications.
• FCMDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, FCMD provides industrial manufacturing capabilities.
• ALC BearingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince more than 60 years, ALC Bearings designs and manufactures reliable and robust white metal (Babbit metal) bearings. ALC Bearings is at the forefront of bearing technology, combining reliability and robustness in their products. FAD offers ALC Bearings products through its services.
• Fer'IncubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, Fer'Incub appears to be an incubator or innovation initiative within the group.
• Ateliers RocheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, Ateliers Roche provides additional manufacturing capabilities.
• Fonderie de LariansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Groupe CIF network, Fonderie de Larians is another foundry company within the industrial group.
• OPCO2iminorOthersOPCO2i is the inter-professional joint observatory for industries that supported FAD in training employees in ecological transition skills. FAD received EU funding (FTJ Hauts-de-France) for employee training through OPCO2i's support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aubert & Duval: French specialty steel and superalloy producer (part of Eramet group) supplying forged and rolled steel components for aerospace, energy, and industrial customers. Comparable as a European specialty metal components manufacturer serving heavy industrial OEMs.
• Manoir Industries: French foundry group producing complex cast and forged components for energy, petrochemical, nuclear, and defense markets. Closest external competitor with comparable large-part metal casting and machining capabilities for industrial clients.
• Fonderie de Larians: Foundry also part of the Groupe CIF network, focused on cast iron parts. Compares directly to FAD on foundry operations, customer base, and group-level capital allocation.
• Ferry Capitain: Sister company under Groupe CIF and one of Europe's largest steel foundries, producing heavy castings up to 150 tonnes for similar end markets (energy, marine, mining, cement). Directly comparable business model, customer overlap, and shared capital structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrcaiVeox_24dXl7hCI61bg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fad-fonderie-denain

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fonderie et Aciérie de Denain