Abstract EN:

The French public works industry sprang forth with the rise of the railways. From the 1840s on, major engineering and metal construction firms were formed in France. The rise of Société de Construction des Batignolles was predicated, to a large extent, on constant technological innovation, the very diversity of the firm's activities, and a world dissemination of its know-how. At the same time, that development was a reflexion on a highly original business history connected as it was to the rise of a family of entrepreneurs, the Goüins, who came to head of the firm by way of succession, over three generations. As early as 1871, indeed, SCB asserted its international scope and credentials, by venturing into colonial and more generally overseas markets. The firm pioneered infrastructural equipment construction work throughout the French Empire, as well as in developing countries. Is thus stood as the exemplar of the large French public works businesses that rose to the fore as industry world leaders in the 20th century.