Our Story
The family workshop comes to life
In July 1946, in the basement of his home in Firminy, Mr. François Billard, a trained milling machine operator, launched his mechanical parts machining business with the help of his son Jean, who specialized in turning and fitting operations.
1948 – The company began cylindrical gear cutting with a 1928 Pfauter machine.
1953 – The first bevel gear cutting machine, a Heidenreich & Harbeck, was added to the workshop.
1962 – Jean Billard purchased an American Gleason machine, enabling mass production of bevel gears for Berliet truck manufacturing.
From made-to-measure to series
1967 – With the arrival of François' sons Michel and Jacques, a new chapter began. A spiral bevel gear cutting department was created, and the company moved into new premises.
1989 – Relocation of the company to Pont Salomon (Haute-Loire). Investment in the first CNC lathe.
1994 – Achieved ISO 9001 certification, ensuring process quality.
1998 – Expansion of the factory (+600 m²) to include a closed storage area and accommodate larger machines.
Certified and XXL
2002 – Management was passed to Bernadette, Henri, and Robert, siblings of Michel. Jean-Michel, Michel’s son, also joined the family business and took charge of production scheduling.
2007 – Acquisition of a numerically controlled loading robot. Creation of a production unit in Tunisia: TAM Industrie.
2008 – Entry into the aerospace market.
2009 – Obtained EN 9100 certification to meet aerospace industry requirements.
Precision and performance
2010 – Expansion of the machine fleet with a Gleason Phoenix 600 PG CNC spiral bevel grinder (Max Ø600).
2011 – Acquisition of a CMZ TC30 CNC lathe handling parts up to 1350 mm in length.
2013 – Workshop reorganization and further machine fleet expansion with a Leitz Xi 3D measuring machine and a Studer Favorit CNC cylindrical grinder.
2015 – Further 600 m² extension of the plant, with a dedicated storage zone and truck loading/unloading dock.
Automation and renewal
2016 – Addition of a Doosan MX 2800 ST CNC mill-turn center.
2018 – Launch of a robotic cell feeding the Doosan MX2600 ST lathe.
2024 – Acquisition of the company by SADEV Group. Site management entrusted to Jean-Michel Billard.
