The Phenix Works was founded in 1910/111 through the merger of Paul Borgnet's factory in Flémalle-Haute and the factory "Phenix" in Roux.[1][2] The works in Flemalle was established c.1905 by Paul Borgnet (1863-1944) on a 16 hectares (40 acres) site in Flemalle-Haute.[3]
The company's specialisation was the manufacture of galvanised corrugated sheets for roofing, and in 1930 employed c.3000 persons.[2] Equipment for galvanizing sheet steel was installed in 1925; for producing tinplate in 1935. The company expanded to Ivoz-Ramet and facilities for cold rolling steel were added (1950); plastic coating "skinplate" (1954) additional galvanization equipment as well as aluminium rolling were added (1961); and painted steel (1966).[3]
In 1969 Phenix works became part of the Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence (COP) group.[4]
In 1981 the company formed Galvalange S.à r.l. in Dudelange, Luxembourg as a joint venture with ARBED. The factory manufactured hot dip galvanised or aluminium/zinc coated (Aluzinc) steel coil.[5] (as of 2016 part of ArcelorMittal Atlantique-Lorraine.)
In 1983 the company, together with Sidmar and Koninklijke Hoogovens formed the joint venture. SEGAL (Société Européenne de Galvanisation) at Ivoz-Ramet, Liège, Belgium which would produce hot dip galvanized steel for the car industry.[6][7][8]
In 1989 the company was fully absorbed into Cockerill-Sambre.[9][3]
In 2004 Corus, Koninklijke Hoogovens successor, became the sole owner of the joint venture SEGAL.[10]
The parent business underwent a series of mergers forming part of Cockerill-Sambre (1980), Usinor (1999), Arcelor (2002) and ArcelorMittal (2008).