History
1898 - LA VOLTA creates a hydroelectric station and a chlorine- soda electrolysis at Pomblière, Saint Marcel (Savoie - France).
1902 / 1914 - In 1902, the factory begins producing chlorine and soda, then goes on to produce ferro-silicon, ferro-chromium, phosphorus and chlorobenzene. A second hydroelectric station is built to serve the first tramlines in the city of Lyon.
1915 - The company Société d’Electro-Chimie takes over LA VOLTA, and sets up the first plant in France for the liquefaction of chlorine at Pomblière.
1919 / 1922 - After buying out several companies, Société d’Electro-Chimie becomes Société d’Electro-Chimie, d’Electro-Métallurgie et des Aciéries Electriques d’Ugine (SECEMAEU), better known as UGINE. The Pomblière plant is part of one of the largest chemical groups in France.
Administrative offices are located in one of the most ancient buildings of the factory.
1923 - The plant starts producing sodium metal by electrolysis of molten soda.
1933 - In 1933, R&D work begins on the production of metallic cobalt, and a production plant for cobalt is built in 1937.
1951 - Production of sodium metal by electrolysis of molten sodium chloride.
1965 - The UGINE and KUHLMANN companies merge to form Ugine Kuhlmann.
1966 - The first delivery of highly purified sodium is made to the French nuclear industry.
1971 - Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann (PUK) is formed as a result of the merger with Pechiney.
1972 - The Pomblière plant becomes an independent subsidiary under the name: METAUX SPECIAUX S.A.
1978 - A contract is signed for the supply of sodium to the SUPERPHENIX fast-breeder reactor.
1982 / 1990 - Cobalt production comes to an end. An indium phosphide production plant is founded that will remain operational until it is sold in 1991. The plant develops a lithium electrolysis cell and a process to purify lithium metal to a battery grade.
1991 - Métaux Spéciaux becomes the only sodium supplier for the Japanese fast breeder reactor in Monju.
1996 - ISO 9001 Certification.
1997 - The Pomblière plant leaves Pechiney to become MSSA S.A., a subsidiary of International Alkaline S.A as a result of a Management Buy-Out carried out by the management with the backing of 3 financial shareholders.
1998 - ISO 14001 Certification.
1999 / 2000 - The capacity for the electrolysis of sodium is doubled. MSSA, the only producer of sodium in Europe, becomes the world’s number one producer of sodium metal thanks to its technology, production capacity, output, product quality, logistic capacity and packaging portfolio.
2000 / 2001 - A pilot laboratory is set up to make organometallic derivatives from sodium, lithium, magnesium and potassium. Preparations are made to put the electrolysis of metallic lithium back into action.
2004 - Set-up of MSSA Company, the American subsidiary of MSSA, in charge of the sales and distribution of Métaux Spéciaux's products in the United States. Start-up of a sodium logistic terminal in Texas and investment in a new sodium refining shop in Pomblière (SoPure).
2008 - Four Managers of MSSA S.A.S. and a Business Angels Investment Fund named "3G Investissements" acquire Alkaline S.A.
At the same time, most of the long term debt of the Alkaline Group is equitized.
2011 - The Japanese Group Nippon Soda acquires Alkaline S.A.S.
This industrial backing will allow MSSA Métaux Spéciaux and the Alkaline Group to continue its growth and innovation strategy with better opportunities.
