Georges Dufaud (1777–1852)

Georges Dufaud, born in Beaumont-la-Ferriere (Nièvre), discovered the activity in the La Chaussade forges of Guérigny, led by his father.

In 1796, after becoming a young engineer (from the french polytechnic school), he returned to the forge of his father and became the headmaster of this institution. There, he is looking for new processes for the manufacture of iron and is convinced of the superiority of coal on the charcoal.

In 1815, he became head of the unit of Grossouvre, then in 1817 he was one of the first French nationals to travel to Britain where he met the Welsh CRAWSHAY, "iron kings" of the time. Weeks of his visit was born a memory about English methods of manufacture of iron. Coming back in France, Georges Dufaud decide to modernize the plant of Grossouvre. With the help of Welsh workers, he brought as a result of his business, he introduced at Grossouvre refining coke in a reverberatory furnace and rolling mill to replace the hammer in the forge of Trézy, an experimental unit near Grossouvre. It is the first shape and iron in France. At the end of summer 1817 Trézy out of the first twelve bars of rolled iron in France, named for the occasion the "Twelve Apostles".

In 1819, his experience earned him a gold medal at the exhibition of the national industry and also the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (one of the largest national award in France). At this time, the forge of Trézy is brought under factory laboratory for metallurgical testing in 1820.