The company decided to expand into processing lead ore from other parts of the world.

Land was available on the tidal lower Loire to which lead ore could be brought from Sardinia and coal from Britain.

The company acquired an English company with a small metallurgical plant in Nantes, and in 1860 founded a non-ferrous metal foundry at Couëron.

The Couëron lead foundry employed 160 workers in 1863.

At first only lead was to be processed, but in 1878 a copper factory was added, and the company began importing refined copper and zinc.

It manufactured copper locomotive boilers and  electrical wire, and lead, copper and brass wires, tubes, bars and plates for sale to many other companies.

The new owners of the company put up several new buildings, inaugurated in 1878, including the lead tower and the big hall (now the media library).

On 7 July 1879 the Société des fonderies et laminoirs de Couëron merged with the Société des mines et fonderies de Pontgibaud.

The facility had 350 employees in 1879, 555 in 1884 and 1,200 in 1932.

After World War II the Couëron plant stopped refining lead ore.

In the 1950s the original lead foundry was demolished and replaced by more modern buildings.

However, the company expanded the range of its products, adding aluminum to lead, copper and brass.

By this time the Couëron factory was the company's only property in France other than depots and commercial offices.

It was the 4th largest producer of non-ferrous metal products in France, occupying a site 950 by 50 metres (3,120 by 160 ft) along the bank of the river below a cliff.

It was connected to the railway and had a private dock on the river.

Lead was imported from Tunisia, copper from Canada, zinc from Belgium and aluminum from southeast France.

In the early 1950s the plant was delivering about 7,200 tons per year of copper and alloy products, and 2,400 of lead products.

Hunting bullets were a significant product, with the factory accounting for 10% of French production.

Many of the customers were in the Nantes region, including the Nantes and Saint-Nazaire naval shipyards, Indret marine engine plant, Donge oil refineries and other industrial plants, but its products were sold throughout France.

The factory employed 600 workers and 100 office staff.

Up to half the workers lived in housing built by the factory, while others lived in the surrounding country.

In 1955 the factory was taken over by CFM (Compagnie française des métaux), and 101 workers were laid off.

The lead tower ceased operation in 1958.

In 1962 the facility became owned by Tréfimétaux.

New workshops were built, but the economy was struggling.

The number of employees had declined to 550 in 1965 and 350 in 1975.

Around 1986 the factory became Métayer-Noël.

It had 160 employees in 1988, when it closed down.

In 1992 the site was sold to Lambert Manufil.

The lead tower was declared a historical monument in 1993.
The company decided to expand into processing lead ore from other parts of the world.
Land was available on the tidal lower Loire to which lead ore could be brought from Sardinia and coal from Britain.
The company acquired an English company with a small metallurgical plant in Nantes, and in 1860 founded a non-ferrous metal foundry at Couëron.
The Couëron lead foundry employed 160 workers in 1863.
At first only lead was to be processed, but in 1878 a copper factory was added, and the company began importing refined copper and zinc.
It manufactured copper locomotive boilers and  electrical wire, and lead, copper and brass wires, tubes, bars and plates for sale to many other companies.
The new owners of the company put up several new buildings, inaugurated in 1878, including the lead tower and the big hall (now the media library).
On 7 July 1879 the Société des fonderies et laminoirs de Couëron merged with the Société des mines et fonderies de Pontgibaud.
The facility had 350 employees in 1879, 555 in 1884 and 1,200 in 1932.
After World War II the Couëron plant stopped refining lead ore.
In the 1950s the original lead foundry was demolished and replaced by more modern buildings.
However, the company expanded the range of its products, adding aluminum to lead, copper and brass.
By this time the Couëron factory was the company's only property in France other than depots and commercial offices.
It was the 4th largest producer of non-ferrous metal products in France, occupying a site 950 by 50 metres (3,120 by 160 ft) along the bank of the river below a cliff.
It was connected to the railway and had a private dock on the river.
Lead was imported from Tunisia, copper from Canada, zinc from Belgium and aluminum from southeast France.
In the early 1950s the plant was delivering about 7,200 tons per year of copper and alloy products, and 2,400 of lead products.
Hunting bullets were a significant product, with the factory accounting for 10% of French production.
Many of the customers were in the Nantes region, including the Nantes and Saint-Nazaire naval shipyards, Indret marine engine plant, Donge oil refineries and other industrial plants, but its products were sold throughout France.
The factory employed 600 workers and 100 office staff.
Up to half the workers lived in housing built by the factory, while others lived in the surrounding country.
In 1955 the factory was taken over by CFM (Compagnie française des métaux), and 101 workers were laid off.
The lead tower ceased operation in 1958.
In 1962 the facility became owned by Tréfimétaux.
New workshops were built, but the economy was struggling.
The number of employees had declined to 550 in 1965 and 350 in 1975.
Around 1986 the factory became Métayer-Noël.
It had 160 employees in 1988, when it closed down.
In 1992 the site was sold to Lambert Manufil.
The lead tower was declared a historical monument in 1993.
Société des mines et fonderies de Pontgibaud