The founding in 1858 of the Duro y Compañía enterprise, driven and guided by Pedro Duro Benito, marks the start of the entrepreneurial development of what is now Duro Felguera, S.A. Initially, the company specialized in iron and steel production and coal mining, and had become the main iron and steel producer in Spain by the end of the XIX century.
Pedro Duro Benito (Madrid - 1848)
In 1900, Duro y Compañía became the Sociedad Metalúrgica Duro-Felguera, S.A., and in 1902 was listed on the Stock Exchange. By 1920 it was the largest coal mining company in the country, and the profits from this source allowed important technical improvements to be made in the iron and steel business.
During the 1940s and the 1950s, mining enjoyed a favourable context, while in the iron and steel sector, Duro, together with Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, continued to dominate the domestic market, up to around 1960.
Partial view of Duro Felgueras F. factories in 1943
The 1960s mark the start of the mining and industrial restructuring process. In 1961, the Unión de Siderúrgicas Asturianas (UNINSA) (Union of Asturian Iron and Steel Companies), formed by Duro Felguera, Fábrica de Mieres and the Fábrica de la Sociedad Industrial Asturiana, was created. This was later to form the embryo of the Spanish national iron and steel company ENSIDESA, to which all Duro Felguera’s iron and steel assets were transferred. As regards the coal business, in 1967 Duro and other mining companies transferred their assets to the national coal company Hulleras del Norte, S.A. (HUNOSA).
Since then, Duro Felguera has centered its activities on the production of capital goods, diversifying its business areas to respond to the changing demands for equipment and facilities of companies in different industrial sectors. The company upgraded its workshops and concentrated on manufacturing activities, progressively relinquishing those companies that were not directly connected with this field of activity.
Vertical piping shop. Conde Sizzo factory in 1899
In the mid-80s, Duro Felguera again changes its business activities to adapt to market requirements and begins to concentrate on the execution of turnkey projects for the energy and industrial sectors, collaborating with the leading international technologists.
Today, the Duro Felguera group specializes in the management of projects of this type, developing the whole process required by its customers, so as to offer an integrated service covering all aspects from engineering up to erection and maintenance of the constructed plants, including the manufacture and supply of equipment and civil works. Furthermore, the company continues to manufacture equipment for the industry.
Main milestones
1858 - Pedro Duro Benito founds the company Sociedad Regular Colectiva Duro y CIA.
1900 - Sociedad Metalúrgica Duro Felguera, S.A. is incorporated.
1902 - Company shares are listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange.
1966-67 - UNINSA and HUNOSA absorb the iron and steel and coal mining activities of S.M. Duro Felguera, S.A.
1968-73 - S.M. Duro Felguera intensifies its activities in the capital goods area.
1974-90 - The evolution of the market requires the company to adopt an organizational division by specialities.
1991 - The name of the company is changed from Sociedad Metalúrgica Duro Felguera to Grupo Duro Felguera, S.A.
1995 - The company moves its headquarters from Madrid to Oviedo (Asturias).
2001 - Company name is changed to Duro Felguera, S.A.
India 2006 - Duro Felguera gets awarded with its first project at Gangavaram Port (A.P.).
India 2009 - Duro Felguera constitutes Felguera Grúas India Private Limited.