Dive into the heart of Equans France's history with us, discovering our roots dating back to the first industrial revolution.
Visionary entrepreneurs have been revolutionizing society for over 150 years
1861
Creation of the Rineau company
A small Vendée company was born, offering heating, roofing and plumbing services: the Rineau brothers. This was the beginning of the development of new energy sources: oil and electricity, but also the emergence of new machines in the textile and steel industries.
Portrait of Firmin Rineau, founder
1876
Merger of Goetz and Quiri
In the early 19th century, the world entered an era of modernization. At that time, to produce cold for preserving perishable foodstuffs, blocks of ice were cut up and transported to city centers on horseback. Butchers and charcutiers needed it for the meat maturing process. Brewers need cold all year round to produce beer. A real opportunity for our two visionary entrepreneurs.
The Goetz family made their fortune in the wood industry, producing barrels for breweries. At the same time, Jean Quiri developed the refrigeration sector, producing ice blocks for use in the first household refrigerators. This is the veryfirst merger in Equans France's history: Goetz and Quiri join forces to create Quiri &Cie. The new company expands internationally. We even saw the emergence of coolers in Indonesia and breweries in South America. The company changed our consumption habits forever.
1891
Creation of Grands Travaux de Marseille (GTM)
The "Grands Travaux de Marseille" project begins, and the GTM company is created. Augustin Féraud, GTM's first president, was initially tasked with equipping the city with a modern sewage system. He expanded the company into civil engineering, electrical equipment, roads, buildings and railways in France and abroad. The company subsequently merged with Herlicq to become GTMH in 1994.
1906
Creation of Industrial Energy
Pierre-Marie Durand creates Énergie Industrielle. Thanks to the determination and ambition of its founder, it became the second largest electricity group in France. In 1921, the company created its own construction division,Entreprise Industrielle (EI). It went on to build numerous dams, including the Tignes dam, the highest in France. It also made its mark with the electrification of railroads and the construction of high-voltage lines.
1924
Creation of Verger et Delporte (V&D)
Jules Verger and Louis Delporte were expert craftsmen. In 1924, they founded Verger et Delporte, a company specialized in electrical work . Ambitious and astute, they founded their company in their own image. They retained their sense of family, while adding their entrepreneurial flair. In just ten years, the number of employees rises from 10 to 180. Success was exponential. In 1981, V&D became a subsidiary of Entreprise Industrielle (EI): Société Nouvelle de Verger Delporte.
1929
Creation of ETDE (Entreprise de transport et de distribution d'électricité)
The interwar period is a time of reconstruction, and large-scale electrification intensifies. Pierre Crussard creates ETDE (Networks and Communications) in France. This entity plays a major role at a time when France needs to be rebuilt. There was a great need for energy to industrialize and electrify the country. Providing answers to the challenges of our time has always been in the DNA of Equans France.
1952
Founding of Francis Bouygues
Following the severe housing crisis of the post-war years, Francis Bouygues focused on industrial construction methods. He set upEntreprise Francis Bouygues, specializing in industrial and construction work in the Paris region. Little by little, Francis Bouygues established himself as one of France's leading construction companies. The delivery of the Parc des Princes in Paris in 1972 was the first civil engineering project ever signed by Bouygues. At the time, the "challenge" was immense. The Bouygues group's logo derives from its work on the Parc des Princes.
1962
Creation of SEITHA
SEITHA is a thermal, hydraulic and aeraulic design and installation company. Founded by Jean Rieux, it develops innovative multi-compressor air-conditioning concepts for the hotel industry. The company is expanding its expertise in cleanrooms to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry.
1984
Acquisition of ETDE by the Bouygues group
ETDE quickly establishes itself as a major player in electricity distribution in rural France. The Bouygues Group diversifies and acquires ETDE, which specializes in energy transmission and distribution.
Martin and Francis Bouygues
1986
Entreprise Industrielle acquires SEITHA
EI acquires SEITHA, giving EI the opportunity to create its own HVAC department . These two great companies have left their mark on the history of Equans France through their ability to carry out the necessary mergers and acquisitions.
1988
Rineau Frères joins FABRICOM and the SUEZ Group
In the 1950s, Rineau Frères exports its activities internationally, notably to the Middle East and Algeria. Rineau Frères develops production agencies in Paris and throughout the West of France, while retaining design offices in Nantes. After more than a century of family and regional entrepreneurship, this SME was acquired by FABRICOM in 1988. Rineau Frères left behind its regional reputation to take on a much larger dimension within FABRICOM.
1991
Acquisition of QUIRI by Rineau Frères (FABRICOM)
Refrigeration, the sector developed by QUIRI, is one of the founding pillars of Equans France's history, and has contributed to its worldwide renown. In 1991, QUIRI was acquired by FABRICOM, marking the beginning of QUIRI Réfrigération.
2001
Creation of Ineo and Axima within the SUEZ group
GTM began specializing in freeway and parking lot construction in 1950. In 2001, GTMH merged with SEEE (Société d'Études et d'Equipement d'Entreprises), EI (Entreprise Industrielle) and V&D (Verger & Delporte) to become part of the SUEZ group and become Ineo.
Prior to the merger, Axima already existed in Belgium. In 2001, it merged with Rineau, Sulzer Infra and GTI to become the new HVAC branch of the SUEZ group. QUIRI Réfrigération also became Axima Réfrigération. Under the new name of Axima, this new entity covers a wide range of expertise: HVAC, refrigeration, fire safety and technical maintenance.
2002
Bouygues Construction's Facility Management business is integrated into ETDE
Facility Management encompasses a range of services related to the management and operation of buildings and facilities. By integrating the Facility Management business into ETDE, the latter is strengthening its service offering. Facility Management involves the ongoing management of facilities, including maintenance, security, energy management, and other services related to the smooth running of infrastructures.
2013
ETDE becomes Bouygues Energies & Services
In order to assert its position on the two key challenges facing its customers: energy efficiency and new uses of energy, Jean-Philippe Trin, Chairman and CEO of the Group, presentsETDE 's new identity: Bouygues Energies & Services.
Bouygues Energies & Services has evolved with the acquisition of over 60 brands. It now encompasses three core businesses: network infrastructure, electrical and HVAC engineering, and facility management.
2016
Creation of the ENGIE Axima and ENGIE Ineo brands
Following the change from GDF SUEZ to ENGIE in April 2015, Cofely Axima becomes ENGIE Axima and Cofely Ineo becomes ENGIE Ineo.
2018
Bouygues construction acquires Kraftanlagen
Kraftanlagen Heidelberg was founded in Germany in 1923 . It was involved in the construction of one of Europe's first major power plants. In 2018, Kraftanlagen joined Bouygues Construction, creating the Energy & Services division with AXIONE, Bouygues Energies & Services, Plan Group and Kraftanlagen.
2021
Creation of Equans, July 1, 2021
The ENGIE Group's energy services activities , represented by Ineo and Axima in France, are united under a new brand: Equans. A group of 75,000 employees worldwide.
2022
Acquisition of Equans by the Bouygues group on October 4, 2022
“ The acquisition of Equans is a major milestone in the history of Bouygues. We are becoming a world leader in multi-technical services, and strengthening the Group's resilience. What our businesses have in common is that they are local service businesses, driven by committed, independent entrepreneurs and employees. I would like to welcome Equans' 75,000 employees to our Group. ”
2023
Bouygues Energies & Service teams join Equans
Bouygues completes the acquisition of Equans and takes a key step in its development. Bouygues Energies & Services teams join Equans France on January 4, 2023.
From a handful of entrepreneurs to several tens of thousands of employees, it took Equans France a century and a half to become a leader in the energy and services sector. Today, the company is turning its history into a force for the future. The future of industry, the service sector and cities in France and abroad is being written by the men and women of Equans France.
