1789-1910: Industrial Revolution

In 1789, as a consequence of the French Revolution, the state financial and competitive privileges granted to the "Compagnie Dagincourt" were abolished. The company now had to rely on the participation and capital of private investors, although it remained partly under the control of the French state.

In the 1820s, Saint-Gobain continued to operate as it had under the Ancien Régime, manufacturing high-quality mirrors and glass for the luxury market. However, in 1824, a new glass manufacturer was established in Commentry, France, and in 1837 several Belgian glass manufacturing companies were also founded. While Saint-Gobain continued to dominate the high-quality luxury glass and mirror markets, its newly created competitors turned their attention to manufacturing low- and medium-quality products, making mirrors and glass affordable to the masses. In response, the company expanded its product line to include lower quality mirrors and glass.

In 1830, just as Louis Philippe I of France became king of the newly restored French Monarchy, Saint-Gobain was transformed into a public limited company and became independent from the state for the first time.

While mirrors remained its core business, Saint-Gobain began to diversify its product line to include glass panels for skylights, ceilings and room dividers, thick mirrors, semi-thick window glass, laminated mirrors and glass, and finally, embossed mirrors and glass. Some of the most famous buildings to which Saint-Gobain contributed during that period were the Crystal Palace in London, le Jardin des Plantes, les Grand et Petit Palais and the halles de Paris in Paris, and the Milan Central Station.

Saint-Gobain merged with another French glass and mirror manufacturer, Saint-Quirin, in the mid-century. After the merger, the company was able to gain control of 25% of European glass and mirror production (previously, it only controlled between 10 and 15%). In response to increasing international competition, the company began opening new manufacturing facilities in countries without domestic manufacturers.

Saint-Gobain cast the glass bases of some of the mirrors of the largest optical reflecting telescopes of the turn of the century, including the revolutionary 60-inch (1.5 m) Hale Telescope (in service in 1908) and the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker Telescope (opened in 1917) at the Mount Wilson Observatory (USA), as well as the 72-inch (1.8 m) Plaskett Telescope. m) diameter (opened in 1918) of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (Canada).

At the end of the century, Saint-Gobain named the Pellandini House "his sole representative and exclusive depositary throughout the Mexican Republic."[7]​.

1910-1950: After the Industrial Revolution

Saint-Gobain experienced significant success at the turn of the century. In 1918 the company expanded its activities to manufacture bottles, jars, tableware and household glassware.

In 1920 he started the glass-reinforced plastic manufacturing business. Fiberglass was being used to produce insulation, industrial textiles, and construction reinforcements. In 1937, the company founded "Isover", a subsidiary manufacturer of fiberglass insulation.

During this period, the company developed three new glass manufacturing techniques and processes; Firstly, a dipping technique used to coat car windows, which prevented the glass from breaking in the event of an accident. As a result of that technique, 10% of Saint-Gobain's sales in 1920 came from the automobile industry and 28% in 1930. Secondly, a few years later, another technique was developed that allowed glass to be molded and bent. Eventually, a process was developed to coat glass with aluminum, allowing it to be used as a conductor, and allowing the company to create products such as “radiavers” (a glass heater).

1950-1970: merger with Pont-à-Mousson

Between 1950 and 1969, Saint-Gobain sales increased at a rate of 10% annually. Its workforce grew from 35,000 workers in 1950 to 100,000 in 1969. By the end of the 1960s, Saint-Gobain had more than 150 subsidiaries under its control.

Sales of glass and fiberglass benefited from the boom in the construction industry and the rise in mass consumption after World War II. Saint-Gobain's annual glass production rose from 3.5 million square meters in 1950 to 45 in 1969. In 1950, fiberglass only accounted for 4% of the company's turnover, but by 1969 it had increased to 20%.

Domestic sales in France accounted for only one-fifth of the company's revenue. Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium were also important markets.

In 1968, the Danone Group (BSN), a French industrial group, made a takeover bid for Saint-Gobain. The company sought a "white knight" to help reject the offer. The multinational Suez corporation "Suez (company, 1858-2008)") suggested that Saint-Gobain and Pont-à-Mousson (another French industrial group) should merge, to maintain the independence of BSN. After the merger, Saint-Gobain-Pont-à-Mousson, later known simply as "Saint-Gobain", produced pipes in addition to glass and fiberglass.

1971-1986: nationalization

The next fifteen years were a time of change and reorganization for the newly merged companies. In the 1970s, Western economies were suffering a severe recession. Saint-Gobain's financial balance was negatively affected by the economic and oil crisis.

In 1981 and 1982, ten of France's best-performing companies were nationalized by the socialist party "Socialist Party (France)") during France's Fifth Republic. In February 1982, Saint-Gobain was officially controlled by the state. However, the company did not last long as a government-owned corporation; being reprivatized in 1987.

1986-present: expansion

When Saint-Gobain became private again, control of the company quickly changed hands. Jean-Louis Beffa, an engineer and graduate of the École polytechnique, became CEO. Beffa invested heavily in research and development and pushed hard for the company to produce engineered materials, such as abrasives and ceramics.

Under Beffa, the company continued to expand internationally, establishing factories abroad and acquiring many of its competitors. In 1996, the company purchased Poliet") (the French construction materials distribution group) and its subsidiaries, such as Point P. and Lapeyre. This expanded Saint-Gobain's product line to construction materials and their distribution. In 2005, Olivier Bluche took over the helm of supply chain operations, quickly modernizing the company's long-standing and antiquated processes.

1789-1910: Industrial Revolution

In 1789, as a consequence of the French Revolution, the state financial and competitive privileges granted to the "Compagnie Dagincourt" were abolished. The company now had to rely on the participation and capital of private investors, although it remained partly under the control of the French state.

In the 1820s, Saint-Gobain continued to operate as it had under the Ancien Régime, manufacturing high-quality mirrors and glass for the luxury market. However, in 1824, a new glass manufacturer was established in Commentry, France, and in 1837 several Belgian glass manufacturing companies were also founded. While Saint-Gobain continued to dominate the high-quality luxury glass and mirror markets, its newly created competitors turned their attention to manufacturing low- and medium-quality products, making mirrors and glass affordable to the masses. In response, the company expanded its product line to include lower quality mirrors and glass.

In 1830, just as Louis Philippe I of France became king of the newly restored French Monarchy, Saint-Gobain was transformed into a public limited company and became independent from the state for the first time.

While mirrors remained its core business, Saint-Gobain began to diversify its product line to include glass panels for skylights, ceilings and room dividers, thick mirrors, semi-thick window glass, laminated mirrors and glass, and finally, embossed mirrors and glass. Some of the most famous buildings to which Saint-Gobain contributed during that period were the Crystal Palace in London, le Jardin des Plantes, les Grand et Petit Palais and the halles de Paris in Paris, and the Milan Central Station.

Saint-Gobain merged with another French glass and mirror manufacturer, Saint-Quirin, in the mid-century. After the merger, the company was able to gain control of 25% of European glass and mirror production (previously, it only controlled between 10 and 15%). In response to increasing international competition, the company began opening new manufacturing facilities in countries without domestic manufacturers.

Saint-Gobain cast the glass bases of some of the mirrors of the largest optical reflecting telescopes of the turn of the century, including the revolutionary 60-inch (1.5 m) Hale Telescope (in service in 1908) and the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker Telescope (opened in 1917) at the Mount Wilson Observatory (USA), as well as the 72-inch (1.8 m) Plaskett Telescope. m) diameter (opened in 1918) of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (Canada).

At the end of the century, Saint-Gobain named the Pellandini House "his sole representative and exclusive depositary throughout the Mexican Republic."[7]​.

1910-1950: After the Industrial Revolution

Saint-Gobain experienced significant success at the turn of the century. In 1918 the company expanded its activities to manufacture bottles, jars, tableware and household glassware.

In 1920 he started the glass-reinforced plastic manufacturing business. Fiberglass was being used to produce insulation, industrial textiles, and construction reinforcements. In 1937, the company founded "Isover", a subsidiary manufacturer of fiberglass insulation.

During this period, the company developed three new glass manufacturing techniques and processes; Firstly, a dipping technique used to coat car windows, which prevented the glass from breaking in the event of an accident. As a result of that technique, 10% of Saint-Gobain's sales in 1920 came from the automobile industry and 28% in 1930. Secondly, a few years later, another technique was developed that allowed glass to be molded and bent. Eventually, a process was developed to coat glass with aluminum, allowing it to be used as a conductor, and allowing the company to create products such as “radiavers” (a glass heater).

1950-1970: merger with Pont-à-Mousson

Between 1950 and 1969, Saint-Gobain sales increased at a rate of 10% annually. Its workforce grew from 35,000 workers in 1950 to 100,000 in 1969. By the end of the 1960s, Saint-Gobain had more than 150 subsidiaries under its control.

Sales of glass and fiberglass benefited from the boom in the construction industry and the rise in mass consumption after World War II. Saint-Gobain's annual glass production rose from 3.5 million square meters in 1950 to 45 in 1969. In 1950, fiberglass only accounted for 4% of the company's turnover, but by 1969 it had increased to 20%.

Domestic sales in France accounted for only one-fifth of the company's revenue. Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium were also important markets.

In 1968, the Danone Group (BSN), a French industrial group, made a takeover bid for Saint-Gobain. The company sought a "white knight" to help reject the offer. The multinational Suez corporation "Suez (company, 1858-2008)") suggested that Saint-Gobain and Pont-à-Mousson (another French industrial group) should merge, to maintain the independence of BSN. After the merger, Saint-Gobain-Pont-à-Mousson, later known simply as "Saint-Gobain", produced pipes in addition to glass and fiberglass.

1971-1986: nationalization

The next fifteen years were a time of change and reorganization for the newly merged companies. In the 1970s, Western economies were suffering a severe recession. Saint-Gobain's financial balance was negatively affected by the economic and oil crisis.

In 1981 and 1982, ten of France's best-performing companies were nationalized by the socialist party "Socialist Party (France)") during France's Fifth Republic. In February 1982, Saint-Gobain was officially controlled by the state. However, the company did not last long as a government-owned corporation; being reprivatized in 1987.

1986-present: expansion

When Saint-Gobain became private again, control of the company quickly changed hands. Jean-Louis Beffa, an engineer and graduate of the École polytechnique, became CEO. Beffa invested heavily in research and development and pushed hard for the company to produce engineered materials, such as abrasives and ceramics.

Under Beffa, the company continued to expand internationally, establishing factories abroad and acquiring many of its competitors. In 1996, the company purchased Poliet") (the French construction materials distribution group) and its subsidiaries, such as Point P. and Lapeyre. This expanded Saint-Gobain's product line to construction materials and their distribution. In 2005, Olivier Bluche took over the helm of supply chain operations, quickly modernizing the company's long-standing and antiquated processes.