Salmson was established in 1890 and has been involved in two of the major industrial revolutions which marked the history of the early 20th century.
From the beginning of the aeronautical industry to the saga of the motor car, Salmson played a pioneering role in the development of innovative vehicles and engines. SALMSON is still synonymous with the glorious era of the budding French technology spirit from the first flights of Aéropostale to the Le Mans 24 hour car race.
In the 1960’s, the company refocused its activities on the design and production of pumping systems, one of its original ventures, and took advantage of its experience and pioneering spirit to become one of the leading players in this field.
At the eve of a new century, Salmson took up a challenge with will have major implications for the company: the management of the Earth’s water resources.Establishment of the company "Emile Salmson, Ing." specializing in the construction, operations and maintenance of steam-powered machines and pumps. The firm soon became a supplier of Ponts et Chaussées, railway and military engineering companies and the French artillery.
The first compressors and centrifugal pumps were launched on the market with the Salmson brand name.
Émile SALMSON
The company is renamed "Emile Salmson & Cie, Ingénieurs Constructeurs" and develops associated activities such as the construction of hydraulic lifts and gas and petrol engines. It is based in Billancourt, near Paris where it sets up an aeronautical division dedicated to the construction of airplane engines.
An airplane equipped with a Salmson engine completes the first postal flight in history between Allahabad and Naini in the India.
Salmson is one of the leading French firms in aeronautical construction.
The “Société des Moteurs Salmson” focusses on the automobile sector .
Launch of the brand’s first vehicle from the Billancourt plant: the GN Salmson cyclecar.
Emile Salmson passes away.
Salmson adapts its automobile production to the mass-market automobile sector with the launch of the S6, the brand’s first vehicle with a camshaft positioned behind the engine. Between 1921 and 1928, Salmson automobiles win 550 races throughout the world and beats 10 world records.
Maryse Bastié establishes two new world records by travelling from Le Bourget to Moscow in a Salmson single seater - the longest distance covered by a female pilot and the longest flight ever completed by a light aircraft.
With over 1,100 automobiles manufactured at the Billancourt plant, production returns to its pre-war level. As far as the airplane sector is concerned, the year is marked by the exploits of the "cri-cri" which can reache an height of 4,000 m.
In spite of the launch of two remarkable models, "La Randonnée" and the sporty two-door sedan "2300 S", the “Société des Moteurs Salmson” goes bankrupt.
Salmson purchases the patent for embedded rotor circulators from the Perfecta company.
The last car manufactured in Billancourt and the last special Salmson car: the "2300 S" wins the Le Mans 24 hour car race in the GT category.
The Salmson production site is transferred to Laval in the Mayenne part of France.
The family firm becomes a subsidiary of the ITT-LMT group.
Thomson becomes the main shareholder of Salmson.
The “Société des Pompes Salmson” joins the German group WILO which then becomes the 2nd major player in Europe in this sector.
Salmson is the first French pump manufacturer to obtain ISO 9001 certification.
Launch in Laval of the production of the brand’s first range of stainless steel multi-cellular pumps.
Creation of the Delta network grouping together distributors and repairers specializing in the water cycle and industry.
Launch of the first stainless steel multi-cellular pumps incorporating electronic speed variation.
Takeover of Essamico, manufacturer of process pumps.
Takeover by the group of the EMU company in Germany. Attainment of ISO 9001 certification, version 2000.
Launch of the SIRIUX, a high-output circulator with ECM technology.
Salmson obtains ISO 14001 certification.
Launch of ecological solutions
