26
LISI 2012
1777
Frédéric JAPY sets up a watch
movement factory in Beaucourt,
near Montbéliard.
1796
Some years later MIGEON &
DOMINE is founded in Morvillars in
the Belfort region, later to become
VIELLARD MIGEON et Compagnie
(VMC).
1806
JAPY Frères and VIELLARD &MIGEON
decide to join forces to launch the
industrial manufacture of forged
wood screws in France.
1899
The Société Industrielle de Delle is
founded by the DUBAIL-KOHLER
family in the town of Delle, Belfort.
The company quickly begins to
specialize in the manufacture of
machine-turned screws.
1968
These three family-run businesses
(KOHLER, JAPY and VIELLARD) merge
to form a company called GFD,
thus becoming France’s foremost
manufacturer of standard and
automotive nuts and bolts. The three
founding families are today part of
CID (
Compagnie Industrielle de Delle
),
owning a controlling stake in the LISI
Group.
1977
GFD acquires BLANC AERO, which
specializes in aerospace parts and
in packaging components for the
Perfumery sector. This new group is
named GFI.
1989
GFI is floated on the Paris Stock
Exchange’s over-the-counter market
and becomes GFI Industries.
1990 / 2000
Throughout the 1990s, GFI Industries
continues to strengthen its positions
in its three sectors by acquiring over
15 companies throughout Europe
and the US.
2002
To better delineate its specialist
areas, GFI Industries became LISI,
(LInk Solutions for Industry; its
three divisions used that name,
adding their core business suffix:
LISI AEROSPACE, LISI AUTOMOTIVE
and LISI COSMETICS.
The strategy of focusing on Core
Business continues:
• Sale of non-strategic business
lines (GFD, Ars Industries and the
production unit at Aillevilliers),
• Acquisition of California’s
MONADNOCK (LISI AEROSPACE).
2005
Acquisition of KNIPPING in Germany
(LISI AUTOMOTIVE). Opening of a
factory in Canada (LISI AEROSPACE)
Sale of Gradel (LISI AUTOMOTIVE).
F
or more than two centuries, the LISI
Group has showed itself to be very
adaptable in meeting the challenges of
sustainability and controlled and profi-
table development. Initially a specialist
in the manufacture of wire based on
the fairly poor ore from the Vosges,
over time the Group followed changes
in value added and very quickly organized its activities
on the basis of customer requirements. In the 1900s,
the activities were already focused on specific require-
ments (building, carpentry, etc. ) then the emergence
of the automotive industry in the 1960s changed the
structure. Thanks to the modern vision of the directors
at the time, the Alliance of the complimentary family
businesses of the KOHLER, VIELLARD and JAPY families
enabled the creation of a leader.
Subsequently, the positioning in the aeronautical
industry at a time when the industry was getting
organized allowed for the conquering of indispensable
worldwide positions in this sector. It was the same spirit
which led the Group to build up a significant business
in this area.
STRATEGY
A HISTORICAL SENSE OF
adaptation
