The history of the Val D'Osne as a foundry location is linked with the name of Antoine Durenne. In 1885, Durenne established foundries primarily for works to be cast in iron at Sommevoire, a small town in the French countryside east of Paris and close to the town of Val D'Osne from which the company's name derives. Durenne's foundries continue to produce today under the name Générale d'Hydrolique et de Mécanique.