Decauville factory in Marquette-lez-Lille
| Company type | Manufacturing plant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Locomotive and construction machinery manufacturing |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Marquette-lez-Lille , France |
| Products | Shunting locomotives, commercial vehicles, construction and mining equipment (forklift trucks, dump trucks, wheel loaders, compressors) |
Number of employees | 500 (1958) |
The Decauville manufacturing plant in Marquette-lez-Lille produced locomotives and construction machinery from 1923 until its closure in 1968.
History
Established in 1923 close to the Massey-Ferguson facility in Marquette, this factory was one of four Decauville production sites, alongside those located in Corbeil-Essonnes, Aulnay-sous-Bois, and Moulins. The site benefited from ample land and excellent rail connectivity, facilitating the delivery of steel and iron materials sourced from Lorraine.
By 1954, the workforce at Marquette numbered 400 employees, increasing to 500 by 1958. The factory occupied more than 80,000 m2 (8 hectares), with 18,000 m2 dedicated to buildings, allowing potential for further development.
Transitioning from riveted to welded construction techniques, the plant specialized primarily in manufacturing shunting locomotives. It also produced commercial vehicles along with construction and mining equipment such as forklift trucks, dump trucks, wheel loaders, and compressors. Nearly half of the products were destined for export markets.
In response to financial difficulties caused by market changes during the late 1950s, Decauville entered into a collaboration with a German company in 1963 to design large-scale construction machinery at the Marquette site. Despite these efforts, the factory ceased operations in the summer of 1968 after operating for 45 years.
Subsequent attempts to revive the facility through local investments were ultimately unsuccessful.