The Simond family had many brothers working as blacksmiths from the early 1820s. In the 1860s François Simond began to dedicate his work to designing and producing mountaineering equipment such as ice axes and crampons. Francois’s son Claudius started working 1925. Under him, Simond soon became a global name in the world of high-altitude mountaineering equipment. In 1960 Francois’s grandson Ludger took over. Ludger built a new headquarters at the foot of Mont Blanc in 1988. Ludger Simond sold his company to Wichard in 2004. Decathlon became the sole shareholder of Etablissements Simond in 2008.
↑ 178: Claudius Simond Steel Oval