About Us

Founded in 1939 in Gerzat, France, Société Métallurgique de Gerzat (SMG) has been producing high-quality aluminium alloy cylinders for compressed gases for more than six decades. Millions of SMG cylinders are in use around the world in a wide variety of services, including life-support for firefighters and emergency response personnel, medical systems, fire extinguishers, beverage dispensing, and aerospace and defence applications.

During the 1990s, SMG engaged in an extensive modernization programme for its manufacturing facilities, adding new extrusion presses, automatic production lines featuring extensive robotics, heat-treatment furnaces, filament-winding equipment for a new line of wrapped composite cylinders, hydraulic test benches, digital control lathes, high-quality paint-application equipment, and much more. Through an ongoing continuous-improvement programme, SMG makes additional upgrades every year, ensuring that SMG manufacturing facilities are amongst the most modern in the world.

Because of long-term experience with extruded aluminium products, SMG now offers a broad range of high-pressure cylinders made from different aluminium alloys, including its unique, patented 7060 high-performance alloy used to manufacture hot-extruded cylinders.

The Quality Assurance system at SMG is second to none. Awarded RAQ2 approval from the French Ministry of Defence in 1982 (equivalent to NATO AQAP-4), the SMG system subsequently received certification from the French Ministry for Industry in 1989. This certification authorizes SMG to carry out all relevant inspections on behalf of the Ministry. SMG has maintains AFAQ certification for conformity with the requirements of ISO 9001 (EN-29002). SMG cylinders meet or surpass the requirements of regulatory authorities around the world.

Located in Auvergne in central France, the main SMG facility is conveniently situated near Clemont-Ferrand-Aulat International Airport. SMG is a subsidiary of the Luxfer Gas Cylinders division of Luxfer Group.