SRO opened a factory in Annecy, France to supply the French military aeronautic industry during WWI. In the 1920’s, SRO built three new facilities to meet increasing demand for ball and roller bearings, thrust bearings, and bearing blocks. Automation of production boosted productivity throughout the 1930’s, and, by the eve of WWII, SRO had nearly 1,300 employees and produced 1.5 million bearings annually.

After WWII, the Annecy factory was sold to Renault National State controlled factories, and SNR was created in 1946. Throughout the next few decades, the French industry flourished, particularly in the automotive sector, and SNR’s production jumped to 80,000 bearings per day. Five more plants were built throughout Europe between 1960 and 1972, adding to SNR’s booming production. By the mid-1970’s, SNR employed more than 3,000 workers and production reached 200,000 bearings per day.