In 1845, the Wallonian (a group native to Belgium) Jacques Piedboeuf, together with Hugo Jakob Talbot, Johann Leonhard Neuman and Theodor Esser, founded the steelworks OHG Piedboeuf & Co, Aachener Walz- und Hammerwerk; taken over in 1851 by Carl Rutz, which then continued as the Kommanditgesellschaft Carl Rutz & Co  Aachener Htten-Aktien-Verein Rothe Erde.
Walloons (/wlunz/; French: Wallons [wal (listen); Walloon: Walons) are a Romance ethnic group native to Belgium, principally its southern region of Wallonia, who primarily speak langues d'oil such as Belgian French, Picard and Walloon. In 1845 the Wallonian Jacques Piedboeuf, together with Hugo Jakob Talbot and the mechanical engineers Johann Leonhard Neuman and Theodor Esser, founded the steelworks OHG Piedboeuf & Co, Aachener Walz- und Hammerwerk on the site of a former estate. It remained until being taken over in 1851 by Carl Ruetz, from which point it continued as the Kommanditgesellschaft Carl Ruetz & Co  Aachener Hutten-Aktien-Verein Rothe Erde. 
