Our History

CMB Engineering is world renowned for our innovative can making machinery.  Founded in the 1930s, in the cradle of the European Industrial Revolution; the company has been developing and designing leading technologies, in Shipley, for almost a century.  During this time, a merger formed between Carnaud, a French manufacturer; and a further acquisition by Crown Holdings Incorporated, one of the world’s leading producers of metal packaging; have defined the innovative and customer driven company that you see before you today.

When designing and creating CMB Engineering’s first can making machine, the company simultaneously focused on harnessing  a century’s worth of engineering excellence, in order to develop a solution that would meet the needs of can makers.

This resulted in the invention of the Bodymaker; hence providing a unique solution that combined both can making and trimming, in order to bring manufacturers a convenient and efficient machine with a reduced footprint.  Launched over forty years ago; you can still find our original Bodymaker machines running like clockwork across can production plants around the world.

Through Time

Today, we draw inspiration from our proud history of engineering excellence.  We are responsible for developing advanced can making; in addition to necking and decorating systems and technologies, which can help can makers meet the challenges that the future holds.  Harnessed on behalf of our customers, is decades of industrial knowledge and technical prowess which is channelled through our designs.

	1853 – Established Established by James Denby Lee and James Crabtree, at Crag Mills, Windhill manufacturing textile machinery.
	1930 – Becomes Metal Box The business is bought by Metal Box Company and begins building can making machinery.
	1964 – Dockfield Road, Shipley Metal Box moves to its current home, a purpose-built site at Dockfield Road, in Shipley.
	1986 – Queen’s Award Winner Winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Technological Achievement, awarded for developing the technology to spin a shaped neck onto a two-piece can. A process since used throughout the world
	1988 – Expansion Office opens in Norwalk, US
	1989 – Becomes CarnaudMetalbox Metal Box merges with Carnaud SA of France to become CarnaudMetalbox Engineering
	1991 – Bodymaker Launch Launch of the 5000 Bodymaker
	1994 – Can Trimmer Development CMB begins development on a Can Trimmer machine, a four-head rotary machine capable of handling all standard DWI can sizes
	1995 – 5500 Canmaker Launch Launch of the 5500 Canmaker an Integration of the 5000 Bodymaker and 550 Trimmer
	1995- Acquisition by Crown Cork & Seal Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (Now Crown Holdings) acquires CarnaudMetalbox Engineering
	1997 – Launch of MK2 Bodymaker Launch of Mk2 5000 Bodymaker, an advanced, horizontal, double-action press for production of aluminium or steel DWI cans at high speeds and efficiencies
	2006 – 3200 Spray Machine Launch Launch of the 3200 Spray Machine, a high-speed internal lacquer coating machine for aluminium or steel cans
	2006 – Die Set Launch Launch of the Die Set, a cupper tool for all press types for both aluminium and steel cups
	2007 – 3400 Die Necker Launch Launch of the 3400 Die Necker, a multi-stage die necking machine capable of producing cans at speeds of up to 3400 cans per minuted
	2009 – World Skills UK A team of young Engineers from CMB Engineering win Gold in the manufacturing team challenge category at the World Skills UK competition
	2010 – Queen’s Award Winner 2nd Queens Award for Enterprise awarded in the International Trade category, the highest official award for British businesses. Presented by Princess Anne
	2013 – World Skills A team of CMB Apprentices form part of Team GB representing the UK in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the World Skills competition in Leipzig, Germany
	2014 – The Academy Launch Launch of The Academy, a first in the industry – offering in-depth practical and theoretical understanding of canmaking and seaming
	2014 – Queen’s Award Winner 3rd time winners of the Queens Award for Enterprise – International trade
	2014 – 50th Anniversary Celebrating Dockfield Road as the home of CMbE and the heart of our UK manufacturing heritage
	2015 – World Skills A team of CMB Apprentices form part of Team GB representing the UK in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the World Skills competition in São Paulo, Brazil
	2015 – reformat™ Spray Machine Launch Launch of the reformat™ Spray Machine, a servo driven internal spray machine, developed to improve the speed, efficiency and process control for evenly coating the inside of beverage or food cans
	2015 – Expansion Office opens in Shanghai, China
	2016 – Milestones 1000th Bodymaker sold. 100th Trimmer Sold
	2016 – Awards CanTech – Innovation Award. Winners of the 2016 CanTech Innovations award for the reformat™ Spray Machine2016 Crown’s Social Sustainability Award Received for the employee safety program “Cool To Be Safe”
	2017 – World Skills A team of CMB Apprentices form part of Team GB representing the UK in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the World Skills competition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
	2018 – 1000th Trimmer Sold Eric Middleton and Andy Goldsbrough presenting the 1000th Trimmer Plaque
	2019 – World Skills A team of CMB Apprentices form part of Team GB representing the UK in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the World Skills competition in Kazan, Russia
	2020 – Queen’s Award Winner 4th time winners of the Queens Award for Enterprise – Innovation, for the reformat™ Spray Machine
	2020 – Expansion Expansion into Unit 9. 20,561ft2 facility at Hirstwood Works, Shipley, West YorkshireExpansion into Unit 6. 1,991ft2 at Hirstwood Works, Shipley, West Yorkshire
	2021 – Unit 12 Expansion 150,000ft2 manufacturing facility in Leeds, West Yorkshire
	2021 – Strengthens presence in the US HV Industries & Wissota Tool form part of CMbE USA alongside Norwalk.