Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Metal Box Co Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Hudson Scott & Sons Ltd
  • Atkins, F, & Co Ltd
  • Grant, Henry, & Co Ltd
  • Barclay & Fry Ltd
  • Allied Tin Box Makers Ltd
  • Metal Box & Printing Industries Ltd
  • Continental Can Inc
  • British Can Co Ltd
  • MB Group
  • Carnaud
  • CMB Packaging SA
  • Caradon Plc
  • MB Caradon Plc

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
  • Reading, Reading, Berkshire, South East, England

Sectors:

  • Non metallic mineral products manufacture Glass products manufacture
  • Fabricated metal products manufacture Heating, cooling, refrigerating & ventilating equipment inc central heating boiler & radiator production
  • Fabricated metal products manufacture Metal packaging inc cans production
  • Paper & paper products manufacture Paper containers & other packaging production

Notes:

Established 1921 by merger of four tin box and packaging manufacturers: Hudson Scott & Sons Ltd, F Atkins & Co Ltd, Henry Grant & Co Ltd and Barclay & Fry Ltd, who were also printers/stationers, to form Allied Tin Box Makers Ltd. 1922 changed name to Metal Box & Printing Industries Ltd. 1920s reached agreement with Continental Can Inc of USA about co-operation to restrict competition, this surviving in part to 1980s. Thereafter bought up British Can Co Ltd, its chief UK rival, and dominated UK market. Converted to public company in 1930 when renamed Metal Box Co Ltd. From 1940s developed other important packaging interests in glass, foil, paper, etc, as alternatives to tin. 1970s diversified outside packaging to areas such as radiators and central heating systems. Later renamed MB Group and in 1988 merged its packaging interests with those of Carnaud of France to form CMB Packaging SA. 1989 MB acquired building products business, Caradon Plc, to form MB Caradon Plc

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