Engineered for Reliability: How CMbE Builds Low-Risk Canmaking Machines

Reliability isn't a feature you add to a machine. It is the result of hundreds of engineering decisions. 

Every component, tolerance, lubrication system and access point presents a choice: make it more robust, easier to maintain or more resilient under pressure.

At CMbE, reducing production risk starts with making those decisions deliberately.

Because a reliable canmaking machine isn't just one that performs on day one. It is one that keeps performing at high speed, shift after shift, year after year.

So, how do we engineer for that?

1. Design around production risks

Reliability starts by identifying where a machine is most vulnerable to stress, wear or disruption.

Take vibration in a high-speed Bodymaker. CMbE uses an overbalanced crankshaft to help minimise vibration, while its hydraulic power pack is designed to maintain oil cleanliness to ISO standards. Its hydraulic clutch and brake support accurate stopping at high speeds.

Each decision addresses a practical production risk.

What could compromise performance? How can we engineer around it?

That thinking runs through the machine.

2. Make maintenance part of the design

Maintenance is inevitable. Unnecessary downtime isn't.

CMbE designs machines with serviceability in mind, using features such as accessible guarding, service connections and centralised lubrication.

The Die Necker, for example, incorporates automatic centralised grease lubrication, reducing routine manual intervention. Its design also focuses on improved machine dynamics and reduced changeover and setup time.

The principle is simple:

Don't just design for the machine when it is running. Design for the people who have to maintain it.

3. Engineer for consistency at speed

High-speed production magnifies small problems.

The CMbE Die Necker can operate at up to  3,400 cans per minute . At that speed, reliability depends on much more than achieving maximum output once.

Machine dynamics, precision components, lubrication, tooling and controls all have to work together to deliver consistent performance.

The question isn't simply:

“How fast can it run?”

It is:

“How consistently can it run at that speed?”

4. Build for the long term

Reliability also means longevity.

A canmaking machine is a long-term investment. Its value is measured in years of productive manufacturing, not simply the day it is commissioned.

That means designing for durability and serviceability, while ensuring equipment can continue to evolve with the customer's operation.

Through upgrades, refurbishment, genuine OEM spare parts and technical support, CMbE helps customers maintain and extend the productive life of their equipment.

The goal isn't just to build a machine that lasts. It is to keep it productive.

5. Put people into the reliability equation

Machines don't operate in isolation.

Operators need equipment they can work with. Maintenance teams need practical access. Engineers need the information and expertise to diagnose problems quickly.

That is why usability, accessibility and technical support are part of CMbE's approach to reliability.

And the learning doesn't stop there.

Customer feedback and service experience help identify recurring challenges and opportunities to improve future machines, processes and support.

Reliability gets stronger with experience.

6. Keep supporting the machine after the sale

This is where CMbE's commitment goes beyond the machine itself.

Eventually, every production system will need maintenance, a replacement component, technical advice, servicing or an upgrade.

When that happens, customers need more than a parts catalogue. They need people who understand the equipment and the urgency of keeping production moving.

CMbE's aftermarket and customer support teams help customers diagnose issues, find solutions and maintain their equipment through genuine OEM spare parts, tooling, servicing, refurbishment, upgrades and technical support.

After-sales support isn't separate from engineering. It is an extension of it.

Reliability is a continuous process

There is no single component that makes a canmaking machine reliable.

It comes from decisions made across design, manufacturing, tooling, maintenance, service and customer support.

Identify the risk. Engineer around it. Make maintenance easier. Build for longevity. Learn from experience. Support the machine throughout its life.

That is how CMbE approaches reliability.

With more than  90 years of canmaking engineering experience , our responsibility doesn't end when a machine leaves our facility.

We don't just build the machine.

We help keep it moving.