Brothers, Charles and Harold Lamb set up the business with just £7,500, two men and three machine tools between them.

The company started in engine repair and subcontract engineering. Shortly after, a small foundry was set up producing components in non-ferros alloys for the growing machine shop.

As well a car and truck engine repair and growing subcontract machine shops, British Engines progressively entered into the marine engineering industry in which engines from fishing vessels and fleet auxiliary boats were serviced, overhauled and reconditioned.

Customers included DeHaviland, Rolls Royce and the Ministry of War (later Defence). Making parts for the first jet engine commercial airliner, the Comet.

Cable terminating glands became part of the company’s offering which developed into group company, CMP Products.

Harold’s son, Graham, joined the company having served as an apprentice at Vickers Armstrong.

BEL Valves was set up to produce high pressure valves for the chemical industry. The company started to supply valves to the offshore industry in the 70s during the oil boom and exploration of the North Sea.

The foundry moved into a building at Glasshouse Street

The foundry moved into a building at Glasshouse Street near to the firm’s beginnings, adding 60,000 square feet and providing room for a £300,000 investment.

The British Engines Apprenticeship scheme was officially formed and we have since trained over 1,000 apprentices.

The company entered into the field of hydraulics with the development of an axial piston pump and a hydraulic motor, forming the company RHL which later became Rotary Power.

Stadium Export Services (then Packing Services) was founded in Gateshead providing export packaging, preservation and freight.

Acquired Stephenson Gobin, based in Bishop Auckland, specialising in the manufacture of electromagnetic clutches and brakes for the motion control and fire industry.

British Engines India was established to sub-contact manufacturing and engineering services to the group. Located in Banglore, across 30,000 sq. ft., British Engines India operates a full CNC machining, assembly and test facility.

British Engines was awarded Apprenticeship Scheme of the Year at the North East Business Awards.

British Engines confirms the completion of the acquisition of the Michell Bearings business from Rolls-Royce. The acquisition included the UK and India facilities.

BEL Engineering's new site was developed in a £12m investment.

Tyne Pressure Testing was formed to provide hyperbaric pressure testing to a range of industries.

CMP expands its manufacturing facility with 'Unit 1', a 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse neighbouring CMP's existing Unit 3 site. Unit 1 is home to CMP's cleat manufacturing facility, alongside a state-of-the-art research & development centre.

The British Engines Group celebrates 100 years of engineering.