History of CHEP
Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool
The Australian government develops the Allied Materials Handling Standing Committee to provide efficient handling of defence supplies during World War II.
After World War II, the US Army leaves behind a wealth of materials handling equipment at their military bases in Australia. The Australian government combines this asset base with existing infrastructure to form the Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool, or CHEP.
- 1949
Privatise CHEP
The government decides to privatise the equipment-handling industry and mandates the sale of the organisation now known simply as CHEP.
- 1958
Brambles acquires CHEP
Brambles, a business formed in 1875 with experience in materials handling, acquires CHEP. The business experiences rapid growth and, within a few years, operates the largest pool of pallets and containers in the Southern Hemisphere and the largest hiring fleet of forklift trucks in Australia.
- 1974 - 1991
CHEP expands
CHEP launches equipment-pooling operations in 14 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, South Africa, Canada and the USA.
Automotive Solutions
Read moreCHEP launches its Automotive Solutions business in Australia, followed by Europe in 1993.
- 1980-1991
Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC)
CHEP launches it's Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) business in the automotive market in Australia and then extends into general industry.
- 1992
Innovation
CHEP introduces the four-way entry wood block pallet, which revolutionises the materials handling industry by improving handling efficiency.
- 1999
Total Pallet Management
CHEP launches Total Pallet Management (TPM) in the USA
- 1993 - 2002
Pooling operations
CHEP launches pooling operations in a further 22 countries across Africa, Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe and Asia.
CHEP Catalyst & Chemical Containers
In 1998, Brambles acquires Catalyst & Chemical Containers, a specialist provider of pooled container solutions to the petro-chemical industry, and relaunches it as CHEP Catalyst & Chemical Containers.
- 2000
Reusable Plastic Containers
CHEP launches its Reusable Plastic Containers (RPC) business in Australia.
CHEP Innovation Centre
In 2002, CHEP opens the CHEP Innovation Centre in Orlando, Florida, USA, providing an industry-leading packaging and unit-load configuration testing facility.
- 2002 - 2006
CHEP Expansion
CHEP expands its network of pooling operations further in the Middle East, Asia and Central & Eastern Europe
IFCO Acquisition
Brambles makes its largest ever acquisition, IFCO Systems, a global provider of RPC pooling services and a provider of pallet management services in the USA (March).
- 2013
Pallecon
Brambles acquires Pallecon, a leading provider of intermediate bulk container solutions in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
- 2013
Recall Demerger
Brambles demerges Recall to focus on Pooling Solutions.
- 2015
Kegstar
Brambles acquires Kegstar.
Solutions Portfolio
In 2015, CHEP introduces customer solutions portfolio.
- 2016
LeanLogistics Divestiture & Launch of BXB Digital
Brambles combined its Oil & Gas container solutions businesses - Ferguson Group and CHEP Catalyst & Chemical Containers - with Hoover Container Solutions to create an independent joint venture company, Hoover Ferguson Group for which Brambles owns a 50% share. In the same year, Brambles also divested LeanLogistics and CHEP Aerospace and launched BXB Digital.
- 2018
Brambles divests its interest in the Hoover Ferguson Joint Venture
Brambles divested its non-core North American recycled whitewood pallet business to Grey Mountain Partners. As part of the sale Brambles transferred 73 sites and approximately 2,400 employees to Grey Mountain Partners. Brambles retained the 88 plants and TPM sites and approximately 1,600 employees which service the CHEP USA pooled pallets business. In April 2018, Brambles sold its 50% share of Hoover Ferguson Group.
- 2019
Brambles completes the sale of its IFCO reusable plastic containers (RPC) business
In August 2018, Brambles announced its intention to pursue a separation of its IFCO RPC business through either a sale or demerger. On 25 February 2019, Brambles announced it has entered into a binding agreement to sell IFCO. The transaction to sell the IFCO RPC business was completed in May 2019.
- 2021
Brambles completes the merger between Kegstar and MicroStar
In February 2021, Brambles announced that it has entered into an agreement to combine its Kegstar keg rental business with leading US beer keg solutions provider MicroStar. Under the agreement, MicroStar will purchase Kegstar at an enterprise value of US$52.2 million and issue scrip in MicroStar to Brambles as consideration. The transaction was completed in April 2021.
Contact us for more information
Please enter your details below