Cambridge International, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of metal belting and woven wire cloth. Our history has spanned 100 years, surviving the trials of time and change. Cambridge is proud of the courageous, visionary, and forward-thinking leaders that have dedicated themselves to building this company and seeing it grow into the pioneer that it is today.
Throughout the last century, Cambridge has honed its expertise in engineering to provide sound solutions in new and evolving industries. We have been honored with a profound customer base, including people like Thomas Edison, who have partnered with us to help us understand the best ways we can serve industry.
Walk into any manufacturing plant in the world and chances are, Cambridge has left its mark. Over the last decade, Cambridge has been leading the way in new and innovative applications for woven wire mesh. We have launched two new divisions – Cambridge Architectural and Cambridge Environmental Technologies. These divisions are the evolution of metal belting products and are changing the built environment as well as the way we understand and care for the natural environment.
Browse the time line of our century of experience and learn why Cambridge is a leader in the industry…
1911 – Estey Wire Works expands their wire cloth weaving division to Cambridge, MD. Edward F. Pink, an employee of Estey in NY since 1886, is instituted as General Superintendent of those facilities.
1914 – WWI – CWC is able to weave spiral fabric, but had not yet created “belting”.
1915 – A mutual agreement was made between Estey and the Pinks (Edward F. (President) and his brother, Robert W. (Vice-President)) and the Cambridge Wire Cloth Company was formed. This agreement included the provision that Cambridge Wire Cloth would only manufacture and sell to Estey Wire Works.
1920 – The Cambridge Wire Cloth Company purchased all real estate, equipment and buildings,
1922 – Cambridge and Estey agreed the Cambridge Wire Cloth Company would be released from the agreement with Estey Wire Works – allowing us to sell to anyone.
1922 – An experimental project with a classmate who was a filtration engineer pulled Cambridge into the chemical industry, requesting a wire cloth belt to pass over a filtration drum to dry a wet, pasty pigment for a paint production process. Although the belt was unable to withstand the processing at that time, it was realized that the same belt could be used in a tomato processing facility here in Cambridge on Muir Street. After a season of operation, it was apparent that this belt was superior to their existing belting.
With the realization that our belts were ideal for the food processing industry, it was also realized that spiral belts could be manufactured with any size spacing and any diameter wire. This led to the conclusion that belts did not only have to transport products, but the processing could be done directly on the belt.
The Early 1920s – European weaving looms were purchased and [are still in use today]. Clarence E. Pink, Edward’s son, was brought on to the team as Secretary/Treasurer to build a customer base in the Mid-Atlantic region. The steamer boats were instrumental in Cambridge’s early success because of their ability to deliver directly to Mid-Atlantic states.
Four German power looms – 48” Jaegers – were purchased to manufacture finer weaves.
1923 – Cambridge Wire Cloth began production of its second product line – spiral woven wire belt – with a request from a Baltimore customer, which would be the first of the metal conveyor belt line of products.
The Mid-20s – Clarence Pink and his associates were in the lobby of the Commodore Hotel in NYC with a sample of spiral belting. Mr. Pieler, a consulting engineer for the glass industry noticed them and asked to examine the piece of belting. He went on to explain that he was developing a new type of furnace for the glass industry called a lehr. Following a later meeting, the first lehr belt was installed at the Swindel Glass Company in Baltimore, dealing with heavy loads and high temperatures.
1927 – The first lehr belt was manufactured and sold to an Illinois-based glass company.
The Late 1920s – The “Roaring 20s” were prosperous for Cambridge. The first sales manager was hired along with the first office employee. Motor truck freight was now available, expanding the customer base as far west as Chicago, south to Jacksonville, and north to Boston.
On first attempt at developing these distant markets, sales people were travelling to businesses in those areas, but in the late 20s, a representative from a New York publishing house came to Cambridge and published the first advertisement in “Materials Handling” magazine. This led to an agreement with the very first distributor of Cambridge Wire Cloth and Spiral Belts, selling to northern-based clients on commission.
1929 – Spiral belting = 47% of total sales.
1929 – “Allegheny Metal” was introduced – alloy of nickel, chrome and iron – now known as “Stainless Steel” – opened whole new markets b/c alloy is rustless, corrosion resistant, and able to be used in extreme temperatures.
This new metal and the push for industry helped Cambridge weather the Depression Era well, but it was only with the support of a local bank which paid 25% of employee wages during that time, that Cambridge was able to stay profitable.
Early 1930s – The repeal of the Prohibition Law opened a new line of products, The Cambridge engineers were approached by Mr. Stansbury from Chicago who sent a sample mesh used as a pressure filter by breweries to remove yeast from the brew. The reproduction of this filter began a whole new department – the Fabricating Department – which produces many designs of wire cloth filter leaves, vibrating screens, mud screens for the petroleum industry, and many other specialty fabricated products.
The Mid-1930s – Cambridge was requested to design a belt with a retaining edge to convey cartridge shells through an annealing furnace for the Remington Arms Company. Developed flexible plate edge belt.
1937 – Edward F. Pink dies
1938 – Clarence E. Pink, son of Edward, is elected president and CEO
Late 1930s – Development of Gripper Slings, Load Binders
1940s – WWII – Sales reach over 1 million
WWII – The flexible plate edge belt becomes government specification for annealing the heavy shell cases in all US arsenals. This led to the heavy duty belt designs, such as chain and sprocket drive.
1941 – Company switched from sales agents to internal salesforce, employed by CWC
1942 – First National Sales Meeting held. Profit-sharing retirement trust established, as well as group hospitalization and disability plan.
1943 – Government purchases make up over half of sales – Flexible plate edge belt, woven wire baskets and crates.
1946 – Night shift was started to handle growing sales
Late 40s – The first company softball team was formed, first company outing was held
1947 – hired first export agent in Canada – R.D. Travers Co.
Early 50s – hired Emery Advertising Agency; attended first trade show – the Annual Metal Show;
1950 – Sales reach over 2 million
1953 – Clarence E. Pink named Chairman of the Board; Edward N. Evans elected President
1957 – Purchased first crimping loom, imported from Germany
1958 – “Architectural mesh” is installed in the elevators of the Seagram’s Building in NYC
1960s – Era of new product development and international expansion; Mesh used in Thor Ballistic Missiles and nuclear submarines
1961 – 50 Year Anniversary – Flat wire and Sani-Grid belting are developed for the food and metal working industries.
1964 – Cambridge Wire Cloth Internacional S.A. is formed under the direction of Edward N. Evans
1967 – First computer system installed – the Univac 9200; first export division established
Late 60s – Workforce reaches over 400 employees; Manufacturing plant in Melbourne Australia opened
1971 – CWC begins manufacturing Architectural Mesh for the elevator companies – Westinghouse and Otis.
1972 – Maryland Wire Belts is founded by Ronald Daringer and George Messick
1974 – Data processing equipment installed at CWC– the IBM System/3-Model 15 Computer – the first of its kind in Maryland – capable of processing 6 operations at one time – the first unit could only do 1 function at a time.
1974 – MWB 1st patent – Flat Seat spiral belt
1975 – CWC wins the “E” Award for contributions to American exporting
1977 – CWC Escondido facility moved to Lockeford, CA.;
1977 – CWC First IBM CRT’s (Cathode Ray Tubes) are instituted to communicate with data processing. These computers transmitted data at a rate of 700,000 characters per second (as compared to today’s data processing rate of 5 billion characters per second, or more)
1977 – CWC New phone system replaces switchboard
1978 – CWC Edward N. Evans II is elected President and CEO; Vulcan belts are developed for use in hot environments with heavy loads
1980 – CWC Everett Creighton and Theodore Dragich, VP of Finance, initiate a 3 million dollar expansion; Sales reach over 20 million
1980 – CWC Formation of Cambridge Do Brasil Ind. E Com., Ltda. In Sao Paulo Brazil – fourth manufacturing facility – others included Lockeforde, CA; Mexico City; Melbourne, Australia.
1981 – MWB installs first computer system
1982 – CWC The union is introduced through negotiations between T. Dragich and E. Creighton and the United Steelworkers of America, who began representing hourly employees; Cam-Grid spiral belting developed for coolers and freezers
1983 – Cam-Clean created through partnership with A.D. Little – first plastic belting manufactured by CWC; Clarence Pink retires at the age of 92
1984 – Maryland’s 350th Anniversary – 1634-1984
1986 – 75-year anniversary
1989 – MWB establishes a plant in Cambridge; PacTite belt developed by MWB; MWB attends their first trade show; sales reach 10 million
1991 – George messick retires from MWB
1993 – Ted Dragich, former VP of Finance, is elected President and CEO, later to be named Chairman of the Board till 2001
1996 – MWB acquires Alloy Wire Belt Company in Calif.Chain edge, sprocket driven belts developed by MWB; MWB asked to make belt to simulate chain link for the movie set of Volcano.
1997 – CWC sold to Morgenthaler Ventures
1997 – MWB 25 year anniversary; Daringer retires
1998 – Merger of Cambridge Wire Cloth and Maryland Wire Belts to become Cambridge International, Inc.
2002 – Start of the Cambridge Architectural division
2009 – Launch of Cambridge Environmental Technologies; Habitat for Humanity Cambridge Build project; dedicated wave of the future sculpture to the city for MD’s 325th anniversary
2010 – Tracy Tyler appointed new President and CEO, replacing Bill Colson; Tom Ross appointed COO; CINTL chosen to be part of the MaryLand of Opportunity campaign, sponsored by the MD Dept of Business and Economic Development
2011 – 100 Year Anniversary; Renovation of corporate headquarters; Lean Sigma initiatives in manufacturing
