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.
The government decides to privatise the equipment-handling industry and mandates the sale of the organisation now known simply as 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.
CHEP launches equipment-pooling operations in 14 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, South Africa, Canada and the USA.
CHEP launches its Automotive Solutions business in Australia, followed by Europe in 1993.
CHEP launches it's Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) business in the automotive market in Australia and then extends into general industry.
CHEP introduces the four-way entry wood block pallet, which revolutionises the materials handling industry by improving handling efficiency.
CHEP launches Total Pallet Management (TPM) in the USA
CHEP launches pooling operations in a further 22 countries across Africa, Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe and Asia.
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.
CHEP launches its Reusable Plastic Containers (RPC) business in Australia.
In 2002, CHEP opens the CHEP Innovation Centre in Orlando, Florida, USA, providing an industry-leading packaging and unit-load configuration testing facility.
CHEP expands its network of pooling operations further in the Middle East, Asia and Central & Eastern Europe
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).
Brambles acquires Pallecon, a leading provider of intermediate bulk container solutions in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
Brambles demerges Recall to focus on Pooling Solutions.
Brambles acquires Kegstar.
In 2015, CHEP introduces customer solutions portfolio.
Brambles divests LeanLogistics.
Brambles divests IFCO Systems.