The story
CB&I was founded by Horace E. Horton of Rochester, Minnesota when he moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1889. Horton, an experienced engineer, capitalized on the booming infrastructure needs of the era, initially focusing on bridge construction, which was essential for expanding rail networks across the Midwest. By the late 1890s, CB&I diversified beyond bridge construction, taking on projects such as railroad roundhouses, locomotive turntables, roof trusses and bulk liquid storage, coinciding with the western expansion of railroads across the United States and the discovery of oil in the Southwest. CB&I played a role in water infrastructure improvements, constructing elevated water tanks and standpipes to meet growing municipal needs. CB&I quickly became known for design engineering and field construction of elevated water storage tanks, above-ground tanks for storage of petroleum and refined products, refinery process vessels and other steel plate structures. CB&I was at the forefront of several technological advancements, including the construction of the world's first field-erected spherical pressure vessels (Hortonsphere vessels) and the development and commercialization of the floating roof by John H. Wiggins, which revolutionized petroleum storage by improving safety, reducing evaporation losses, and minimizing tank corrosion. As such, CB&I supported the expansion of oil exploration outside the US, starting operations in South America in 1924, in Asia two years later and in the Middle East in 1939. Also in the 1920s, CB&I entered into licensing agreements with European counterparts like Motherwell Bridge & Engineering Ltd. and Whessoe Ltd.
During the 1930s and 1940s, under the leadership of George Horton, CB&I transitioned from riveted to welded plate metal construction, improving structural integrity, reducing construction time, and enhancing project efficiency. Another significant development at this time was the company's entry into nuclear-related projects such as the construction of nuclear storage tanks for DuPont at Hanford, Washington.
During World War II, CB&I was selected to build Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs), which carried troops and supplies to American and Allied troops fighting in Europe and the Pacific theater. CB&I was chosen because of their reputation and skills, particularly welding. Since the coastal shipyards were busy building large vessels for the war effort, such as aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, there was no alternative but to use the inland waterways and shipyards for the production of smaller ships. CB&I's Seneca, Illinois shipyard played a crucial role during the war, constructing 157 LST vessels for the US Navy. As a result of these and other wartime production activities, CB&I ranked 92nd among US corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts.
Following World War II, CB&I transitioned from wartime shipbuilding to peacetime industrial projects, adapting to post-war market demands. The company underwent a transformative period marked by significant achievements in nuclear engineering and technological innovation. One notable project of this era was a 225-foot-diameter containment vessel CB&I constructed at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in West Milton, New York, which was used to test the atomic reactor for a prototype nuclear submarine. In 1955, CB&I connected a nuclear engine to the commercial electrical grid, marking the first instance of nuclear energy being generated and sold commercially. That same year CB&I erected liquid oxygen spheres at Cape Canaveral to support the US space program that eventually put a man on the moon. In 1960, CB&I built the world's first large, liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
By 1967, one third of CB&I's business was outside the US, with subsidiaries operating across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Some notable projects from this time include refineries in Nigeria, wind tunnels in Canada, and oil terminals in Hong Kong. In 1969, CB&I introduced innovative offshore oil storage with "Khazzan Dubai No. 1", which was constructed onshore and towed to the site using a cushion of air, demonstrating novel deployment techniques for underwater oil storage. The National Society of Professional Engineers recognized the project alongside the Apollo Moon Project as one of the outstanding engineering achievements of the year.
Jim Maher was named Director of Research in 1977. Under his leadership, the company's research efforts focused on enhancing materials, methods, and designs. One notable study was conducted jointly by CBI and Standard Oil with the goal to more accurately predict hydrocarbon emissions from floating roof tanks. Also in 1977, the company went public listing their shares on the New York Stock exchange under the ticker CBI. In 1979, shareholders approved a reorganization to create CBI Industries, Inc. CBI Industries became the parent company, with Chicago Bridge & Iron Company as its wholly owned subsidiary.
In August 1984, CBI Industries acquired Liquid Carbonic Corporation, the world's largest supplier of carbon dioxide used in food and healthcare markets.
CB&I was acquired by Praxair in 1996; Praxair retained the carbon dioxide business and CB&I spun off its engineering and construction business in a 1997 IPO.
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2000-present
In 2000, CB&I acquired Howe-Baker Engineers, a company specializing in process technologies for the hydrocarbon processing industry. In 2001, CB&I acquired PDM's engineered construction and water storage divisions. Also in 2001, CB&I headquarters moved from Chicago to The Woodlands, Texas. In 2003, the company bought John Brown Hydrocarbons, renaming it at first CB&I John Brown, and later CB&I UK Limited.
The firm acquired Lummus Global from ABB on November 19, 2007, adding approximately 3,000 employees and expanding CB&I's technological capabilities and global reach for the energy and petrochemical industries. In 2010, CB&I acquired Shell's Coal Gasification Technology (CDTECH), including patents, intellectual property, and technology licenses related to coal gasification. In 2012, CB&I Technology (formerly Lummus) was awarded a contract by Indian petrochemicals major, Reliance Industries, to provide paraxylene (P-Xylene) (PX) technology for an aromatics complex in India. The complex was started up in April 2017, making Reliance the world's second largest producer of paraxylene.
In 2012, CB&I agreed to buy The Shaw Group for about US$3 billion, completing the acquisition in February 2013. The deal expanded CB&I's capabilities in the nuclear, power, and industrial sectors. Despite initial strategic gains from the Shaw Group acquisition, CB&I faced challenges related to project delays, cost overruns, and legal disputes largely related to the construction of two Westinghouse AP1000 reactor units at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, GA. The subsidiary that was formed as a result, CB&I Stone Webster—a result of The Shaw Group's earlier acquisition of Stone & Webster during its bankruptcy—was again sold, in January 2016, to Westinghouse Electric Co., for US$229 million.
For 2017, revenue for CB&I was US$6.7 billion, down from the year before. In August 2017, CB&I announced its intent to sell its Technology business to focus on its core EPC and fabrication services. Also in 2017, the company was forced to close Chicago Bridge & Iron Beaumont due to damages from Hurricane Harvey. The following year, CB&I sold the work yard to the Port of Beaumont.
In May 2018, the company was acquired by McDermott International for US$6 billion. After being acquired by McDermott, CB&I's stock ceased being listed on the NYSE on May 11, 2018. Gary P. Luquette was the chairman of the combined company. During its ownership, McDermott made a number of divestments, including a US$1 billion deal for its own storage tank business and US pipe fabrication business. McDermott also sold the company's Woodlands headquarters. McDermott struggled to integrate its acquisition of CB&I, and in January 2020 was facing bankruptcy. On January 21, 2020, McDermott announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In 2024, a consortium of investors led by Mason Capital acquired CB&I from McDermott International for US$475 million of proceeds before taxes and transaction expenses. CB&I's 4,000 employees in 30 locations across North America, the Middle East and Asia were expected to remain with the business operations following the transaction. CB&I moved its headquarters back to The Woodlands, Texas.
In December 2025, it was announced that CB&I had reached an agreement to acquire the Asset Solutions business of Petrofac in the United Kingdom.
The agreement closed on April 9, 2026 with approximately 3,000 Petrofac employees joining CB&I. The acquisition furthers CB&I's expansion into integrated services, strengthens client relationships, and creates new opportunities for growth in international markets. The deal further diversifies CB&I's revenue by adding a reimbursable contracting model that helps to mitigate cyclicality and extend its services beyond the traditional lump-sum EPC portfolio.
Following the acquisition, CB&I operates as one company with two global business units, CB&I Asset Solutions based in Aberdeen, Scotland, and CB&I Storage Solutions, based in The Woodlands, Texas. Each unit maintains its own delivery accountability while leveraging CB&I's corporate functions for strategic coordination and operational support.
Corporate headquarters are located in The Woodlands, Texas.
From Wikipedia’s article on Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5