About Us

50+ years of marine engineering.

CMDCustom Marine Developments

Our Heritage

Discover the milestones that have shaped CMD's legacy in marine engineering, from our beginnings in the Makefast Group to our current innovations.

•
1974
Makefast Founded
Makefast Ltd founded in Swanwick, Hampshire by Bill and Brenda Brown. Producing stainless steel ring & turnovers.
•
1980s
Initial Growth
Demand for Makefast's stainless steel safety products grew. Makefast's quality over alternatives drives this growth — particularly after the 1979 Fastnet race.
•
1989
Move To Wales
The company relocated to Mid Wales with the assistance of the Development Board for Rural Wales.
•
1998
Yacht Equipment
Approached by Princess Yachts to manufacture a more corrosion-resistant sunroof system, replacing existing aluminium systems.
•
2005
Putting The Rest In The Shade
Continuous development of new products — powered bimini systems and powered marine sun awnings. Designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house.
•
2013
Bespoke Engineering
Makefast are approached to produce one-off custom systems for Superyacht Tenders. This division is branded as CMD.
•
2015
Complexity Increase
CMD responds to customer demand for more integrated and complex systems. PLC controlled, remotely accessible multi-faceted systems.
•
2020
CMD Ltd Formed
Remaining part of the Makefast group, CMD is formed as a separate company. CMD has its own dedicated workforce starting with 6 people.
•
2022
Move To Abermule
After quickly outgrowing the available space at Unit 8a, CMD moves to a brand new purpose-built facility in Abermule.
•
Today
CMD Naval
CMD continues to push the boundaries of bespoke marine engineering — building systems for ever larger and more ambitious vessels, now including Naval.

Custom Design. Seamless Integration.

Precision in every detail, excellence in every build. CMD's in-house production guarantees high-quality solutions.

CMD engineer welding marine components in the workshop

Precision-machined marine fittings on the assembly line

Bespoke hatch mechanism assembled in-house

CMD technician carrying out final inspection and testing

Custom Marine Developments (CMD) designs and manufactures bespoke systems for marine applications. All production is carried out in-house at our facility in Mid Wales. By overseeing every stage — from design and mechanical assembly to electrical integration and testing — CMD can ensure each solution is precisely engineered to meet the unique demands of high-performance vessels.

As part of the Makefast Group, founded in 1974, we have over 50 years of marine engineering experience.