The History of
Cymba
"Every small business is started to fill a need." — and ours was to help people open their refreshing beverages in style.
From a Simple Idea to an Industry Staple
After years of working for a popular beverage company, Meade Bates recognized folks' need to open their refreshing beverages in style. In 1994, he started his own company to fill that need — creating custom antique-style bottle openers and breweriana, tapping into a niche that would continue to grow.
From home brewers to national brewers, from bartenders to brides-to-be, Cymba's openers have enabled the refreshment of many over the decades.
Twenty years later, under new ownership and renamed Cymba, Inc., we retained the core values of Mr. Bates — maintaining his commitment to using local and Made in U.S.A. products, creating bottle openers as unique and varied as our list of clientele.
Canal District, Holyoke, Massachusetts
The first planned industrial city in the United States
Rooted in Holyoke, MA
Located on the scenic banks of canal #2 in the historic district of Holyoke, Massachusetts — nestled in the heart of the canal district, where the manufacturing history is as rich as the colors of our famous New England fall foliage. The very first planned industrial community in the United States, Holyoke was a love child of the industrial revolution, populated by hard-working, honest folks. We're proud to carry that tradition forward.
30 Years in the Making
Meade Bates founds the original company, creating custom antique-style bottle openers and breweriana.
Cymba grows from serving home brewers to national breweries, bartenders, and event planners across the country.
Under new ownership, the company is renamed Cymba, Inc. — retaining all core values and expanding the product line.
Operating from Holyoke's historic canal district, Cymba continues to manufacture superior custom bottle openers for the craft beverage industry.
Our Core Values
Proven Quality
Over 20 years of experience engineering the best bottle openers on the planet. Our attention to detail and craftsmanship sets us apart.
Made in the USA
We are committed to using locally made and Made in U.S.A. materials, and strive to follow environmentally conscientious processes.
Individualized Service
We work directly with each customer — from small craft breweries to national brands — to deliver exactly what you need.
Community Roots
Rooted in Holyoke, MA — the first planned industrial city in the U.S. — we carry on a proud tradition of honest, hard-working manufacturing.
The Cymba Staff
Cymba is a locally-owned, specialty manufacturer. Like our product model, our staff are locally made, high quality, and exceptional.
Ed
Lead Product Tester & Proprietor
The commander of our ship. A hard-working and dedicated proprietor, Ed has taken the most taxing position for himself: Lead Product Tester. Day after day, he can be found testing the latest prototype, opening bottle after bottle without nary a complaint.
Bill
Production Engineer
Ed's business partner of 20 years. Bill is our Production Engineer — often consulting his magic 8-ball as to the whereabouts of his latest beverage. He works tirelessly to ensure that each customer's custom creation is completely correct.
Ginger
The One Who Does All the Work
Our "Mad Madame" — found in the brig and promptly put to work. She has been the glue that holds everything together, ensuring well-crafted and well-tested openers are made and delivered to customers on time.
And then there's Bob — we don't have a cat or a dog as a mascot, but we do occasionally find a red-haired squirrel in the inventory department on the 2nd floor. We just call him Bob.
Ready to create something great?
Whether you need 50 spike openers for a corporate gift program or 20,000 for promotional giveaways — we will work with you to create an opener as unique and memorable as your brand.