[clarification needed] The company has its roots from 1808, when the King of Portugal, Dom João VI, created the Real Fábrica de Pólvora (English: Royal Gunpowder Factory), established in the area where the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon Farm was located.

[5][6] In 1826 it was transferred to the city of Magé in the state of Rio de Janeiro, under the name of Real Fábrica de Pólvora da Estrela (English: Royal Gunpowder Factory of Estrela), by decree of the Emperor Pedro I.

[8][9] The original factory was designated Fábrica de Canos e Sabres para Armas Portáteis (English: Barrels and Sabres Factory for Portable Arms) and later Fabrica de Itajubá (FI), which directly involved the Brazilian Army in the production of military material.

6227 created Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil (IMBEL),[10] linked to the Ministry of the Army, with the purpose of promoting the war material industry of interest to the army based on private investment.

The organisation's remit was later expanded to promoting the military material industry in Brazil.