Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for making ends for metal or composite can bodies, which ends are first partially formed in a press to a cup-shaped configuration including a peripheral skirt and are then fed to a curling machine in which the skirt is contoured to facilitate application of the end to a can body. The press has a vertically reciprocable slide or slides which, together with an opposed portion of the press frame, support pairs of cooperable dies for blanking and partially forming can ends from sheet material fed horizontally into the press. Thereafter, the partially formed can ends are displaced into a horizontal plane vertically spaced from the sheet feed line, and a kicker member associated with each die set is operable in coordination with slide movement to impact against and propel the partially formed can end laterally and into a guide chute leading either to a curling machine or to an endless conveyor by which the partially formed can end is delivered to a curling machine.