PURPOSE: To enable the use of a sheet metal by successively forming a succession of stepped undulations using a preforming die and punch, unfolding the stepped undulations by forming work and simuitaneously forming a part in relief.

CONSTITUTION: A projection 21c is brought into contact with a blank 10 when a die 20 is lowered, the projections 21b, 26b and 21a, 26c are brought into contact with the blank 10 when the die is further lowered, and finally the highest projection 21c is abutted on the recessed part 27c of. the punch 25. In such a manner, a succession of stepped undulations are formed in the intermediate zone of the limited zone of the blank 10. Therefore, the material is deformed in plural zones by preforming work and the deformed part is divided into plural annular parts. Next, the preformed blank 10 is projected and embossed into a given shape by the projections of the punch. Thus, a largely cold rolled thin steel sheet is used in order to manufacture the preup type lid of various containers.