RS Group
- Company typePublic
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
RS Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RS Group
- Legal name
- RS Group plc
- Website
- https://rsgroup.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RS Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial MRO Distribution
- NAICS
- Construction and Mining (except Oil Well) Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423810), Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Hardware (5072), Services-Management Services (8741), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Supplies & MRO Marketplaces (CRAFAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners) (TLAKAOAK), Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) & Performance Support (BPAAAJAH), Procurement Helpdesk & Stakeholder Support (BPAAAJAD), Workshop Services & Support (Tool Calibration/Repair, Equipment Installation/Maintenance, Training) (TLAKAOAN)
Keywords
Where RS Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
RS Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product sales: Sale of over 875,000 stocked industrial products from over 2,500 suppliers across automation & control, cables & connectors, mechanical & fluid power, semiconductors & passives, test & measurement, PPE & safety, and facilities & maintenance categories
- Service solutions: Design solutions, customer order solutions (bundling, kitting, labelling, assembly), procurement solutions, inventory solutions, maintenance solutions, safety solutions, and integrated supply solutions. Approximately 27% of revenue from service solutions with 22 types of service solutions offered
- Own brand products (RS PRO): RS PRO own brand range spanning 90,000+ products with three-year warranty and less than 0.05% return rate
- Better World sustainable products: Sustainable product range helping customers achieve sustainability goals - from reducing energy consumption to decarbonising facilities
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
RS Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RS Group is a high-service global distributor of over 875,000 industrial MRO products from more than 2,500 suppliers, sold alongside its RS PRO own-brand range of 90,000+ products and the Better World sustainable line. Beyond product distribution, it delivers seven categories of service solutions covering design, customer order, procurement, inventory, maintenance, safety, and integrated supply, accounting for approximately 27% of revenue and serving more than one million industrial customers across 36 markets.
Product overview
RS Group is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio with over 875,000 stocked industrial products from over 2,500 suppliers. Its own-brand products include RS PRO (90,000+ quality-assured products), Better World (sustainable products), and OKdo (design software and prototyping). The service portfolio comprises seven solution types: Design Solutions (including DesignSpark community of 1.4M members), Customer Order Solutions, Procurement Solutions, Inventory Solutions, Maintenance Solutions, Safety Solutions, and Integrated Supply Solutions. Product categories span Automation & Control and Electrification, Cables & Connectors, Mechanical & Fluid Power, Semiconductors & Passives, Test & Measurement, PPE & Site Safety, and Facilities & Maintenance. The company serves over one million customers across 36 markets through approximately 8,500 employees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RS PRO: Main own brand product range spanning over 90,000 products with unrivalled value for money, quality-assured with a three-year warranty
- Better World
- RS Integrated Supply
- RS Safety Solutions
- OKdo
- DesignSpark
Products and services
- RS PRO RS Group's main own-brand product range offering over 90,000 quality-assured products spanning essential connectivity, control components, tools, and accessories, with a three-year warranty and less than 0.05% return rate, sold to industrial customers.
- Better World Sustainable product range with over 2,000 products helping industrial customers achieve sustainability goals from reducing energy consumption to decarbonising facilities.
- OKdo Design software and prototyping solutions that help turn ideas into opportunity, part of RS Group's design solutions portfolio.
- Design Solutions Design, manufacturing, and prototyping solutions including the DesignSpark community of over 1.4 million members, supporting engineers with design resources and prototyping guidance.
- Customer Order Solutions Bundling, kitting, labelling, and assembly services that extend manufacturing capabilities for industrial customers.
- Procurement Solutions Digital procurement platforms, including RS Purchasing Manager, that enhance productivity, reduce spend, and streamline supplier management for industrial buyers.
- Inventory Solutions Service solutions that optimise inventory management, reduce waste, enhance supply chains, and lower costs for industrial customers.
- Maintenance Solutions Maintenance engineering solutions tailored to maximise productivity, minimise waste, and extend the lifespan of industrial assets, including predictive maintenance capabilities that can reduce unplanned downtime by 30-50%.
- Safety Solutions Multi-specialist PPE and hygiene solutions offering customised knowledge and a wide array of products for food and industrial customers, delivered through the RS Safety Solutions business.
- RS Integrated Supply Integrated supply chain and procurement solutions across MRO that streamline production operations, drive cost efficiency and improve product accessibility for large organisations.
- Integrated Motion Control Solutions Integrated motion control portfolio including motors, drives, encoders, and I/O systems together with technical support services for industrial manufacturers transitioning from open-loop to smart closed-loop motion control systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Predictive maintenance can reduce unplanned downtime by 30-50%
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use RS Group
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
RS Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
RS Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Banner EngineeringcoreExpanded partnership to offer Banner's extensive portfolio of advanced non-contact sensors natively optimized for Industry 4.0 applications through RS's global distribution network. Addresses surging growth in industrial sensors market projected to reach $69.95 billion by 2034.
- FestocoreRS offers Festo's Simplified Motion Series electromechanical actuators enabling small and mid-sized industrial organizations to transition from pneumatic to smart electric motion systems.
- ABBcoreRS offers ABB's conveyor system solutions including contactors and soft starters designed to optimize energy efficiency and reduce unplanned equipment downtime in manufacturing and logistics applications.
- SolarAidcoreThree-year partnership to raise £1 million and deliver clean solar lights to 150,000 people in rural African communities. Combines corporate donations, matched funding, product contributions, and employee engagement including skills-based volunteering and fundraising activities.
- Phoenix ContactcoreRS offers Phoenix Contact's NearFi contactless power and data transmission technology designed to replace traditional connectors for industrial automation applications.
- Infinite Electronics (L-com brand)coreExpanded strategic cooperation to distribute L-com connectivity products across European and APAC markets via RS Group website. Initial selection includes antennas, RF and data connectors, and cable assemblies with plans to expand assortment in 2026.
- Schneider ElectriccoreSchneider Electric's Altivar Solar ATV320 VSDs available through RS for solar-powered pumping applications. Operates efficiently with variable DC supply voltages without additional equipment, enhancing reliability and sustainability of remote water systems.
- Institution of Mechanical EngineeringminorRS collaborated with the Institution of Mechanical Engineering on an industry report highlighting challenges facing the UK rail network including ageing assets, skills shortages, and supply chain constraints.
- Omega EngineeringcorePartnership to expand product portfolio, providing customers with access to Omega Engineering's measurement and control products through RS distribution network.
- The Washing Machine ProjectminorPartnership established to provide displaced and low-income communities with accessible, affordable off-grid washing solution combining innovation and sustainable engineering.
Scale indicators19 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RS Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rexel: Global electrical and energy distribution major listed in Paris, with adjacent exposure to industrial MRO, automation and energy efficiency. Wider portfolio than RS but competes in overlapping customer verticals.
- Sonepar: World's largest B2B electrical distribution group with a much broader industrial electrical and energy portfolio. Overlaps with RS in automation, electrification and cable products but operates at significantly greater scale.
Direct peers
- Mouser Electronics: Global authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components with a digital-first model, directly overlapping with RS's Semiconductors & Passives and Cables & Connectors categories serving design engineers.
- MSC Industrial: US-based metalworking and MRO distributor with overlapping product categories (cutting tools, fasteners, MRO supplies) and similar focus on metalworking and industrial customers. Competes directly with RS in the Americas.
- Würth Group: German global market leader in fastening and assembly materials with a deeply entrenched direct-sales model and broad industrial MRO range. Closest direct competitor in EMEA with overlapping supplier base and customer segments.
- Farnell (Element14, Avnet): Multi-channel electronic components distributor owned by Avnet, with comparable product categories (semiconductors, passives, connectors) and design engineer focus. Historically RS's closest head-to-head competitor in electronic components distribution.
- W.W. Grainger: Largest US industrial MRO distributor with similar omnichannel model serving maintenance, repair and operations customers. Directly comparable product breadth, digital-plus-field strategy, and target customer base of industrial manufacturers.
- Digi-Key Electronics: Major global electronic components distributor with massive SKU breadth and a strong digital platform targeting design engineers, mirroring RS's DesignSpark community approach and overlapping supplier network.
Emerging players
- Brady Corporation: Specialist in industrial identification and safety solutions including labels, printers and workplace safety products, overlapping with RS's Test & Measurement and PPE categories with a focused, higher-margin niche.
Regional players
- Cromwell Tools: UK-based industrial supplies distributor serving manufacturing and MRO customers, competing with RS primarily in the UK market with comparable hand tools, cutting tools and PPE ranges.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RS Group social profiles
Digital presenceRS Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
RS Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RS Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
RS Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
RS Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RS Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RS Group
What does RS Group do?
RS Group is a high-service global distributor of over 875,000 industrial MRO products from more than 2,500 suppliers, sold alongside its RS PRO own-brand range of 90,000+ products and the Better World sustainable line. Beyond product distribution, it delivers seven categories of service solutions covering design, customer order, procurement, inventory, maintenance, safety, and integrated supply, accounting for approximately 27% of revenue and serving more than one million industrial customers across 36 markets.
Is RS Group a public or private company?
RS Group is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was RS Group founded?
RS Group was founded in 1937. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is RS Group based?
RS Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does RS Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product sales are the primary driver. The others are service solutions, own brand products (RS PRO) and better World sustainable products.
Who are RS Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rexel and Sonepar. Direct peers are Mouser Electronics, MSC Industrial, Würth Group, Farnell (Element14, Avnet), W.W. Grainger and Digi-Key Electronics. Brady Corporation is listed as an emerging player. Cromwell Tools is listed as a regional player.
Does RS Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for RS Group.
What industry is RS Group in?
RS Group's product category is Industrial MRO Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAA, Industrial Supplies & MRO Marketplaces, with a secondary code of TLAKAOAK, Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners). Its NAICS code is 423810 and its SIC code is 5072.