RS Group

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

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

• Industrial MRO distribution
• Automation and control products
• Electronic components supply
• Integrated supply solutions
• Industrial procurement services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Banner EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Expanded 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.
• FestocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026RS offers Festo's Simplified Motion Series electromechanical actuators enabling small and mid-sized industrial organizations to transition from pneumatic to smart electric motion systems.
• ABBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026RS 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.
• SolarAidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Three-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 ContactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025RS 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 November 2025Expanded 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 ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Schneider 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 EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025RS 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 EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2024Partnership to expand product portfolio, providing customers with access to Omega Engineering's measurement and control products through RS distribution network.
• The Washing Machine ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership 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

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rs-group-plc

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RS Group