AKW
AKW is a privately held UK manufacturer of accessible bathroom, kitchen, and daily living products with 5,500+ SKUs, serving social landlords, local authorities, care providers, contractors, occupational therapists, and individual consumers across the UK and select international markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersDroitwich, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AKW does
AKW (AKW Medi-Care Ltd) is a privately held UK manufacturer of accessible bathroom, kitchen, and daily living products, founded in 1988 by Anthony Keith Webb and headquartered in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire. The company designs and manufactures in-house a portfolio of over 5,500 products spanning wet-room formers, shower trays, screens, electric and mixer showers, walk-in and assistive baths, grab rails, shower seats, Doc M-compliant sanitaryware, wash-and-dry toilets, wall panels, safety heating, task-focused LED lighting, and accessible kitchens including proprietary ActivMotion rise-and-fall units. Notable technical components include Low Surface Temperature (LST) heating technology controlled at 43°C and the original patented level-access shower tray design that founded the business. AKW operates three national distribution warehouses covering over 3.5 million square feet, a 30+ vehicle delivery fleet, and a Droitwich trade counter with free click-and-collect and next-day UK delivery, alongside showrooms in Droitwich Spa and Middlewich (Cheshire). A relocation to a significantly larger Droitwich facility is planned for 2026.
The company serves a diversified set of buyer segments: social landlords and housing associations, local authorities, care and nursing homes, contractors and installers, architects and specifiers, occupational therapists and technical officers, and private individuals. Distribution combines a direct enterprise salesforce (40 sales representatives and 60+ surveying and maintenance experts), a direct e-commerce platform (orders.akw-ltd.co.uk), national merchant partnerships with Wolseley, Travis Perkins, Tool Station, and a charity partnership with Age UK. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales priced per unit or per made-to-order project, with publicly listed pricing, free delivery above £330, and lifetime warranties on many lines. The Clinical Adaptation Service, launched in 2026 in partnership with The Occupational Therapy Service, layers an integrated end-to-end clinical and technical pathway on top of the product business. Group structure comprises AKW in the UK, DLP (Isle of Man), AKW International (Belgium), and the acquired Contour Showers Ltd brand.
AKW firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AKW
- Legal name
- AKW Medi-Care Ltd
- Website
- https://akw-ltd.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AKW is a privately held UK manufacturer of accessible bathroom, kitchen, and daily living products with 5,500+ SKUs, serving social landlords, local authorities, care providers, contractors, occupational therapists, and individual consumers across the UK and select international markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AKW industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Accessible Bathroom and Kitchen Solutions
- NAICS
- Home Furnishings Retailers (44912)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590), Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Incontinence & Urological Supplies (Catheters, Briefs, Ostomy Supplies) (HSABAKAH)
Keywords
Where AKW is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Droitwich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
AKW business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Accessible Bathroom Products: Sale of wet room formers, shower trays, screens, baths, sanitaryware, grab rails, shower seats, mobility support products, Doc M compliant sanitaryware packs, safety heating, and lighting. Products are manufactured in-house and sold directly and through trade channels. Products are competitively priced with lifetime warranties on many lines.
- Accessible Kitchen Products: Sale of accessible kitchen units, worktops, doors, handles, appliances, sinks, taps, and ActivMotion rise & fall units. Kitchens are made-to-order and priced per project/specification.
- Clinical Adaptation Service: A fully integrated, end-to-end clinical and technical solution for housing adaptations offered jointly with The Occupational Therapy Service, combining independent OT assessments with AKW's design, manufacturing, surveying and supply capability.
- Trade Counter & Direct Sales: Orders placed online, by phone, or email with a free Click and Collect service at the Droitwich Spa Trade Counter. Next-day UK delivery on orders placed before cut-off times. Professional account services available with credit references.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard product catalogue pricing — one-time hardware purchase |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free delivery for orders >= £330; delivery charge below threshold |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
AKW product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AKW designs, manufactures and distributes a portfolio of over 5,500 accessible bathroom, kitchen and daily living products for people with reduced mobility, dementia or visual impairment. Core ranges include wet room formers, shower trays and screens, electric and mixer showers, walk-in baths, grab rails, shower seats, Doc M sanitaryware, safety heating, task-focused lighting, and Independence Kitchens with ActivMotion rise & fall units. Products are sold directly to trade, through national merchants and dealers, and to consumers via e-commerce, showrooms and a trade counter.
Product overview
AKW is the UK's leading manufacturer of accessible bathroom, kitchen, and daily living products, offering a portfolio of over 5,500 products. The product portfolio spans wet room formers (Tuff Form, Triform, TuffForm8, ShowerDec), shower trays (Braddan, Sulby, Low Profile, Mullen, Onyx, Swift, Eagle Two), shower screens (Larenco, Level Best, Silverdale, Opulence ranges), electric and mixer showers, walk-in baths, grab rails in multiple series, shower seats (1000-4000 Series, Onyx, Bama), sanitaryware including Doc M compliant solutions (Navlin, Livenza), AKW Bidet, wall panels (Marlbrook, Origins), safety heating (LST Electric Towel Warmer, underfloor heating), task-focused LED lighting, and accessible kitchen solutions including ActivMotion Rise & Fall Units. AKW also provides services including a Clinical Adaptation Service delivered with The Occupational Therapy Service and a Virtual Showroom for digital product exploration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wet Room Formers Level-access shower floor formers (Tuff Form, Triform, TuffForm8, ShowerDec) that create accessible wet room showering areas in residential and care settings.
- Shower Trays Low-profile accessible shower trays across Braddan, Sulby, Low Profile, Mullen, Onyx, Swift and Eagle Two ranges for accessible showering installations.
- Shower Screens and Enclosures Accessible shower screens and enclosures across Larenco, Level Best, Silverdale, Opulence, Standard, Sliding, Made-to-Measure, Portable and Cubicle ranges.
- Electric and Mixer Showers Electric showers and thermostatic mixer showers for accessible bathroom installations, including AKW Smartcare Plus, SmartCare Lever and iTherm ranges.
- Walk-In and Assistive Baths Accessible bathing solutions including walk-in baths, Steel Single Ended Baths, Oulton Walk-in Bath, and bath panels with accessibility features.
- Grab Rails Safety support rails including Plastic Finish, Steel Finish, Onyx 2, Fold-Up Support Rails, Floor-to-Ceiling Support Poles and Grab-a-Rail systems for mobility support.
- Shower Seats Accessible shower seating across 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 Series, Onyx, Bama, Wooden and Freestanding ranges of shower seats and stools.
- Sanitaryware and Doc M Solutions Compliant toilet and washbasin solutions including Navlin Doc M, Navlin, Livenza Plus, Livenza ranges, AKW Bidet, Geberit and Closomat systems built to Document M of UK Building Regulations.
- Wall Panels Waterproof wall panel systems including Foam Backed, Marlbrook (35-year warranty) and Origins ranges for wet environments.
- LST Electric Towel Warmer Low Surface Temperature towel warmer with a fixed heat element delivering controlled 43°C output, glycol-filled for even heat distribution; available in curved or straight designs with chrome or white finish.
- Task Focused Lighting Kit Comprehensive lighting kit including 5x Task Focused 8W LED Lights, 2x Standard 18W LED Lights and a Pull Cord Switch designed to provide sufficient light levels for specific tasks in accessible bathrooms.
- Independence Kitchens (with ActivMotion Rise & Fall Units) Made-to-order accessible kitchen solutions with motorised ActivMotion Rise & Fall Units for adjustable-height wall units and worktops, plus larder/tall units, wall units, base units, doors, worktops and handles for users with reduced mobility.
- AKW Rise & Fall Bidet Adjustable-height toilet pan with integrated bidet functionality for intimate care, available from AKW's wash & dry toilet range.
- Clinical Adaptation Service Integrated clinical and technical housing adaptation service delivered with The Occupational Therapy Service, providing OT assessment, product specification, surveying and supply through a single coordinated pathway for housing adaptations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% customer satisfaction rate
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AKW
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
AKW technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AKW partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- The Occupational Therapy ServicecoreAKW partnered with The Occupational Therapy Service to launch the Clinical Adaptation Service — a unique, fully integrated end-to-end clinical and technical solution for housing adaptations. The partnership combines independent OT assessments and adaptation specifications with AKW's market-leading design, manufacturing, surveying and supply capability, delivered through a single coordinated visit. This removes fragmentation in the adaptation pathway, shortens timescales, ensures clinically appropriate and technically accurate solutions, and reduces pressure on statutory OT services.
- Contour Showers LtdcoreContour Showers Ltd was acquired and became part of AKW Holdings Group. AKW now offers Contour shower products alongside its own range. The acquisition expanded AKW's product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities within the accessible bathroom market.
- Age UKmajorAge UK is listed as a partner distributing AKW accessible bathroom and kitchen products through its network to elderly customers across the UK.
- WolseleymajorWolseley is a national merchant partner distributing AKW products to trade customers throughout the UK.
- Travis PerkinsmajorTravis Perkins is a national merchant partner distributing AKW products to trade customers throughout the UK.
- Tool StationmajorTool Station is a national merchant partner distributing AKW products to trade and retail customers throughout the UK.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AKW competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Closomat: UK specialist in accessible wash-and-dry toilets and bathroom accessibility solutions. Closely comparable to AKW's accessible sanitaryware and Doc M product offerings, serving the same elderly and disabled customer base through OT and housing channels. AKW even distributes Closomat toilet systems.
- Armitage Shanks: UK specialist bathroom brand (part of Ideal Standard) with a focused Doc M compliant sanitaryware range. Directly comparable to AKW's Navlin and Livenza Doc M product lines for the same OT, social housing, and care home specification channels.
- Twyford Bathrooms: UK bathroom fixtures manufacturer with a strong Doc M and accessible bathroom product portfolio. Comparable to AKW in serving social housing, healthcare and care home channels with compliant sanitaryware, grab rails, and accessible bathroom solutions.
- Roman Showers: UK shower enclosures and bath screens manufacturer with accessible showering options. Directly comparable to AKW's Larenco, Level Best, and Silverdale shower screen ranges for accessible bathroom installations in social housing and consumer retrofit projects.
- Lecico: UK and Egyptian bathroom ceramics and shower enclosures manufacturer. Comparable product portfolio to AKW's sanitaryware, shower trays, and bath ranges for the mid-market social housing, new build, and accessibility segments.
Broad incumbents
- Geberit: Swiss global leader in sanitary technology including in-wall systems, wall-hung toilets, and shower toilet solutions (AquaClean) that compete directly with AKW in the accessibility and modern bathroom segment. Significantly larger player with overlapping product categories.
- Ideal Standard: Major UK and European bathroom brand offering Doc M compliant sanitaryware, brassware, and showering solutions. Competes with AKW across multiple accessible bathroom categories for the same housing association, contractor, and care home customer segments.
- Vado: UK-based global bathroom brassware and fittings manufacturer (part of Roper Rhodes Group). Comparable product categories to AKW's taps, mixers, and bathroom fittings offering across residential and accessible bathroom installations.
Emerging players
- Mira Showers: UK shower brand (owned by Kohler) offering electric and mixer showers including accessibility-focused models. Competes with AKW's SmartCare Plus and iTherm electric shower ranges in the UK accessible bathroom and social housing specification market.
- Triton Showers: UK electric shower specialist with accessible options targeting social housing and adaptation projects. Competes with AKW in the electric shower category within the UK accessible bathroom specification market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AKW social profiles
Digital presenceAKW compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
AKW financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AKW leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
AKW subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
AKW funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AKW M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AKW
What does AKW do?
AKW designs, manufactures and distributes a portfolio of over 5,500 accessible bathroom, kitchen and daily living products for people with reduced mobility, dementia or visual impairment. Core ranges include wet room formers, shower trays and screens, electric and mixer showers, walk-in baths, grab rails, shower seats, Doc M sanitaryware, safety heating, task-focused lighting, and Independence Kitchens with ActivMotion rise & fall units. Products are sold directly to trade, through national merchants and dealers, and to consumers via e-commerce, showrooms and a trade counter.
Is AKW a public or private company?
AKW is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was AKW founded?
AKW was founded in 1988. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AKW based?
AKW is headquartered in Droitwich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AKW make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Accessible Bathroom Products are the primary driver. The others are accessible Kitchen Products, clinical Adaptation Service and trade Counter & Direct Sales.
Who are AKW's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Closomat, Armitage Shanks, Twyford Bathrooms, Roman Showers and Lecico. Broad incumbents are Geberit, Ideal Standard and Vado. Emerging players are Mira Showers and Triton Showers.
Does AKW have an API?
No public API is recorded for AKW.
What industry is AKW in?
AKW's product category is Accessible Bathroom and Kitchen Solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSABAKAH, Incontinence & Urological Supplies (Catheters, Briefs, Ostomy Supplies). Its NAICS code is 44912 and its SIC code is 2590.