Wade Int.
Wade Building Drainage is a UK manufacturer of building drainage products (linear channels, floor gullies, roof outlets, access covers, grease converters, shower gullies) serving architects, specifiers, contractors, and developers across commercial, residential, hospitality, public, and industrial construction sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersHalstead, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wade Int. does
Wade Building Drainage, operating under the Wade brand, is a UK-based manufacturer of building drainage products established in 1960 and headquartered in Halstead, Essex. It operates as a brand within Alumasc Water Management Solutions, part of the publicly listed Alumasc Group plc. Wade designs and produces a portfolio of drainage components including linear drainage channels, floor gullies, roof outlets, rodding eyes and access covers, grease converters and sediment interceptors, water points, and shower gullies, manufactured in stainless steel (grades 304 and 316), cast iron, ductile iron, nickel bronze, and engineered polymers. Products are certified to standards including BS EN 1433 with CE marking, and the Harmer SML cast iron range carries BBA, Kitemark, BS EN 877, and BS EN 13501-1 (reaction to fire A1) certifications.
The company's revenue model is the sale of standard catalogue units and made-to-measure bespoke drainage solutions, with pricing distributed through a trade price list and UK supplier network. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting architects, specifiers, building engineers, and contractors, supported by a RIBA-approved CPD seminar programme, a technical downloads and BIM/CAD portal, drainage calculation tools, and named case studies. International sales are managed through regional sales directors covering Europe, Republic of Ireland, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific (with a Hong Kong office via Elkington China Ltd). Wade serves five vertical segments: Food/Drink/Kitchen, Residential, Healthcare/Education/Leisure/Public Sector, Commercial/Retail, and Industrial/Warehousing, with recent named installations spanning Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the V&A Exhibition Road Quarter, Wembley Olympic Way, Newfoundland Tower (Canary Wharf), the Heart of Hale Regeneration Scheme, and the Headland Hotel Aqua Club.
In 2025, parent Alumasc invested over £3 million in the Halstead site to consolidate Gatic and Wade manufacturing into a single hub with new machinery and an assembly facility, officially opened by Rt Hon James Cleverly MP. The facility investment is positioned to improve capacity, efficiency, and new product development. Wade's specification relationships with high-profile architectural practices (AL_A, Populous, Buro Happold, Pollard Thomas Edwards) and developer/contractor partners (Related Argent, Volker Fitzpatrick, United Living New Homes) underpin its mid-funnel B2B marketing strategy and ongoing project pipeline across the UK and international markets.
Wade Int. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wade Int.
- Legal name
- Wade Building Drainage
- Website
- https://wadedrainage.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Wade Building Drainage is a UK manufacturer of building drainage products (linear channels, floor gullies, roof outlets, access covers, grease converters, shower gullies) serving architects, specifiers, contractors, and developers across commercial, residential, hospitality, public, and industrial construction sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wade Int. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Building Drainage Products
- NAICS
- Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Heating Accessories & Plumbing Connection Kits (Connectors, Hoses, Traps) (IMADALAG)
Keywords
Where Wade Int. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halstead
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Wade Int. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Building Drainage Products: Sale of standard and bespoke drainage products including linear drainage, floor gullies, roof outlets, access covers, and grease management systems. Products are sold through a network of UK suppliers and international distributors. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing available via trade price lists.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Product Range - Linear Drainage, Floor Gullies, Roof Outlets, Access Covers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Wade Int. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wade Int. (Wade Building Drainage) manufactures building drainage products including linear drainage channels, floor gullies, roof outlets, rodding eyes, access covers, grease converters, sediment interceptors, water points, and shower gullies. The company offers both a standard product range and bespoke made-to-measure solutions, with materials spanning stainless steel (Grades 304/316), cast iron, ductile iron, nickel bronze, and engineered polymers. Wade also provides complementary technical services such as drainage calculations, CPD seminars, and project specification support.
Product overview
Wade Building Drainage is a manufacturer of building drainage products, offering a comprehensive portfolio of standard and bespoke drainage solutions. The core product lines include Linear Drainage (stainless steel and cast iron channels with various gratings), Floor Gullies (stainless steel, nickel bronze, cast iron), Roof Outlets (balcony and parapet applications), Rodding Eyes & Access Covers, Grease Converters & Sediment Interceptors, Water Points, and Shower Gullies. These products work together to provide complete building water management from roof to drain. The offering is complemented by Bespoke Solutions for project-specific custom requirements, including curved channels and special configurations. Wade products are available in multiple materials (stainless steel grades 304/316, cast iron, ductile iron, nickel bronze) and load classes (A15 to F900) to suit commercial, industrial, residential, and hygiene applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Linear Drainage Linear drainage channels available in stainless steel and cast iron, featuring various profiles with in-built falls, compatible with multiple grating options (slotted, perforated) and load classes (A15 to D400). Includes standard and bespoke designs for curved and faceted installations for buildings across commercial, industrial, residential, and public sectors.
- Floor Gullies High-quality floor gullies and gratings in stainless steel, nickel bronze, cast iron, and ductile iron. Available in adjustable and fixed height configurations for various floor finishes and applications including wet rooms, kitchens, and commercial settings.
- Roof Outlets Roof drainage outlets designed for balcony and parapet applications, manufactured in ductile iron and stainless steel to handle roof water management requirements for new build and refurbishment projects.
- Rodding Eyes & Access Covers Access covers and rodding eyes in nickel bronze and stainless steel for maintaining underground drainage systems, available in various load ratings for building service access.
- Grease Converters & Sediment Interceptors Actimatic Grease Converters and Sediment Interceptors for food service and manufacturing applications to separate and manage grease and sediment in drainage systems, addressing hygiene compliance.
- Water Points Non-freeze water points with aluminium or stainless steel wall boxes for outdoor water access in building applications.
- Shower Gullies Horizontal and vertical shower gullies available in stainless steel and nickel bronze, in load-bearing and non-load bearing configurations, suitable for wet room applications with 50mm outlet sizes.
- Bespoke Drainage Solutions Made-to-measure custom drainage solutions for project-specific requirements, including bespoke channel designs, curved channels, and specialized configurations for complex architectural projects such as museum, stadium, and high-rise installations.
- HCE Stainless Steel Hidden Slot Channel Stainless steel hidden slot channel with 5mm to 18mm slot width, designed for use against walls. Features easy cleaning via water jet and is suited for draining large paved areas with minimum 15mm paving thickness.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gatic products supplied to 114 countries worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wade Int.
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wade Int. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Wade Int. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Volker FitzpatrickcoreMain contractor on the Wembley Olympic Way project. Wade worked closely with site manager Mick Hawkins to fulfil drainage requirements to tight deadlines.
- Dow Jones ArchitectscoreArchitects on the Lambeth Palace Garden Museum project. Collaborated with Alumasc to design a bespoke version of the Wade HCE drainage channel for the listed building.
- JJ Coughlan LTDcoreContractors who installed Wade linear drainage channels and gratings at Lambeth Palace Garden Museum.
- Buro Happold EngineeringcoreEngineering firm that specified Gatic Drainage and Access Covers, Harmer below ground cast iron drainage and Wade floor gullies for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
- PopulouscoreArchitectural firm on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium project, one of the largest stadiums in the Premier League.
- AL_A (Amanda Levete Architects)coreStirling Prize-winning architect and practice that designed the V&A Exhibition Road Quarter. Worked with Alumasc to develop bespoke curved Wade HCE drainage channels and access covers.
- Estuary PlantcoreInstallers who chose and installed bespoke Wade Stainless Steel channel system at Newfoundland Tower, Canary Wharf.
- Lilly Lewarne ArchitectscoreArchitects who specified Wade Stainless Steel Hidden Linear Slot Channel for the Headland Hotel's Aqua Club pool complex. Early involvement allowed for complex curved fabrication requirements.
- JE ContractorscoreMain contractors for the Headland Hotel Aqua Club project, working with the hotel and architects to achieve best results.
- Pollard Thomas Edwards ArchitectscoreArchitects who designed the Heart of Hale Regeneration Scheme (Welbourne development) in Tottenham Hale.
- United Living New HomescoreMain contractor for the Heart of Hale Regeneration Scheme, delivered for Related Argent.
- Related ArgentcoreDeveloper behind the £500 million Strategic Development Partnership with Haringey Council for the Heart of Hale Regeneration Scheme.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wade Int. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACO Group: ACO is a leading global manufacturer of drainage products for building and landscape applications, including linear drainage channels, floor gullies, and roof outlets. Direct competitor to Wade across commercial, residential, and infrastructure drainage specification.
- Blücher (BLÜCHER Metal A/S): Blücher is a Danish producer of stainless steel drainage products for commercial, industrial, and marine applications. Direct competitor in stainless steel linear drainage and floor gullies, particularly for hygiene-sensitive and high-spec environments.
Broad incumbents
- Alumasc Group plc: Parent company of Wade Building Drainage, operating as a diversified building products group including Gatic access covers, Harmer cast iron drainage, and roofing systems. Comparable as the umbrella entity within which Wade sits, with overlapping drainage product portfolio.
- Wavin: Wavin is a major international manufacturer of plastic pipe systems and building drainage solutions, part of Orbia. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering drainage and water management products across residential and commercial construction.
- Geberit: Geberit is a European leader in sanitary technology and building drainage systems, particularly strong in concealed cisterns and installation systems. Comparable as a broader plumbing/drainage incumbent with strong specification presence in commercial and residential construction.
- Saint-Gobain PAM: Saint-Gobain PAM is a major European manufacturer of cast iron drainage and rainwater products. Its Harmer SML cast iron system competes directly with Wade's Harmer SML products and adjacent cast iron drainage offerings.
- Polypipe: Polypipe is a UK manufacturer of plastic piping, drainage, and water management solutions for residential, commercial, and infrastructure applications. Comparable as a UK-listed building products manufacturer serving overlapping construction drainage segments.
- Watts Water Technologies: Watts Water is a broad building products manufacturer covering plumbing, drainage, and water quality products. Comparable as a larger incumbent offering overlapping plumbing fixtures and drainage solutions across commercial and residential markets.
Emerging players
- Mifab: Mifab manufactures engineered drainage products including floor drains, cleanouts, and grease interceptors for commercial and institutional buildings. Comparable as a North American-focused emerging player in the same specification-led drainage product category.
- Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. Jay R. Smith is a US manufacturer of engineered plumbing and drainage products, including roof drains, cleanouts, and interceptors. Comparable as a niche specification-grade manufacturer of complementary drainage product lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wade Int. social profiles
Digital presenceWade Int. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Wade Int. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wade Int. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Wade Int. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wade Int. 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 Wade Int.
What does Wade Int. do?
Wade Int. (Wade Building Drainage) manufactures building drainage products including linear drainage channels, floor gullies, roof outlets, rodding eyes, access covers, grease converters, sediment interceptors, water points, and shower gullies. The company offers both a standard product range and bespoke made-to-measure solutions, with materials spanning stainless steel (Grades 304/316), cast iron, ductile iron, nickel bronze, and engineered polymers. Wade also provides complementary technical services such as drainage calculations, CPD seminars, and project specification support.
Is Wade Int. a public or private company?
Wade Int. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Wade Int. founded?
Wade Int. was founded in 1960.
Where is Wade Int. based?
Wade Int. is headquartered in Halstead, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Wade Int. make money?
One revenue line is on record: building Drainage Products.
Who are Wade Int.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACO Group and Blücher (BLÜCHER Metal A/S). Broad incumbents are Alumasc Group plc, Wavin, Geberit, Saint-Gobain PAM, Polypipe and Watts Water Technologies. Emerging players are Mifab and Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co..
Does Wade Int. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wade Int..
What industry is Wade Int. in?
Wade Int.'s product category is Building Drainage Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADALAG, Water Heating Accessories & Plumbing Connection Kits (Connectors, Hoses, Traps). Its NAICS code is 237110 and its SIC code is 5070.