History of RS

In tune with engineers since day 1

From our humble beginnings within a lock-up garage in North-West London in 1937,we’ve had an incredible journey. Now as a global partner, we can help you grow further wherever you are.

1937 founded as Radiospares in a London garage by JH Waring and PM Sebestyen, supplying spare parts to radio repair shops.

1954 Start selling electronic components.

1967 Floated on the London Stock Exchange as Electrocomponents plc.

1971 Radiospares becomes RS Components.

1990 and 2000s

The RS network grew rapidly into 28 countries.

Services for customers were improved, with RS Purchasing Manager™, Same Day Despatch, RS’s Enterprise Business System – and RS’s Production Packaging.

2010s

In 2010 Radiospares (France) and Radionics became RS Components.

In 2018, Allied Electronics becomes Allied Electronics & Automation.

Online revenues topped £1bn in 2017.

RS Pro and OKdo businesses established.

IESA and Monition were acquired.

2020s

Needlers (founded 1865), Liscombe, Synovos and Risoul businesses acquired.

2021 Sustainability

RS started partnering The Washing Machine Project.

Launch of the Global 2030 ESG Action Plan: For a Better World.

2022 Rebrand

Electrocomponents plc became RS Group plc.

IESA and Synovos consolidated into RS Integrated Supply.

Needlers and Liscombe became part of RS Safety Solutions.

Choosing RS as a partner can help you unlock potential for the future.

Transforming the impossible to possible, the ‘what ifs’ to ‘why nots’.