john guest history image

Our timeline of achievements

A spotlight on the many milestones in our proud history.

Travel with us through the last 60 years

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1961
John Guest and JG roundel.

The birth of the brand

John Guest started his business specialising in precision engineering and tool making for a diverse range of sectors.

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1970
Production grows 1970 - Factory

Production grows

Began producing complex die cast components and machining for major UK pneumatic valve manufacturers.

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1974
JG Air fitting and icon.

Handling the pressure

John Guest created Super Speedfit, the world’s first push-fit solution for compressed air, and still the market leader.

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1982
MBE Award

Recognising achievement

John Guest received an MBE for services to industry.

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1983
A young woman drinking a glass of water.

Getting into drinks

The first food-grade product range was launched when John Guest invented the world's first food grade push-fit fitting. Today our drinks dispense products still offer the ultimate quality, performance and efficiency.

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1984
1984 Blown Fibre Microduct

John Guest pioneers the world's first push-fit blown fibre microduct connectors

John Guest pioneers the world's first push-fit blown fibre microduct connectors in 1980s to transform performance and installation efficiency. Today, millions of our products are trusted worldwide and remain best in class.

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1984
1984 Automotive Journey

John Guest’s journey into automotive begins

John Guest’s journey in automotive began when Ford asked us to design a new fuel line push-fit connector. Today, millions of our tube connectors are made each year and trusted by leading brands including Ford, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche and BMW.

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1985
John Guest Horner Award 1985

Horner Award

John Guest was awarded the Horner’s Award, presented for ‘imaginative and appropriate use of plastics’.

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1987
British Design Award for Super Speedfit

British Design Award

A British Design Award, presented by the Design Council for the design of the plastic Super Speedfit range of push-fit connectors.

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1987
JG Speedfit product and plumbing icon.

Plumbing transformation

JG Speedfit plastic push-fit fittings and connectors technology for the plumbing and heating industry was launched.

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1990
Mr John Guest in the 1990's

The Queen's Award for Export Achievement

John Guest is awarded The Queen's Award for Export Achievement.

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1991
John Guest Ford Motor Company Q1 Award

Ford Motor Company Q1 Award

In 1991 John Guest was awarded the Ford Motor Company Quality 1 Award, for Standard of Excellence, considered at the time to be the world's highest accolade of quality manufacture.

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1995
The Queen's Award for Export Achievement 1995

The Queen's Award for Export Achievement

John Guest is awarded its second Queen's Award for Export Achievement.

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1999
A man holding JG Speedfit pipes in the production factory.

In the pipeline

JG Speedfit plumbing pipe was launched.

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2000
Third Queens Award for Export/International Trade 2000

Third Queens Award for Export/International Trade

Recognised for a 250% increase in export turnover over six years.

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2005
Twist & Lock range launch 2005

Twist & Lock Fittings & Connectors

JG Speedfit Twist & Lock plumbing and heating range with multi-seal technology was launched.

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2005
The Queen's Award for Enterprise 2005

The Queen's Award for Enterprise

Awarded for the development of the market-leading 'Twist and Lock' Push-fit fittings, 'Superseal' Pipe Insert, and plastic barrier pipe.

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2005
Happy multigenerational people having fun sitting on grass in a public park

Community Contribution Award

Presented by the London Borough of Hillingdon for significant social contributions, nominated by local voluntary groups.

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2012
Man holding John guest layflat pipe

Speedfit ultra flexible pipe

The launch of JG Layflat pipe to make cabling pipes faster and easier.

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2014
A beer pump and drinks icon.

Pulling the perfect pint

JG PolarClean fittings for beer lines developed, providing the best products to keep draught beer cold and clean.

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2016
people talking toasting in a pub with the beers

Setting the bar

95% of bars in the UK use John Guest fittings in beer lines, making us the clear leader in this sector.

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2018
BMJ Best Plumbing Brand Award 2018

BMJ Industry Awards 2018

JG Speedfit wins 'Best Plumbing Brand', affirming its position as a world leader in push-fit plumbing and heating systems.

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2018
RWC Acquires John Guest Ltd 2018

Reliance Worldwide Corporation completes acquisition of John Guest Holdings Ltd

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Limited (RWC) successfully closed on the acquisition of John Guest Holdings Ltd.

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2019
BMJ Awards Best Plumbing Brand 2019

BMJ Industry Awards 2019

JG Speedfit, an RWC brand, wins 'Best Plumbing Brand' for a second consecutive year.

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2020
Reliance Valves with JG Speedfit connections 2020

Introducing the all new Reliance Valves push-fit range with JG Speedfit technology

RWC launched its first ever Reliance Valves range featuring push-fit connections from JG Speedfit. This new range perfectly blends the company’s world-leading technologies to transform the speed and simplicity of installations, as no tools are required.

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2020
Direct Buried 2020

John Guest’s new Direct Buried range transforms blown fibre installations

John Guest – part of RWC’s family of brands – launched a new range of ultra-transparent Direct Buried Blown Fibre Straight Connectors.

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2020
Watch A Sharkbite Air Install & The FASTEST Electric Ice Cream Van | Workshop Diaries | Edd China on YouTube.

New SharkBite Air & Pneumatics range cuts compressed air set up times by 50%

The highly reliable, and class leading, brass and plastic push-fit systems from RWC’s SharkBite and JG Speedfit’s brands complement each other to make installers’ lives easier, improve efficiency and performance of air-rings, and reduce set up times by up to 50% in comparison to conventional methods.

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2020
Drum Award Finalists 2020

RWC shortlisted for 'Brand of the Year' at The Drum Awards

RWC was nominated as a finalist for ‘Brand of the Year’ category at The Drum B2B Awards 2020.

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2021
Watch 60 Years of Trust on YouTube.

World leaders in push-fit fittings and connectors

As the world's largest and best push-fit manufacturer renowned for quality, reliability, innovation and expertise, we celebrate 60 years of trust.

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2021
JG Lowfit launch 2021

RWC launch brand new low profile underfloor heating product range

RWC launched a new underfloor heating (UFH) solution to complement its existing JG Underfloor heating range – JG LowFit – specially designed to keep the overall floor height to an absolute minimum without compromising heat output.

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2022
New moulding machines at Launceston 2022

New injection moulding machines yield tremendous energy savings at RWC’s Launceston site

With sustainability at the forefront of RWC’s vision, the business introduced new injection moulding machines at their Launceston Cornwall site where the company had previously used hydraulic injection moulding equipment producing a single part per cycle.

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2022
Harlington School Governor Community Award 2022

RWC awarded Harlington School Governor Community Award

RWC was awarded the Governor Community Award by Harlington school. This is a reflection of the initiatives RWC have worked on with the school such as appointing a new school governor, providing work experience opportunities, supporting the Outward Bound Trust, as well as participating in career fairs.

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2022
B2B Award 2022

RWC wins big for brand campaigns at the B2B Marketing Awards

RWC won the silver award at the B2B Marketing Awards 2022 for the best launch campaign for SharkBite: the fitting with more bite. Additionally, RWC were finalists in the best public relations or communications category for John Guest: 60 years of trust.

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2023
PHG Award 2023

RWC wins big at the PHG's Annual Supplier Awards

RWC won the Plumbing Supplier of the Year 2022 award at the PHG Supplier Awards, one of the largest gatherings of plumbing, heating, and bathroom suppliers and independent merchants in the industry.

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2023
RWC New Recycled and Recyclable Packaging 2023

RWC launches new and improved JG Speedfit and John Guest packaging

RWC officially launched its new and improved packaging across their JG Speedfit and John Guest range. When embarking on the packaging rebrand RWC had two objectives: namely being more environmentally friendly and making product identification easier.

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2023
BQF Awards 2023

RWC scoops two awards at the British Quality Foundation UK Excellence Awards

RWC was recognised for ‘Excellence in Living Your Values’ through embedding its culture and SPIRIT values - Safety, Passion, Innovation, Reliability, Integrity, and Together – into the very fabric of everything they do, from its operational transformation strategy to its sustainability and social impact initiatives.

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2023
Plastic Plumbing Manifolds launch 2023

JG Speedfit debuts new Plastic Plumbing Manifolds

JG Speedfit plastic plumbing push-fit manifolds are a durable solution that enables service pipework to be quickly and easily centralised at a single point.

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2023
B2B Marketing Awards 2023

RWC secured gold victory at the B2B Marketing Awards 2023

RWC triumphed at the B2B Marketing Awards 2023 by clinching the coveted Gold Award for the ‘Best Multi/Omnichannel Campaign’. Recognising the creativity of its ’20 Grand in your Hand’ campaign, which centred on the promotion of its JG Speedfit Elbows, the award also celebrated its seamless execution and commercial success.

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