Lisa Cox, Conex Bänninger’s National Sales Manager, describes the company’s ethos, highlights some of the key milestones within the company’s history and looks ahead to the future and the ongoing need to innovate.
As a company, Conex Bänninger remains focused on evolving to meet modern demands through a combination of innovation, technical expertise, the use of high-quality materials and operational resilience. The engineering approach and quality control standards applied to the manufacture of all our components means that installers have ‘peace-of-mind’ that our products will perform reliably in a wide range of applications.
Based in the UK’s second city of Birmingham, Conex Bänninger is deeply established within the UK and Irish markets.
As a total solutions provider, our regional technical sales managers play a vital role in the overall business offering: the team works closely with clients to understand their specific application needs. This collaborative approach allows for tailored, value-added solutions that extend far beyond the product itself.
A century of transformation
The Conex Bänninger journey spans over a century of transformation. Bänninger originated in Giessen, Germany, in 1909 and quickly became a leader in iron and brass fittings.
In 1920, just over a decade after its founding, the company introduced the >B< trademark. By 1930, Bänninger was Europe’s only producer of red brass fittings.
Meanwhile, Conex Sanbra – founded in Birmingham in 1919 – carved out its own reputation for innovative water fittings and valves. The eventual unification of Conex and Bänninger under the IBP Group in the 1990s brought together two companies into one brand.
Over 115 years later and with more than 24 billion fittings sold worldwide, Conex Bänninger’s legacy is not just measured in volume, but in the confidence, customers place in every connection.
Innovation
Innovation has played a consistent role in the company’s development. From the rub-nut compression fitting launched in the 1940s to the >B< MaxiPro fitting introduced in 2017 – which enables ACR installations up to 48 bar – Conex Bänninger has a track record of developing practical solutions for evolving industry requirements.
Today, product development continues across press and push-fit technologies, with ranges such as >B< Press and >B< Oyster designed to support a more efficient installation while maintaining performance integrity. This focus reflects the company’s commitment to equipping professionals with reliable, time-saving fittings for modern building services.
As part of this, the company has been championing the use of press-fit across a new generation of installers, as well as encouraging seasoned professionals to make the transition over to this clean, efficient labour-saving method. Part of this education programme has been partnering with colleges up and down the country to provide practical training in the installation of our >B< Press and >B< MaxiPro copper fittings.
Among those we are collaborating with are Dudley College of Technology, Walsall College, and Stoke College, where we undertook training in February for apprentices pursuing their Gas Engineering Level 3 diploma.
Regional insight
Today, Conex Bänninger operates as a global leader in its field, supported by state-of-the-art manufacturing and its workforce of over 900 professionals situated across numerous sites.
Beyond production, the company works closely with customers through its Regional technical sales team, who provide insight-led support across product selection, training, and aftercare.
A changing market
The fittings market has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. As technology continues to breakdown barriers to market entry, allowing in new players with many leveraging online channels and social media to engage customers in increasingly targeted ways.
This has intensified competition and challenged established brands to maintain and grow their market share. At the same time, economic pressures – particularly the rising cost of energy across Europe – have pushed up production costs for manufacturers. These challenges are compounded by an influx of lower-cost imports.
Future-focused
As the company looks to the future, its priorities include sustainable manufacturing practices, product diversification, and enhanced support for customers through training and technical resources. These efforts are part of a broader aim to support the sector in addressing new challenges, from environmental performance to skills development.
While the industry continues to evolve, Conex Bänninger remains committed to its founding principles – delivering reliable solutions through high-quality engineering and a clear understanding of its customers’ needs. From expert advice and aftersales support to long-term warranties and in-person training, the company empowers its partners to deliver with confidence – reinforcing its reputation as a trusted, reliable brand.
Images: Conex Bänninger
