A global presence

Today Conex Bänninger serves a global market with manufacturing facilities in Spain, Poland and Germany. But it is not just materials and manufacturing plants that make us successful, it is also our people. With over 900 colleagues worldwide, you can rely on a level of support and expertise that draws on the experience of an international team, wherever you are located.

Our journey

1909

Bänninger founded in Giessen, Germany.

1919

Conex founded in Birmingham, England.

1920

Introduction of the >B< marque.

1932

Bänninger becomes the sole producer of red brass fittings in Europe.

1940

Conex introduces compression fittings.

1950

Development of the unique Conex Ribnut.

1973

Introduction of Triflow Solder Ring range.

1983

Development of N-Grip; the first 3-point copper-based press fitting and the forerunner of >B< Press fittings.

1994

Conex and Bänninger brands merge under the IBP Group.

1999

Copper Push-Fit and >B< Press ranges introduced.

2002

Introduction of >B< Oyster fittings.

2007

Introduction of the pressing indicator to >B< Press range.

2011

Refrigeration range, K65, introduced.

2013

Introduction of >B< Push range.

2016

>B< MaxiPro, an award winning press fitting for ACR applications, introduced.

2018

Introduction of >B< Press XL.

2019

Introduction of >B< Sonic.

2019

Conex Bänninger celebrates 110 years of innovation.

A history of innovation

The Conex Bänninger brand brings together two great manufacturers of fittings and valves. Bänninger in Giessen, Germany started as a manufacturer of iron fittings in 1909, whilst Conex Sanbra, founded in 1919 in Birmingham, UK manufactured a range of brass and chromium plated water fittings, valves, lavatory and sink mixers.

1920 saw the first introduction of the distinctive >B< trademark into the market, identifying Bänninger products. During the 1930’s, the businesses went from strength to strength with Bänninger becoming the only producer at that time of red brass fittings in Europe.

In the 1940’s, Sanbra launched their unique rib-nut design compression range, and the name Conex became the one to ask for when it came to compression fittings. Many other products followed including, in 1983, the development of the first copper-based press fitting, the precursor of today’s >B< Press range.

By 1987, Bänninger had become part of the newly formed IBP Group, which later merged with Conex. In 1994 the brands were combined to become Conex Bänninger.

Over the years the brand’s product portfolio has increased extensively with more recent additions meeting the needs of press and push applications. ‘Excellence since 1909’ is not only an ethos that acknowledges the history and heritage of innovation and quality, but a promise to bring the ideal of excellence to everything we do in the future.

A people business

You don’t get great ideas to market without having great people to work for you. Our team is one of our most valuable assets, because ultimately, they are responsible for making us who we are. It is people who assist in maintaining high standards at every stage of the process; from design and manufacture, through to delivery and after sales services. Many of our team have been with us for a long time and can pass on a wealth of expertise to our customers and end users.

Good relationships are particularly important to us and our teams are always approachable, and extremely responsive in their provision of planning, sales, support, technical advice and training.  Our flexible, yet professional approach provides a level of satisfaction that has a lot of our customers saying that we are simply ‘good people to do business with’.

The environment & sustainability

We treat our environmental obligations very seriously and conserve resources through preventative measures; through the technologies we develop, the materials we use, and by striving to minimise the impact our activities have on the environment and our local community. Our product innovation takes into consideration water safety, fire protection and energy efficiency, which is why the flame-free features of our press and push technologies have become so popular. These methods effectively cut the energy consumption and time-on-site compared with more traditional fitting techniques and contribute to overall safety.  Material benefits A large proportion of the raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are completely recyclable and all our products are designed and manufactured for long service. Our packing is focused on recyclable materials and is designed to minimise waste.

Protecting our water

Clean water is both an environmental and public health issue.  Copper, brass, bronze and stainless steel are used extensively in the manufacture of our products. These materials resist corrosion and oxidisation, helping to keep water quality high. In addition, the anti-microbial properties of copper fittings are one of the reasons they are often specified when water hygiene is a priority. In fact, copper fittings, as part of a well-designed network, actively contribute towards destroying pathogenic microbes, including legionella.  The products that we have developed for use with drinking water comply with the World Health Organization, and water standards authorities in all of our markets, including WRAS, KIWA, DVGW, the Australian WaterMark and EPA.

Dedicated to design

Innovation is an important driver in our delivery of excellence and is one of the reasons our portfolio of plumbing and heating fittings, refrigeration solutions and valves is so diverse.  Our new ideas often start by being aware of, and responding to changes in industry, whether it is pioneering technology such as >B< MaxiPro in air conditioning and refrigeration or the use of low lead materials for drinking water.

The impact on well-being An increasing awareness of how the design of fluid networks impact on the health and well-being of a building’s occupants and their productivity will affect material choice and system design. How we can best meet these needs through product compatibility and improvements to installation speed and product integrity are also factors that come into play at the design stage, and it is why we have a dedicated design team to anticipate the next generation of user needs.

Quality & Service

Quality & Service

At Conex Bänninger, we are fully committed to our customer’s expectation of quality-assured, reliable products.
Product

Product

We constantly explore new ideas to ensure that we can offer our customers the latest fitting technologies.