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RS Components Appointed First Global Distributor for GripIt Fixings, Brings Revolutionary Plasterboard Fixing to Asia

Successful contestant of popular UK reality television show Dragons' Den selects RS to take innovative high-strength plasterboard wall fixings to industrial and installer markets worldwide

Philippines, 7 May 2015:

RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has become the first global distributor of GripIt Fixings for securing heavier loads on plasterboard walls, as seen on UK TV's Dragons' Den.  RS is also the first distributor to launch this the revolutionary product in Asia.

The GripIt Fixing is an advanced new-to-market product, which offers high loading capabilities, ease of installation and consistent reliability to rival the traditional plasterboard fixing.

Whereas traditional fixings have only limited ability to secure attachments such as cabinets or radiators to plasterboard walls without ripping out, GripIt Fixings provide a stronger anchor capable of handling loads of up to 180kg. This makes them ideal for use in a wide variety of industrial settings, as well as in offices, hotels, retail stores and around the home.

Appointing RS is the latest move by Jordan Daykin, entrepreneur and co-inventor of the GripIt Fixing. In August 2014 at the age of just 19, having already achieved national sales success with GripIt Fixings, Daykin appeared on Dragons' Den and secured Deborah Meaden's backing to develop Gripit Fixings into a global brand.

"GripIt Fixings solve a problem that's encountered every day, all over the world, and we are particularly keen to bring our solution to the global market," said Daykin. "RS Components has the global presence and large customer base of installers and engineers that we must reach to achieve our goals."

"RS is an obvious choice to take GripIt to customers all over the world," added Meaden. "As an RS customer myself back in the holiday industry my team relied on RS for their extensive product range and next day service."

"RS is dedicated to providing product solutions for our customers that solve day-to-day challenges and make customers' lives easier. GripIt Fixings are an innovative new approach to an age-old problem, which further enhance our ability to support engineering customers for all of their product needs from design to installation," said Ben Lawton, Global Head of Tools and Consumables at RS Components. "Jordan is a passionate and committed entrepreneur, and we look forward to working with him and Deborah to completely change installers' perceptions about plasterboard fixings."

GripIt Fixings are easy to use, and comprise a circular plastic plug with a pair of metal locking wings. This is inserted in a hole of the same diameter drilled in the plasterboard, and tapped with a hammer to engage anti-rotation tabs. The locking wings are then turned using a screwdriver, and spread out behind the plasterboard, to keep the GripIt in place and provide high load-carrying capability. The fitting is then screwed into the GripIt. The fixings can be used on rendered or un-rendered cavity walls, double-thickness plasterboard, insulated plasterboard, or dot and dab walls.

RS is stocking the full range of GripIt Fixings, which are available in four sizes from 15mm diameter to 25mm. The fixings are colour coded according to diameter, and weight loading. The fixings auto adjust so are suitable for 9.5mm to 15mm thick plasterboard.

For further information and to place an order, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com.

About RS Components

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer around 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include semiconductors, interconnect, passives and electromechanical, automation and control, electrical, test and measurement, tools and consumables.

Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2014 had revenues of £1.27bn.

For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com.

Further information is available via these links:

Twitter: @RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS

RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

Relevant Links:

Electrocomponents plc
www.electrocomponents.com

RS Components
www.rs-online.com

DesignSpark
http://www.designspark.com