Industrial valve manufacturing company Reliance Worldwide Corporation Limited has launched two new product lines in the Americas, as well as adjustments to its manufacturing facilities in Australia and the United States, as announced in a press release.
The ASX-listed company said that SharkBite Max, its push-to-connect fittings, are now available in the Americas and have been redesigned to offer the same dependability as RWC’s original SharkBite fittings while incorporating improvements that increase strength and facilitate installation.
The new fittings, which already received several patents, will be gradually introduced in the United States and Canada over the next 15 months.
“The new SharkBite Max fitting design has enabled us to reconfigure our manufacturing operations and bring production and assembly closer to our end markets in North America. At the same time, we have been able to design entirely new assembly lines that are a major leap ahead in terms of efficiency,” explained RWC chief executive Heath Sharp.
RWC said it is also introducing PEX-a pipe in the Americas, along with a comprehensive line of expansion fittings.
With this addition to its product portfolio, RWC can now offer a comprehensive variety of pipe and fitting systems to professional plumbers in the Americas.
The manufacturing firm will also be able to supplement its existing repair and maintenance end-user emphasis by supplying the re-pipe, new commercial construction, and new residential building sectors with PEX-a pipe and expansion fittings.
SharkBite Max fittings’ whole assembly has been moved to the US, which has forced RWC to reorganise its Australian manufacturing facilities to meet demand in the APAC area.
“PEX-a and expansion fittings will enable RWC to address commercial multi-family new construction and new residential construction markets, and better service the remodel and home re-pipe markets as well,” the chief executive said.
A greater emphasis will be placed on achieving growth inside the Australian market and the APAC region when redeploying resources and expertise, the company said.
RWC’s Melbourne manufacturing factories will continue to be the global hub for all brass manufacturing activities, and Australia will continue to supply forged brass SharkBite Max fitting bodies to the Americas.
As previously stated, the production of components for SharkBite Max fittings, as well as the final assembly of SharkBite Max fittings, is being shifted to RWC’s Cullman plant in the United States.
As a result, the Croydon, Victoria, plant will be shuttered, and the plastic moulding and tool design and manufacturing activities will be shifted to RWC’s Dandenong site.
RWC Australia said it will continue to manufacture valves and drive the group’s valve development in the region.
“The changes to Australia’s manufacturing operations are significant. With all SharkBite Max fitting assembly operations transferring to the US, along with plastic component manufacturing, we have been able to reconfigure our manufacturing operations with a greater focus on the Australian market and the APAC region,” Heath Sharp said.
The RWC official continued, “Importantly, Australia will remain RWC’s brass manufacturing centre of excellence and will support our global brass product requirements.”
