Superior Plumbing Products for Professional Plumbers Since 1926
Instantor is renowned for innovative, quality assured plumbing solutions and has been supplying the trade in Ireland for 100 years. It all began at St James Gate, Dublin with the creation of the first brass compression fitting, Today, Instantor are market leaders in press solutions, delivering reliable and easy to install products to the plumbing and heating industry.
We have put together a 100-year flipbook to showcase the defining moments, innovations, and people that have shaped Instantor’s journey. From our early beginnings at St James’ Gate to becoming a trusted name in modern press solutions, the flipbook charts how the business has evolved alongside the plumbing and heating industry itself. It is a celebration of our heritage, our commitment to quality and reliability, and the relationships we have built with installers and merchants over the past century. Most importantly, it reflects how 100 years of experience continues to influence the products and solutions we deliver today, and those we will develop for the future.
100 Years Strong. Built to Lead. Focused on What Comes Next.
If you have been in the plumbing and heating industry long enough, you know that not many brands make it to 100 years. Fewer still stay relevant when they do. Since 1926, Instantor has done both.
We began with the creation of our first brass compression fitting at St James’ Gate, Dublin. One hundred years on, we are a market leader in press solutions, trusted by merchants, buying groups and installers across Ireland and the UK. That longevity is not accidental. It is built on doing the basics exceptionally well, year after year.
We are proud of our heritage, but we are not defined by it. Our focus today is on what we bring to the industry right now and how we help our customers to grow their businesses and make things simple for professional installers.
Trusted by the Trade. Chosen for the Long Term.
Trust is not claimed in this industry. It is earned. And it is why so many of our partnerships span decades. One constant across Instantor’s 100 year journey is the strength of the relationships we have built. Merchants and buying groups consistently highlight trust, reliability and a people first approach as the foundations of working with Instantor.
“Instantor has been working with National Hardware and Associated Hardware, and now United Hardware after the merger, for about 60 years. There is great recognition based on the range of products and the quality that they offer. They are constantly enhancing the range, and sourcing new products, and they are a company with very personable people. All together that creates a great working relationship, a relationship you can trust, and you do business with people that you trust.”
These partnerships continue to evolve as the industry changes, ensuring merchants and installers are supported with solutions that reflect today’s challenges, from skills shortages and tighter regulations to sustainability and efficiency requirements.
That same confidence from united hardware is reflected in the UK. When PHG appointed Instantor as a supplier, the decision was based on shared values and proven capability.
“It quickly became clear that there are strong synergies between PHG and Instantor. After visiting Instantor’s headquarters in Dublin and seeing the quality of their products and training facilities first-hand, we were confident this would become a successful and valuable partnership. Instantor was seeking to work with UK merchants, who pride themselves on being quality-focused businesses, often family-run, built on excellent service with an accessible stockholding and strong technical support. At PHG, we are committed to partnering with suppliers who embody the same ethos and so our collaboration was a natural fit.”
This is what long term partnership looks like. Not short-term wins, but sustained value-adding performance.
Quality Without Compromise. Because Your Reputation Depends on It.
When you recommend a product, your reputation is on the line. That is something we never lose sight of.
Every Instantor product is engineered, tested and approved to meet recognised industry standards, including WRAS, KIWA and NSAI. We invest heavily in in house testing, quality control and continuous improvement because cutting corners is never an option.
“Instantor prides itself on quality and reassurance, and its team know their products inside out. Instantor knows exactly what a product is made of, how it’s made, the chemical properties, the lifespan etc. It’s factors like these that make the Instantor Press System such a hit with our customers. WRAS approval and other accreditations also help us to confidently recommend Instantor products”
Confidence like that is not built on marketing. It is built on performance.
Innovation That Solves Real Problems on Site
The industry is changing fast. Skilled labour is harder to find, regulations are tighter and installers are under pressure to work more efficiently without increasing risk.
That is why we focus on practical innovation. Flame free press systems, multilayer pipe solutions and installer friendly designs that save time, reduce risk and deliver consistent results.
Our products are not designed to sit on shelves. They are designed to perform on site.
“Instantor’s hard work in building a trusted brand with such high quality products is really paying off. Customers often come to our trade counter and ask, ‘have you got any Instantor pipe?’. What they mean is a multilayer pipe, but Instantor is doing so well that its name is naturally being attached to the product – a bit like Hoover and Jeep.”
Support That Goes Beyond the Product
What sets Instantor apart is not just what we make, but how we support it.
From UK and Ireland based warehousing and responsive supply, to hands on training, technical expertise and after sales support, we work as an extension of our partners’ businesses. The same applies to our OEM customers, where our engineering capability and collaborative approach allow us to develop, adapt and refine products to meet specific requirements.
We do not disappear once a product is delivered. We stay involved.
100 Years In. Just Getting Started.
Reaching 100 years is a milestone. Staying relevant is the real achievement.
As Instantor looks to the future, our focus remains clear. We will continue to invest in innovation that makes a difference, quality that merchants can stand behind and partnerships built on trust, not promises.
Our experience gives us confidence. Our ambition keeps us moving forward. And our commitment to the trade is as strong today as it was in 1926.
What Our Staff Think
I first joined Instantor in 2013 as an intern office administrator, my very first step into working life. What started as a simple internship quickly became the foundation of my career. Over the following five years, Instantor continuously encouraged my development, helping guide me towards a future in marketing.
With the company’s support, I attended night college to gain a qualification in graphic design, before moving into my first marketing role as a Marketing Executive. A few years later, I completed my CIM Marketing qualification, which led to my promotion to Instantor Brand Manager, a role I am proud to still hold today.
At Instantor, we often say “we come for the job, but stay for the people” and this couldn’t be more true. It’s the people across all departments, working together so seamlessly, that make it easy and enjoyable to show up every day. For me personally, the consistent support from management has been key. Their belief in my abilities, and their willingness to invest in my growth through training and experience, has shaped the career I have today.
Over the past five years in particular, I have witnessed a remarkable transformation at Instantor, not only in our HQ facilities, but in the culture and structure that have been put in place. These changes are not just about growing the business, but about growing the people within it.
As Instantor celebrates 100 years, I’m incredibly proud to be part of its journey and excited to see what the next chapter holds.
I joined Instantor at the end of April 2025 and time has absolutely flown since! What drew me to Instantor in the first place was the impressive scale of its operations and the long-standing industry expertise.
I’ve been particularly impressed by Instantor’s deep commitment to deliver quality and value to our customers, an ethos that is clearly reflected across all areas of the business.
I am delighted to be part of company that reached such an important milestone and I am very much looking forward to the road ahead!
I’ve worked at Instantor for over 11 years now and I think it’s the pace and the people that has kept me here. Despite being in business for over a century, we’re always learning and finding better ways to do things. Something that has always stood out to me is the trust you’re given, your ideas are listened to, and you’re encouraged to take ownership. It’s a supportive place to work, where you’re not just part of the company’s history but genuinely helped to shape what comes next’