Founded by Helmut Wagner in 1948 in the Bavarian town from which it would take its name, polymer solutions manufacturer REHAU has since grown into a world leader in its field, employing over 13,000 members of staff across 160 locations globally.
First entering the UK market in 1962, REHAU originally made its home in Slough, before relocating its headquarters to the picturesque Hill Court estate in Ross-on-Wye – the previous residence of not one, but two, Sheriffs of Herefordshire. From here, the company co-ordinates its entire UK operation, which also includes a sales office in Manchester, a showroom in London’s Building Centre, a manufacturing plant across the border in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and a recycling plant in Runcorn.
Though already known locally as a leading employer, REHAU’s reputation as a people-first business was recently recognised nationally with a second successive Great Place to Work® certification – the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviours proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.
Despite its global reach, REHAU continues to invest in both its staff and the local community via a host of initiatives. REHAU has been a member of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce for many years and has found their support, services, and events invaluable, using its membership as a platform for networking and knowledge sharing with other local companies.
REHAU has also been a partner of local university New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) since it first opened to students in 2021, with REHAU’s CEO Martin Hitchin holding a place on the board of trustees. Alongside this, the company also sponsors the Borderlines Film Festival, and stages a litter pick of Ross-on-Wye as part of World Cleanup Day.
REHAU’s Products in the Frame
Though REHAU manufactures a range of polymer solutions, including pipework for district heating and edgeband for interiors, it is perhaps best known in the UK for its windows and doors. Over 117,000 REHAU frames are manufactured every day across REHAU’s network of fabricators, while one in seven of the UK’s uPVC windows are made from REHAU profile.
Among the company’s best-selling products is the TOTAL70 range, a 70mm casement window available in both chamfered and sculptured options, and
a variety of colourways and foil finishes that emulate real timber. Rated ‘A’ for energy efficiency, the TOTAL70 range helps to keep the heat in and the noise out, while PAS24 security accreditation and the maximum BSI rating for wind, water, and air offer the homeowner added peace of mind.
Another of REHAU’s products going from strength-to-strength is the SLINOVA sliding door, a handsome, energy efficient solution that opens in one smooth movement and helps bring the outside in. Like Rio, SLINOVA features a sleek design and a slim frame, helping to maximise the glazed area and help the room feel more spacious. Like its contemporaries, SLINOVA is also available in a range of colours and finishes that can be varied on the inside and outside, allowing it to be customised to the look of any home.
A Circular Future
Perhaps the most crucial factor underscoring all REHAU’s products is its entirely local supply chain. Everything is manufactured just a short distance over the border in Blaenau Ffestiniog, while REHAU’s recycling plant processes copious amounts of post-consumer waste every day, which is then fed back into its products. As a result, the fenestration industry can now lay claim to being one of the most circular manufacturing sectors in the country, with REHAU boasting one of the industry’s first co-extruded profiles using 100% post-consumer waste in the core.
This self-reliance is one of the key reasons that REHAU was able to report another strong year of trading in 2025 despite prevailing economic headwinds. In 2026, the company is targeting even closer collaboration with its national network of partners, alongside the local community of Herefordshire, to ensure the business continues moving from strength to strength.
