Over A Century Of Flowing Forward For McAlpine Plumbing

On the outskirts of Glasgow, in the Hillington industrial estate, stands McAlpine Plumbing, a company whose name may not always appear in front doors, but whose work flows unseen through plumbing systems across the UK and beyond. Since its founding in 1907, McAlpine has quietly built a reputation not just for pipes, traps and fittings, but for innovation, integrity and a family culture that has endured through more than 100 years of change.

A Humble Beginning Turned Into Lasting Legacy

The story begins in March 1907, when James Barbour McAlpine, then works manager at Egerton & Co, seized an opportunity. Egerton & Co was in liquidation, and McAlpine purchased its assets—Thistle Works in Govan—borrowing from the bank and from his family to acquire what would become McAlpine & Co. It was a bold move: secure the means of production, take responsibility, and build something of one’s own.

In the years that followed, McAlpine grew steadily. During the First World War it kept up orders—partly through work associated with the Govan and Clydeside shipyards. In peace time, and following global conflict, the company delivered plumbing fittings to prestigious projects such as the ocean liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I.

A key turning point came in 1946 when McAlpine relocated part of its operation to a unit in Kelvin Avenue, Hillington. This move signalled a leap; it placed the company in the heart of post war rebuilding in Glasgow and positioned it for expansion across the plumbing trade.

Perhaps one of the most significant developments was in 1957, when McAlpine became one of the first UK plumbing firms to adopt plastic extrusion technology, enabling them to produce plastic plumbing traps. It was a risk—new materials, new processes—but it turned out to be a decision that helped the business stay ahead of evolving market demands.

Through the 1960s and 1970s, McAlpine continued growing. It acquired Wylie Redman in 1962, adding precision tool making capability. Lindvale Plastics followed in 1969, diversifying its portfolio of products beyond traditional plumbing pieces to include items such as traffic cones and other moulded plastic goods. With that expansion came exports, first in relatively modest numbers, then more widely. By the 1980s, McAlpine was producing thousands of components across multiple factories, exporting to many countries around the world.

Values, Vision and What Drives Them

From its earliest days, McAlpine has been a family owned business, and that fact still colours how it operates.

Quality is never compromised. McAlpine sets high standards for its products: rigorous testing, even in cases where formal certification is not available, is undertaken locally. Even with automation, robotics and advanced machinery in their manufacturing plants, there remains a deliberate commitment to the human touch—in assembly, in finishing, in inspection, in doing the kind of adjustments or handiwork that machines cannot replicate.

Another core value is innovation. McAlpine’s history is full of firsts: first in Britain to manufacture plastic traps in the 1950s, among early adopters of new materials, early exporters, novel product lines, continuous updating of product designs in response to what tradespeople need. They describe themselves as “providing better solutions for the trades,” a phrase that captures both utility and ambition.

Straightforwardness is also central to their identity. McAlpine aims to make the complicated plumbing industry more accessible—products that are reliable, service that is honest, guidance that is clear. There is pride in working with the trade, listening to feedback, designing in ways that save installers time, reduce complications, limit waste.

Standing the Test of Time, Staying Family led

One of the striking things about McAlpine is not just its age—over a century—but that it remains owned by the family that founded it. Through two world wars, through decades of industrial change, shifting materials, fluctuating markets, McAlpine has retained its identity. It is not merely surviving, but evolving, adapting, renewing without losing its roots.

The work culture reflects this history. Many employees stay with McAlpine for long periods; some start on the factory floor and rise through the ranks. There is a sense of loyalty, of shared endeavour, of caring for workmanship, and of caring for people. McAlpine invests in skills, in testing, quality assurance, in facilities, all pointing to more than short term profit.

Purpose Looking Forward

McAlpine’s purpose has never been static. While its early years were about taking over lead pipe and trap production, then shifting post war to meet the needs of housing, shipbuilding and infrastructure, the firm has constantly asked: what do plumbers need now? What materials, what products, what solutions? The world changes—materials change, regulations, sustainability, environmental demands—but McAlpine strives to lead rather than follow.

Exports are now a major part of the business—products made in Glasgow are used in homes, commercial buildings and installations in over 100 countries around the world. This global dimension amplifies rather than dilutes their roots. Customers in the trade depend on McAlpine not just for a product, but for reliability, clarity and local in feel service even when orders span continents.

Innovation remains central: new product lines, new material technologies, maintaining UK manufacturing even as many businesses offshore or scale back, investing in people, factory machinery and testing processes, all signal that McAlpine is thinking long term.

And To The Future

In a crowded market of plumbing products, McAlpine stands apart because it has earned trust. Tradespeople know that if a product bears the name, it will work, will meet standards, will perform under stress. It is trusted in everyday homes and in demanding commercial and export markets.

But more than that, McAlpine matters because it is a rare example of a business that combines scale with integrity. It makes thousands of kinds of products, sells worldwide, uses advanced manufacturing, yet holds fast to family values, to honest communication, to innovation that serves, and to a strong, loyal workforce. A proud legacy with a commitment to the future.