1928 Allied Radio founded in Chicago
1937 Radiospares founded in London by JH Waring and PM Sebestyen
1947 Radiospares establishes an export link with the newly founded Radionics in Dublin
1954 Radiospares products are aimed at industry and product range is extended beyond radio and television spares
1967 Radiospares floats on the London Stock Exchange as Electrocomponents plc

Over 50% of sales are now to industry
1971 Radiospares changes its name to RS Components
1984 Corby warehouse opened
1989 Corby warehouse expanded

RS purchasing office opened in Taiwan
1990 Verospeed, with operations in France and Austria acquired: renamed Radiospares in France and RS in Austria

RS Australia launched following acquisition of former RS distributor
1991 RS start-up opens in Germany
1992 RS start-ups open in Italy and Denmark
1994 Radioparts in Denmark acquired and merged with RS Denmark

Distributor acquired to form RS New Zealand
1995 Distributors acquired to form RS Singapore and RS Amidata ( Spain)
1996 Distributor acquired to form RS South Africa

RS start-up opens in Chile
1997 RS opens an additional facility in Nuneaton, adding half a million square feet of warehouse space

Regional distribution centre opens in Singapore to serve Asia

Distributor acquired to form RS Hong Kong

6 regional offices opened in China
1998 Award-winning internet trading channel launched in the UK

New warehouse in Beauvais doubles capacity in France

Distributors acquired to form RS Benelux, RS Malaysia and RS Sweden
1999 Allied Electronics (formerly Allied Radio) acquired. In the year, Allied’s sales are $178m and it has 69 sales offices

RS opens in Japan, the first business of its type in Japan
2001 Distributor acquired to form RS Norway
2004 Same day despatch offer launched in China
2008 Production Packaging offer launched across UK, Continental Europe and Asia Pacific