“Zaciskowe” or “zaprasowane”: where the confusion comes from
Compression fittings (Polish “zaciskowe”) is the colloquial name for screwed fittings: a nut and a compression ring are fitted onto the pipe, and as the nut is tightened the ring grips the pipe. This is how Kuterlite works. Press fittings are pressed with a press tool fitted with a jaw of a specific profile; this is how Besco press works. A customer asking for “zaciskowe” usually means compression fittings, but it is worth checking.
Comparison
| Kuterlite compression fittings | Besco press | |
|---|---|---|
| How the joint is made | nut and compression ring, tightened with a spanner | the press tool jaw presses the fitting end |
| Tools | spanners | press tool with V or M jaws |
| Diameters | copper 6–54 mm, PE 20–32 mm | 12–108 mm |
| Pipes | copper, PE (K700 series), imperial pipes with K978C ring | copper; carbon steel in a separate line |
| Dismantling | yes, the ring stays on the pipe | no |
| Spare parts | nuts and rings sold separately, e.g. K978B | – |
Kuterlite series
- K600: the basic series for copper pipes 6–28 mm, e.g. K610 straight coupling.
- K900 Pro: couplings, elbows and female/male thread adaptors for copper 8–54 mm. Type A ends are for half-hard copper (EN 1057 R250), and the K1870X adaptor converts them to type B for soft copper (R220).
- K700: fittings for PE pipe, plus PE × copper and PE × thread adaptors. More in the guide Choosing a fitting for PE pipe.
When to use which
- Compression: connecting boilers, water heaters and valves, repairs, and places where the joint may need to be taken apart. Counter goods: spanners are all you need.
- Press: complete installations, risers, boiler rooms, large diameters and gas (separate lines with DVGW and INiG approvals).
What this means for wholesalers
Compression and press are two separate customer groups and two separate stocks. With compression fittings, it also pays to stock nuts and rings individually, as customers buy them for repairs.
Data source: Besco 2026 catalogue, Kuterlite price list (October 2024). As of 2026.