Sloan Valve Company

Sloan Valve Company is a privately held American manufacturer of commercial plumbing equipment and restroom systems. Founded in Chicago in 1906 by William Elvis Sloan, the company began with the Royal flushometer, a valve designed to release a measured quantity of water for flushing a urinal or toilet. The product introduced a practical alternative to conventional tank-based flushing in commercial buildings, although early customers were initially reluctant to adopt it. Sloan sold only one Royal unit during its first year and two during its second; sales rose to 150 units in 1908 as building owners, plumbers, and fixture manufacturers became more familiar with the technology. The Royal established the basic commercial market in which Sloan continues to operate: high-use public, institutional, hospitality, transportation, health-care, and educational facilities that require durable, serviceable plumbing equipment. Sloan developed both diaphragm-based and piston-based flushometers over time. Later piston products included the Crown and GEM 2 models, while the Naval flushometer was adapted for marine applications. The original Royal design became notable for its longevity and repairability, with replacement parts reportedly remaining available decades after its introduction. Sloan expanded beyond mechanically operated flush valves as electronic controls became practical. In 1976 it introduced the Optima range of sensor-activated flushometers, with some of the earliest installations at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Battery-powered Optima Plus models followed in 1991. The company subsequently developed solar-powered units with battery backup, designed to operate from natural or artificial light. Sensor technology also became part of Sloan's faucet, hand-washing, soap-dispensing, and hand-drying offerings. In the mid-1980s, Sloan acquired Water Control International, the developer of Flushmate. That business brought pressure-assist flushing technology into residential toilets through an airtight vessel inside the tank. The vessel uses incoming supply-line water to compress air, which then helps propel the flush. The United States Energy Policy Act of 1992, which established a 1.6-gallon-per-flush maximum for covered toilets, created a regulatory and market environment in which pressure-assisted systems had an important potential role. Water efficiency has remained a central part of Sloan's product strategy. Its offerings have included dual-flush equipment such as the Uppercut flushometer, waterfree urinals using a liquid-seal trap, low-flow showerheads, electronic faucets, sensor-controlled flushometers, and other reduced-consumption restroom products. The company's broader commercial portfolio has also included solid-surface lavatory systems, stainless-steel sinks and wash stations, bedpan-washer flushometers, sensor-operated hand dryers, electronic soap dispensers, and networked water-control equipment. Sloan has additionally worked to connect restroom hardware with cloud-based monitoring and analytics through SC Argus Pro, allowing facility operators to track water use and equipment condition. Sloan remains associated with commercial rather than primarily consumer plumbing. Its brand positioning combines long service life, professional installation, automatic operation, hygiene, and water conservation. The company has also used sports sponsorship to increase public visibility: in 2015 it entered a marketing partnership with the Chicago Cubs and naming arrangement for the team's spring-training stadium in Mesa, Arizona, which became Sloan Park. The company is described as continuing to be managed by descendants of William Sloan. In the mid-1980s, Sloan acquired Water Control International, the developer of Flushmate. That business brought pressure-assist flushing technology into residential toilets through a sealed vessel inside the tank. The vessel uses incoming water to compress air, which then helps drive the flush. The 1992 Energy Policy Act, which set a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush for covered toilets, created an important regulatory and market context for pressure-assist systems.

Sloan Valve Company was established in Chicago in 1906 by William Elvis Sloan. Its first major product was the Royal flushometer, a plumbing valve that delivered a measured volume of water to flush a toilet or urinal. The concept encountered resistance during its early years because users and fixture manufacturers were accustomed to existing plumbing arrangements. Sloan sold one unit in 1906 and two in 1907, but adoption accelerated in 1908, when sales reached 150 units. The Royal became the foundation of Sloan's commercial plumbing business. Its diaphragm-based operating principle supported repeated use in public and institutional restrooms, while the design's long service life helped establish the company as a specialist in durable flush controls. Sloan later expanded its engineering portfolio with piston-operated flushometers, including the Crown and GEM 2. The company also produced the Naval model for marine environments. The availability of repair parts for older Royal units became an important example of the product's maintainability and long operating life. Sloan began adding electronic activation to its flushometer portfolio in 1976 with the Optima line. Early sensor-operated units were installed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. In 1991 the company introduced battery-powered Optima Plus versions, making automatic flushing more practical in facilities where electrical wiring was unavailable or difficult to install. Later solar-powered models combined light-based operation with battery backup and could draw energy from natural or artificial illumination. During the mid-1980s, Sloan acquired Water Control International, which had developed Flushmate pressure-assist technology. Flushmate used a sealed plastic vessel inside a toilet tank. Incoming water compressed air in the vessel, and the stored pressure assisted the flush. The technology gave Sloan an entry into pressure-assisted residential toilet systems as well as a complementary product line to its commercial flushometers. The United States Energy Policy Act of 1992, including its 1.6-gallon-per-flush limit for covered toilets, increased the importance of technologies capable of achieving effective performance with less water. Water conservation became a broader company theme. Sloan developed or marketed dual-flush products such as the Uppercut, whose two operating directions provided different flush volumes. It also offered waterfree urinals using a specialized trap and biodegradable oil seal, along with electronic faucets, low-flow showerheads, sensor-controlled flushometers, and other efficient restroom equipment. Its product range broadened into complete commercial restroom systems, including lavatories, stainless-steel sinks, wash stations, hand dryers, soap dispensers, and bedpan-washer flushometers. The company later pursued connected-building applications. Its SC Argus Pro software was described as a cloud-based analytics platform for monitoring water consumption and the condition of plumbing equipment in large facilities. This represented a shift from selling individual valves and fixtures toward supplying data-enabled systems for facility management. Sloan's history also includes a significant product-safety controversy involving Flushmate pressure-assist components. Millions of components produced over an extended period were recalled after reports of vessel ruptures, including incidents that caused injuries. The matter led to a reported settlement in 2014. Separately, the company increased consumer visibility through sports marketing. In January 2015, Sloan announced a partnership with the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, including naming rights for the Cubs' spring-training stadium in Mesa, Arizona. The venue was renamed Sloan Park. Sloan is privately held and is described as remaining under the management of William Sloan's descendants. Its enduring business identity is that of a commercial plumbing specialist combining mechanical engineering, touchless operation, water conservation, and long-life serviceability.

• 2015

  Sloan Park naming partnership announced

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Sloan announced a partnership with the Chicago Cubs that included naming rights for the team's spring-training stadium in Mesa, Arizona.

• 2014

  Flushmate-related settlement reported

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  A reported $18 million settlement followed recalls and rupture claims involving Flushmate pressure-assist components.

• 1992

  Energy Policy Act established a 1.6-gallon flush limit

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The United States Energy Policy Act set a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush for covered toilets, supporting demand for efficient flushing technologies.

• 1991

  Optima Plus battery-powered models introduced

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Sloan followed its earlier sensor-flush technology with battery-powered Optima Plus models.

• 1980

  Water Control International acquired

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  In the mid-1980s, Sloan acquired Water Control International, bringing the Flushmate pressure-assist product technology into its portfolio.

• 1976

  Optima sensor-activated flushometer line introduced

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Sloan introduced the Optima line of sensor-operated flushometers, with early installations at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

• 1908

  Early Royal sales accelerated

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  After very limited sales in 1906 and 1907, Royal flushometer sales rose to 150 units in 1908.

• 1906

  Company founded and Royal flushometer introduced

  [1]Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org

  William Elvis Sloan founded the company in Chicago and introduced the Royal flushometer, a valve that released a measured quantity of water for toilet and urinal flushing.

Premium commercial plumbing and restroom infrastructure focused on durability, automatic operation, hygiene, innovation, and water efficiency.

• Mechanical flush valve · 1906

  Royal flushometer

  Sloan's foundational flushometer, introduced in 1906. The Royal releases a measured quantity of water directly through a flush valve rather than relying on a conventional tank. Its durable diaphragm-based design became central to commercial restroom plumbing and remained serviceable for generations.

• Sensor-activated flushometer · 1976

  Optima

  The Optima line brought electronic sensor activation to Sloan flushometers. It was designed for high-use public and institutional restrooms, reducing the need for users to touch the flush control and enabling automatic operation.

• Battery-powered sensor flushometer · 1991

  Optima Plus

  Optima Plus models extended sensor-operated flushing to sites where a direct electrical connection was unavailable or inconvenient. The battery-powered configuration supported automatic flushing in a wider range of commercial installations.

• Pressure-assist flush system

  Flushmate

  Flushmate uses an airtight vessel installed inside a toilet tank. Water from the supply line compresses air in the vessel, and the stored pressure assists the flush. Sloan obtained the technology through its acquisition of Water Control International in the mid-1980s.

• Dual-flush flushometer

  Uppercut

  The Uppercut is a water-saving dual-flush flushometer. Its two-direction operating control provides a regular flush and a lower-volume flush, allowing users or facilities to reduce water use when a full flush is unnecessary.

• Water-conservation plumbing fixture

  Waterfree urinals

  Sloan's waterfree urinal systems use a specialized trap and a lightweight biodegradable oil seal. The design allows liquid to pass while helping prevent odors from escaping, eliminating routine flush-water consumption.

• Connected water-management software

  SC Argus Pro

  SC Argus Pro is described as a cloud-based analytics system for connected plumbing installations. It is intended to help large facilities monitor water use and assess the condition of restroom equipment.

• 2014

  Flushmate recall-related settlement

  The Flushmate product-safety controversy resulted in a reported settlement of $18 million. The matter concerned rupture incidents and injuries associated with pressure-assist flush components.

  Source

• 2012

  Flushmate pressure-assist component recall

  Pressure-assist components produced by Sloan's Flushmate division were recalled after reports of vessels rupturing. The cited reference describes 304 reported explosions and 14 injuries involving affected components produced over an extended period.

  Source

Read more

• 2015Chicago Cubs and Sloan Park partnership

  United States

  Sloan entered a marketing and sponsorship partnership with the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. The arrangement included naming rights for the Cubs' spring-training stadium in Mesa, Arizona. The stadium formerly known as Cubs Park was renamed Sloan Park, giving the commercial plumbing brand a prominent sports-marketing platform.

  Outcome. The stadium formerly known as Cubs Park was renamed Sloan Park, giving the commercial plumbing brand a prominent sports-marketing platform.

  Source

• 2015

  Chicago Cubs sponsorship and Sloan Park naming agreementOther

  Background

  Sloan pursued broader brand visibility beyond professional plumbing and construction channels.

  Action taken

  The company announced a partnership with the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field that included naming rights for the team's spring-training stadium.

  Aftermath

  The Mesa, Arizona, venue was renamed Sloan Park.

  Source

• 1992

  Expansion of water-efficiency strategyStrategy

  Background

  The Energy Policy Act established a 1.6-gallon-per-flush maximum for covered toilets, increasing pressure on manufacturers to deliver effective low-consumption products.

  Action taken

  Sloan developed and marketed water-saving products including dual-flush systems, waterfree urinals, electronic faucets, and low-flow showerheads.

  Aftermath

  Water conservation became a defining part of Sloan's commercial plumbing positioning.

  Source

• 1991

  Battery-powered Optima Plus launchProduct launch

  Background

  Many commercial facilities needed automatic flushing in locations where hard-wired electrical installation was impractical.

  Action taken

  Sloan introduced battery-powered equivalents under the Optima Plus name.

  Aftermath

  The product expanded the potential installation base for sensor-operated flushometers.

  Source

• 1985

  Acquisition of Water Control InternationalM&A

  Background

  Sloan sought to broaden its plumbing technology portfolio beyond conventional commercial flush valves.

  Action taken

  Sloan acquired Water Control International, bringing its Flushmate pressure-assist technology into the company.

  Aftermath

  Flushmate gave Sloan a pressure-assisted toilet system with applications in residential and water-efficient toilet markets.

  Source

• 1976

  Launch of Optima sensor-operated flushometersProduct launch

  Background

  Commercial restrooms required durable equipment capable of frequent use while reducing manual contact with plumbing controls.

  Action taken

  Sloan introduced the Optima line of sensor-activated flushometers and placed early units at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

  Aftermath

  The launch established electronic and touchless activation as an important part of Sloan's commercial product strategy.

  Source

1. 1Sloan Valve Companyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sloan official websitesloan.com