
American Standard Brands has been a trusted name in the plumbing industry for over 140 years, with a rich history of innovation and quality.
Their products are designed to provide expert faucet solutions for homeowners and professionals alike.
From their iconic Cadet toilet to their wide range of faucets, American Standard Brands offers a diverse portfolio of products that cater to various needs and preferences.
Their faucets are known for their durability, style, and functionality, making them a popular choice among consumers.
History
American Standard Brands has a rich history that's worth exploring. In 2014, Ferguson Enterprises became an authorized American Standard wholesaler.
The company launched a DXV line, a luxury bath and kitchen line, in 2014 to celebrate its 15th decade of business.
Gould resigned as CEO in January 2015 and was replaced by CFO Steven Delarge.
Sale to Lixil Group
In June 2013, the Japanese firm Lixil Group agreed to purchase American Standard Brands from Sun Capital Partners for $342 million.
Under Gould and Lixil, the company significantly improved employee morale and increased revenue by $200 million by the beginning of 2014.
American Standard also invested heavily in the company's Mexico facilities, where a vast majority of its employees are based.
Ferguson Enterprises became an authorized American Standard wholesaler starting in January 2014.
The company launched a luxury bath and kitchen line called DXV in 2014, celebrating its 15th decade.
Gould resigned in January 2015 and was replaced by CFO Steven Delarge.
American Standard was recognized for the top spot for "Brand Familiarity" in the Bathroom Accessories category by the Builder Magazine in 2015.
The company's VorMax toilet line was also named a 2015 Good Design award recipient by the Chicago Athenaeum.
For the 2018 Atlanta Braves season, American Standard opened branded bathrooms at SunTrust Park.
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Faucets
American Standard faucets are a great choice for any bathroom or kitchen. They offer a range of styles and finishes to fit any decor, from chrome to brushed nickel.
American Standard bathroom faucets are known for their high-quality materials, which are resistant to tarnish, scratches, and corrosion. You can choose from one- or two-handle centerset models.
One popular American Standard faucet is the Chancellor 2-Handle Lever 4 In. Centerset Bathroom Faucet with Pop-Up, Brushed Nickel. It's a great option for those looking for a stylish and functional faucet.
For those who prefer a more modern look, American Standard offers a range of tub and shower faucets. These faucets are constructed of solid brass and feature an easy-to-clean shower head.
If you're looking for a faucet for your kitchen, American Standard offers two styles: the Maven and the Mesa. The Maven has a sleek, contemporary design, while the Mesa has a clean, traditional design.
Here are some top-selling American Standard kitchen faucets:
- American Standard Maven 1-Handle Lever Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Soap Dispenser, Stainless Steel
- American Standard Maven 1-Handle Lever Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Soap Dispenser, Matte Black
American Standard faucets are made with high-quality materials and are designed to last. However, it's worth noting that some of their faucets are made in Mexico, not the US.
If you're looking for a faucet with advanced features, American Standard offers a range of options, including the Beale MeasureFill touchless faucet that meters out a specific amount of water.
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Faucet Design and Features
American Standard's faucet designs have been improving, with recent designs winning numerous awards in international design competitions. The Edgewater semi-professional kitchen faucet collection won a Red Dot for excellence in design innovation, and the Studio S bath faucet collection and Beale MeasureFill touchless faucet also received the coveted Good Design Award.
The company has been putting more emphasis on faucet design, with the recent opening of a design studio in New York City and additions to its design staff. This shift in focus is a positive change for American Standard.
American Standard faucets are available in various finishes, including chrome, brushed nickel, and matte black. Oil-rubbed bronze and Legacy Bronze are also available, but these are not as robust as newer finishes like Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD).
The company's proprietary mixing cartridge is very robust with few reported problems, but it's no longer cutting-edge technology. Delta has leapfrogged past American Standard's basic ceramic technology with its Diamond Seal Technology (DST) super cartridge.
Here are some common faucet finishes available from American Standard:
- Polished chrome
- Brushed nickel
- Satin nickel
- Oil-rubbed bronze
- Legacy Bronze
- Matte black
Manufacturing and Distribution
American Standard's manufacturing and distribution strategy is quite interesting. They have a plant in Mexico that assembles faucets for both American Standard and Grohe, shipping over 5 tons of faucets and spare parts to the US in just the first five weeks of 2018.
The company also receives parts and components from Grohe India Pvt. Ltd, highlighting its global supply chain. American Standard's designs were indeed very popular in the 1950s, epitomizing the early mid-century bathroom style.
Their manufacturing process is quite complex, with the company introducing a complete line of washerless faucets in 1978 to compete with Moen. However, this move was met with a design flaw - faucets were designed to fit a specific sink, making it necessary to purchase the sink and faucet as a set, which greatly reduced their popularity.
End of Manufacturing
American workers were the only losers in the takeover of American Standard's kitchen and bath division by Sun Partners.
In the 1980s, American Standard, Crane, and Eljer had a combined 70,000 employees in North America, mostly at manufacturing plants.
Today, American Standard Brands employs fewer than 3,000 Americans, with barely 300 in hourly manufacturing jobs.
The company shuttered its last remaining Canadian plant in Winnipeg in 2015, and also closed the old Crane factory in Nevada, Missouri that same year.
Only three production facilities remain in North America: a plant in Salem, Ohio, a factory in Grand Prairie, Texas, and a small former Eljer factory in Somerset, Kentucky.
American Standard's shift away from manufacturing has had a significant impact on the workforce and the economy.
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Hecho En Mexico
American Standard's plant in Mexico has begun assembling a good many of the Grohe faucets sold in the U.S. alongside American Standard faucets.
In the first five weeks of 2018, the maquila shipped more than 5 tons of faucets and spare parts to Grohe in the U.S.
The maquila also received several tons of parts and components from Grohe India Pvt. Ltd.
This collaboration highlights the complex global supply chain of the plumbing industry.
Faucet Manufacturers
American Standard's plant in Mexico has been assembling Grohe faucets alongside their own products, shipping over 5 tons of faucets and spare parts to Grohe in the US in just the first five weeks of 2018.
The company has a long history of innovation, introducing the first washerless faucets in 1978 to compete with Moen. However, they made the mistake of designing faucets to fit a specific sink, reducing their popularity.
American Standard faucets are designed in the US but manufactured abroad, so if "made in the USA" is important to you, American Standard might not be the best choice.
In fact, both established American faucet companies still make most of their faucets in the US, unlike American Standard.
The American Standard Monterrey plant, which was abandoned for a while, is now home to Grohe's North American production, which was relocated from Ontario, Canada in 2015.
Here's a brief rundown of some of the key facts about American Standard's faucet manufacturers:
- Designed in the US
- Manufactured abroad
- Long history of innovation, including the introduction of washerless faucets in 1978
- Made a mistake by designing faucets to fit specific sinks
- Now owned by LIXIL and has a partnership with Grohe
Customer Experience
American Standard Brands' customer experience is a mixed bag. The company's U.S.-based customer and warranty service is good but not exceptional.
American Standard may not have a clear understanding of where its products are made, but it does know where to find the parts for each faucet. This suggests a level of organization, but it's not enough to make up for other issues.
We encountered problems that were thought to be simple, but required referring them up the chain of command for a resolution. This was time-consuming and indicated a lack of training.
The company's customer service scored 3.7 out of 5 on our standard test, which is considered unsatisfactory.
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Market Trends and Comparison
The global plumbing fixtures market is projected to reach $121 billion by 2027, growing at a 6.8% CAGR.
North American residential construction and commercial renovation projects account for 42% of global consumption, driving demand for American Standard-compliant products.
Supply chain disruptions and raw material cost volatility remain significant challenges, particularly for brass components which have seen 27% price fluctuations in recent years.
Asia-Pacific manufacturers now dominate production, with China responsible for 68% of global export volume.
Technological advancements in PPSU and CPVC materials are reducing installation times by up to 40% while meeting stringent NSF/ANSI 61 drinking water safety standards.
Faucet Price Comparison
American Standard faucets are a good quality option, but they're not made in the U.S., despite their name suggesting otherwise. They're actually designed in America but manufactured abroad.
If you're looking for a specific brand, you might want to consider established American companies that still make most of their faucets in the U.S.
For those who value "made in the U.S." products, American Standard wouldn't be the best choice.
Here are some key points to consider when comparing faucet prices:
In summary, American Standard faucets are a good option, but they're not American-made. If you're looking for a U.S.-made faucet, you might want to consider other brands.
Plumbing Fixture Trends
The plumbing fixture market is projected to reach $121 billion by 2027, growing at a 6.8% CAGR.
North American residential construction and commercial renovation projects account for 42% of global consumption, driving demand for American Standard-compliant products.
Water conservation regulations and smart home integration are major market drivers, with 78% of commercial projects specifying WaterSense-certified fixtures.
Supply chain disruptions and raw material cost volatility remain significant challenges, particularly for brass components which have seen 27% price fluctuations in recent years.
Asia-Pacific manufacturers now dominate production, with China responsible for 68% of global export volume.
Technological advancements in PPSU and CPVC materials are reducing installation times by up to 40% while meeting stringent NSF/ANSI 61 drinking water safety standards.
Lead-free brass materials and push-fit connection systems now represent over 35% of new installations, reflecting a shift towards more sustainable and efficient plumbing solutions.
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Break-Up of Companies and Sale
In June 2013, Lixil Group purchased American Standard Brands from Sun Capital Partners for $342 million.
This marked a significant change for the company, which had previously gone through a break-up of its three divisions in 2007.
American Standard Companies announced it would break up its three divisions on February 1, 2007, including the sale of its kitchen and bath division.
The company sold its kitchen and bath division to Bain Capital Partners, LLC for $1.76 billion in July 2007.

The deal included the sale of the American Standard name to Bain, though American Standard retained the rights to use the "American Standard" name for its HVAC products.
The kitchen and bath business generated $2.4 billion and had 26,000 workers across 54 production facilities in 23 countries at the time of the deal.
Bain Capital created American Standard Americas from the North American units of the bath and kitchen business units acquired from American Standard Companies.
Bain sold a majority stake in American Standard Americas to Sun Capital Partners on November 27, 2007, for $130 million.
In 2013, American Standard Brands was purchased by Lixil Group from Sun Capital Partners for $342 million, marking a significant change for the company.
Under new ownership, the company significantly improved employee morale and increased revenue by $200 million by the beginning of 2014.
The company's Mexico facilities, where a vast majority of its employees are based, received significant investment under Lixil's ownership.
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