Elkay

About Elkay

Few names in plumbing carry the weight of over a century of American craftsmanship. Elkay Manufacturing Company was founded in 1920 by Leopold Katz, his son Louis, and tinsmith Ellef Robarth — a trio who started by hand-fabricating silver butler pantry sinks and delivering them by streetcar to the homes of Chicago's wealthy. The company's name was formed by blending the initial sounds of Robarth's first name and the Katz family surname, and that identity has stood strong through more than 100 years of innovation.

From those humble 2,100 square feet of rented Chicago workspace, Elkay grew into one of the most recognized manufacturers in the plumbing industry. A landmark moment came in 1935, when Elkay introduced its first stainless steel sink — a product category that would come to define the brand for generations. By 1957, the company had become the world's largest manufacturer of residential sinks, and the momentum never slowed.

Over the decades, Elkay expanded well beyond its sink-making roots. Kitchen sinks remain a cornerstone of the lineup, ranging from iconic farmhouse styles to precision-engineered stainless steel commercial sculleries. Today, Elkay's portfolio also includes a broad selection of bathroom and kitchen faucets — from classic gooseneck and high-arc designs to modern pull-down sprayers — offered in a wide variety of finishes including Chrome, Brushed Nickel, and Black Stainless. Many faucet models are built to coordinate directly with Elkay's sink lines, creating cohesive, functional setups for both residential kitchens and commercial environments.

As water quality became an increasing concern for households and institutions alike, Elkay invested heavily in hydration technology. Their water filters and treatment systems — including the well-known ezH2O® bottle filling stations and the Avado® filtered kitchen faucet — are engineered to reduce harmful contaminants such as lead, PFOA/PFOS, and microplastics. Elkay reached the milestone of one million ezH2O® units produced in 2021, a testament to the widespread adoption of their filtration approach.

On the commercial and institutional side, Elkay manufactures a full range of drinking fountain and water cooler products, including refrigerated water coolers, touchless bubblers, and remote chillers that meet ADA standards for both adult and child users. These solutions are trusted in schools, hospitals, airports, office buildings, and other high-traffic facilities. Complementing all of these systems, Elkay also offers a variety of sinks, sink drains, and accessories designed for everything from medical-grade hygiene applications to foodservice environments.

In 2022, Elkay merged with Zurn Water Solutions to form Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, a publicly traded company focused on sustainable water management. This combination preserved the legacy craftsmanship and innovation that have made Elkay a trusted name across the plumbing, commercial, and residential sectors for over a century.