Sterling Plumbing

Sterling Faucet Co. was founded in 1907 and prospered for many years as a leading independent manufacturer of faucets and other brassware. In 1984 Kohler Co. acquired Sterling for two reasons: it provided a foundation on which to build a mid-priced, full-line plumbing brand, and it gave Kohler entrée to sales through retail stores, a distribution channel that was beginning to grow rapidly. Over the next several years, Kohler acquired other companies to enhance the STERLING line and fill out the brand to meld with stainless steel sinks, compressed fiberglass bathtubs and enclosures, and vitreous china products. In doing this, Kohler successfully turned a modest-sized faucet company into a significant full-line brand.