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Moen Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Faucet Innovation

April 18, 2014

In 1937, after burning himself at a sink with traditional single taps for hot and cold water, Al Moen began developing a single-handle faucet designed to mix hot and cold. The invention, finalized in 1939, changed the plumbing industry and set the stage for 75 years of development at Moen.

“Like so many innovations at Moen, the very start of our company came from a simple thought: Why can’t an everyday task be easier?” said Tim McDonough, vice president, global brand marketing, Moen Incorporated. “Today, Al Moen’s invention still drives the backbone of our company. Our associates use consumer insights to drive our design process and work tirelessly to develop thoughtfully designed, innovative kitchen and bath products, which make all of our lives just a little bit easier…and a little bit better.”

By 1959, Moen products could be found in homes across the U.S. That same year, a survey of designers published by Fortune Magazine named the Moen single-handle faucet one of the best-designed, mass-produced products of modern times.

“We all look up to Al Moen and what he did for our company,” continued McDonough. “We love the fact that he was a true inventor in every sense of the word. He didn’t stop with the 1939 innovation. In fact, he continued to lead Moen’s research and development group until his retirement in 1982.”