The company was founded by William Elvis Sloan in Chicago, Illinois in 1906 with the introduction of the Royal flushometer, a valve to release a measured amount of water to flush a urinal or toilet.

[1] In addition to its flush valves based on diaphragm technology, Sloan also introduced piston-type flushometers, including the Crown and the GEM 2.

Sloan also now has solar-powered models with a battery back-up that operate using any artificial or natural light source.

Sloan has made a major commitment to producing equipment that minimizes consumption of water.

Other restroom fixtures include sensor-activated hand dryers, low-flow showerheads, networked water-control systems, and electronic soap dispensers.