History

The engineer Gaston Van Bastelaere founds rvb (the initials stand for Robinetterie Van Bastelaere). Based in Brussels, the company aims to produce taps based on the innovative ideas of its founder.

Van Bastelaere patents its first inventions, including the FOR valve system, which guarantees a perfect closure of the tap without crushing the seal. Already a small revolution.

rvb® continues to innovate with the quarter-turn valves that guarantee a very fast and safe opening/closing.

The Brussels-based company continues to grow, not least because of the excellent reputation of its patented, foolproof systems.

The rvb® product catalogue now covers all needs for the home and public spaces, offering modern solutions for bathrooms, kitchens, but also laundries, workshops, etc.

A new rvb® invention, the Servo Mixer with Combined Emptying, the forerunner of progressive mixers, wins first prize at the prestigious Industrial Design Competition in Belgium in 1961.

rvb® develops Medico solutions that combine the extreme robustness characteristic of the brand with new functional ergonomics. These ranges are still particularly popular in hospitals and intensive use environments.

rvb® has often preceded trends with its bold designs, as demonstrated by the Mirage and Concorde collections with their angular and almost aerodynamic lines, expressing performance and modern comfort.

With the Servo-Mix, rvb® has invented the contemporary kitchen faucet and, even better, foreshadowed the arrival of contemporary thermostatic mixing valves.

rvb® products are now available in a wide range of colours, including superb epoxy finishes, unique at the time.

Pushing aesthetic refinement even further, rvb® unveils the new Varese and Hermès collections with elegant two-tone finishes.

Following on from the Servo-Mix, rvb® introduces Servo-Disc taps, its first models with precise and almost wear-free ceramic mixing cartridges.

With their geometric and radical design, the Fun and Sully collections became iconic faucets of the decade and allowed the brand to consolidate its market.

rvb® is bought by the entrepreneur Alain Gillieaux, who invests in and modernises the production tool while ensuring that the internal know-how is maintained. He entrusts the Brussels architect-designer Alain Berteau with the creative direction to renew the design and the brand image.

While the classic collections are receiving important technical updates, the brand is launching an ambitious research and development programme. The first collection to emerge from this initiative is Slide, a product that will create a sensation with its radical new design and progressive interfaces.

Inspired by the ergonomics of hi-fi equipment, the Tune collection is successfully launched, an original design by designer Alain Berteau that will become a classic.

rvb® taps can be found in the best hotels around the world. The rooms of the Belgian coastal palace La Réserve in Knokke are equipped with Docks taps, one of the highlights of the collaboration with the designer Alex Flamant.

Simple, complete and very practical, the new Plug collection is rapidly becoming one of the brand’s best-sellers.

To develop the Line range, rvb® collaborated with the British designer Terence Woodgate.

A pure but generous collection, an original and comfortable design based on mixer handles.

rvb® is entering a new phase in its development by building a new site that combines offices, a showroom, the R&D centre and the production site. State-of-the-art, sustainable facilities and production.

The Andrew collection from the architecture and design studio Co.Studio is successfully launched.

The unique integration of the mixer handle makes it a future classic.

In full growth, rvb® increases the production capacity of its Brussels site.

Times, a design by Thomas King, adds to the rvb® offering with its timeless yet contemporary crossbar design.

The Joe collection is unveiled, a new design by Co.Studio based on the use of progressive cartridges and solid yet elegant typologies.