Belgian manufacturer RVB has now entered the UK market, offering house builders and designers top-quality, timeless products, explains Pierre Gillieaux, Head of Sales & Marketing
What is the history of RVB?
RVB was founded in 1935 by Gaston Van Bastelaere, the original owner of the company. He established the company after inventing a unique mechanism for opening taps in one-third of a turn. It’s interesting to note that, in the past, the taps required many turns, whereas today, thanks to ceramic technology, it only takes one-quarter of a turn. This marks the beginning of our company’s history, dating back to 1935, with Gaston Van as its first owner. From the outset, Gaston focused on developing high-quality and durable products, consistently utilising brass for their construction.
In 1967, Gaston Van Bastelaere passed away and the responsibility for the company then fell to his assistant. She successfully managed the company until the early 2000s. During this time, RVB remained specialised in serving public institutions and hospitals, where we built a strong reputation for delivering sustainable and high-quality products.
In the early 2000s Alain Gillieaux my father acquired the company and modernising it in depth, RVB underwent a significant transition as it became a family business. This shift in leadership marked a turning point in our history. Up until that time, we had predominantly focused on serving public institutions and hospitals.
However, in 2000, we redirected our efforts towards the residential and hotel markets, which, although smaller, offered promising prospects. Over the years, we’ve collaborated closely with Belgian and foreign designers, including Terrance Woodgate, Alain Berteau, Co.Studio and Thomas King, among others. These collaborations have been crucial in infusing our products with innovative design, ergonomic considerations, and a sense of timelessness. We’ve always strived to create designs that stand the test of time.
In summary, RVB’s history began in 1935 with Gaston Van Bastelaere as the founder. Under various owners, the company evolved from its specialisation in serving institutions to a family business with a focus on the residential and hotel sectors. Our collaboration with talented designers has been instrumental in ensuring our products are not only well-crafted but also timeless in their design.
What can you tell us about your kitchen range and what makes it unique?
We offer an extensive selection of 23 collections that cater to both bathroom and kitchen needs. Our kitchen taps encompass a broad spectrum of styles, ranging from classic to modern, and even very contemporary designs. The best part is that they are available in a versatile array of 18 finishes, allowing you to find the perfect match for your kitchen’s aesthetic.
In the kitchen category, we take pride in offering a unique model that isn’t found in our bathroom collections. Moreover, we proudly present two distinct models crafted from top-tier stainless steel grade 316L. This stainless-steel variant is renowned for its exceptional resistance, making it ideal for outdoor use, especially in marine environments or for outdoor kitchens. It’s a superb choice if you desire a comprehensive kitchen setup in stainless steel.
And what about the RVB bathroom collections?
RVB offers an equally extensive range of bathroom collections, with a total of 23 diverse collections to choose from. These collections encompass nearly 20 different applications, whether they are wall-mounted taps for washbasins, bath-related fixtures, or a range of accessories that harmonise with these collections. In essence, we provide a wide variety of options to suit various bathroom setups.
Among these numerous collections, we take particular pride in five signature collections. These have been developed in collaboration with esteemed designers such as Terrance Woodgate, Alain Berteau, and others mentioned previously. These signature collections reflect our current focus as they hold more significance than industrial designs and better align with the work of interior designers.
In both our bathroom and kitchen offerings, we maintain a spectrum of styles, ranging from classic to ultra-modern, and we even feature a vintage collection. This diversity in styles is essential in providing your project with the depth and customisation it requires. The high potential for personalisation we offer is especially appealing to interior designers, as it enables the creation of cohesive and stylish projects with a distinct sense of unity.
RVB also manufacture accessories, how important do you think these are in bathrooms?
The ability to achieve a harmonious and cohesive look in a bathroom design often hinges on the choices made by the interior designer. As a manufacturer, I understand the significance of colour coordination and matching finishes in creating a seamless and visually pleasing bathroom aesthetic. It can be a real challenge when, for example, you have taps in a specific colour, and you wish to find matching accessories, only to discover that they are not readily available from a single supplier. This search among various suppliers can be time-consuming and frustrating.
This is precisely why we offer a range of accessories that align with our collection of bathroom products. By providing complementary accessories, we make it possible to assemble a complete bathroom that resonates with the same energy and synergy, boasting consistent colours and finishes. In essence, this approach allows for the creation of a complete bathroom design without the need for any compromises, ensuring a unified and visually appealing space.
Moving on to innovation, how important do you think that this is for the RVB collections?
Innovation is absolutely crucial in today’s world, as we face new needs and challenges that were not present in the past. To create products that meet the demands of tomorrow and embrace the future of production, we must think beyond the present. Innovation can be a powerful force that propels us forward. It’s essential to look inward, to examine the possibilities, and to ask important questions such as: Is this necessary? How can it be of assistance? What positive contributions can we make to the environment, the planet, and people? There are many facets to innovation, from design to the practical application of a product.
Take, for instance, our latest product, the Joe Collection, which received the prestigious ISH 2023 Design Plus Award. This collection represents an innovation for us due to its use of a progressive cartridge. With this design, you always start with cold water and can simultaneously adjust both the water volume and temperature using a single handle. This approach ensures that you never begin with hot water, eliminating the need to wait for water to heat up.
In contrast, traditional single-lever mixers, found in many households, typically start in the middle position, allowing both hot and cold water to flow, which can lead to unnecessary energy consumption as the hot water is instantly heated. The progressive cartridge in our Joe Collection eliminates this risk and contributes to a more energy-efficient and water-saving future. Reducing water volume is one aspect, but we must also innovate in other areas to address future energy and resource consumption effectively. The progressive cartridge in the Joe Collection exemplifies our commitment to innovation and sustainability at RVB.
And how does RVB promote sustainability?
At RVB, we hold four core values that are integral to our business: innovation, sustainability, design, and quality. These values are interwoven and challenging to separate. When we embark on a project or develop a new product, we consider all these values collectively.
Sustainability is of paramount importance to us, particularly as a family business. Working closely with my father and brother Louis-Philippe Production and R&D Manager, we have the agility to implement forward-looking solutions more swiftly than larger corporations with extensive production lines. We are deeply committed to our values concerning the environment, our planet, and the future.
Being environmentally conscious is essential in our manufacturing process. We have come a long way since the past, where the sole focus was creating products without considering their ecological impact. Today, it’s inconceivable to operate in that manner. Our mission is to produce high-quality, innovative, and sustainable products. For instance, we’ve made strides in reducing water consumption by implementing features such as water volume reducers and progressive cartridges in our products, which also enhance their usability.
Our production process is a blend of craftsmanship and industrialization. Production flexibility is a cornerstone for meeting the demands of tomorrow. To underscore our commitment to sustainability, we’ve installed over 500 solar panels, which fulfil 80% of our energy needs. Our CNC machines are precise and use a mixture of 95% water and 5% oil, a significant improvement from the past when oil use was higher.
Moreover, our parts are thoroughly degreased with eco-friendly products in a large washing machine, an eco-friendly practice. Our dedication to sustainability extends to all aspects of production. We exclusively use brass, a material that is indefinitely recyclable, eliminating the need for new raw materials. We minimise waste and packaging by selecting quality materials. Our approach is holistic, addressing every step of production, not just solar panels, to ensure sustainability. In all these ways, we strive to create products that reflect our commitment to the environment and the future.
Finally, why would you advise house builders to choose RVB products for their new builds?
There are numerous compelling reasons to choose RVB for your needs. Firstly, our products are 100% recyclable, including the components concealed within walls, which are crafted from brass. For instance, if, in the future, a building or house constructed with RVB products were to be demolished, all RVB components could be recycled. This demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
RVB offers a diverse range of 23 collections designed to adapt to various projects, from classic to vintage and ultra-contemporary designs. These collections are available in 18 different finishes, and within each collection, you’ll discover numerous possibilities. This extensive array of options enables us to provide highly individualised and personalised solutions, allowing projects to be tailor-made to suit the unique needs of our customers.
It’s essential to note that all our products are manufactured in Brussels, Belgium. While we have a few partners within Belgium and across Europe, we remain firmly focused on producing green and sustainable products. We are proud to collaborate with talented designers who contribute to our products’ exceptional design, ensuring that each RVB product is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.
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