About us

OLI is the largest cistern producer in Southern Europe

OLI-Sistemas Sanitarios S.A is the largest cistern producer in Southern Europe and is also the parent company of OLI, a global brand of bath solutions present in 90 countries and on five continents. Over the years, OLI has created products that have enhanced the daily experience of users in the bathroom environment. The toilet has become more efficient, comfortable, and environmentally-friendly.


At OLI we combine patented technology and high quality manufacturing standards. We strive to constantly research and develop solutions that will increase water efficiency and accessibility. As we remain committed to sustainable development and continue to create versatile solutions, we also believe that our signature contemporary designs suit the diverse lifestyle needs of our consumers. A comfortable and accessible water-efficient bathroom is what we do best.

About us
1954

OLI is founded

Founded in 1954 in Aveiro, OLI Sistemas Sanitarios S.A. started as a small family organisation and persued its path throughout different areas of business.

OLI is founded
1993

Integration with the Silmar Group

In 1993, the company became part of the Silmar Group (formerly known as Fondital). Headquarted in Italy, it operates in four sectors: plumbing, drainage, heating and aluminium. The Group counts 1589 employees and has since reached an annual turnover of 1 billion dollars.

Integration with the Silmar Group
1994

Mass production of the dual flush

23 years ago, OLI innovated by mass producing the dual-flush system, which today is part of most cisterns worldwide. This innovation, used by most companies is responsible for reducing water consumption by 50%.

Mass production of the dual flush
2001

SM15 by Souto de Moura

Eduardo Souto de Moura is a renowned Portuguese architect who has been presented with various international awards, such as, the Gold Medal of Heinrich Tessenow Foundation in 2001; the Pritzker Award in 2011; the Wolf Prize of Arts in 2013; just to name a few. In 2001, in collaboration with OLI, Souto de Moura developed the SM15 flush plate.

SM15 is a tempered white glass flush plate, 147mm by 147mm, and is ideal for a smooth application on walls covered with traditional Portuguese tiles. The SM15 is installed surface-even with the wall for a seamless and elegant look.

SM15 by Souto de Moura
2007

OLI implements Kaizen

OLI begins the implementation of the continuous improvement system from the Kaizen Institute. Continuous improvement has a direct and intrinsic relation in the optimization of processes that consequently lead to an increase in production. After implementing Kaizen, productivity increased by 30%, work in progress decreased by 30% and both final product stock and time to market reduced by 40%.

OLI implements Kaizen
2009

INO-X designed by Romano Adolini

The INO-X collection is a collaboration with Italian Architect Romano Adolini, an influential figure in bathroom design.

 

The result is a simple, elegant flush plate: A precise laser-cut, simple 22mm thick sheet of steel. This philosophy generated four models made of essential forms, drawn from squares and circles.

INO-X designed by Romano Adolini

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2012

Kaizen Award

With excellent results in terms of operational efficiency, OLI wins the Kaizen Prize, in the "Excellence in Productivity" category in 2012.

Kaizen Award
2012

OLI Showroom Inauguration

In 2012 OLI inaugurated a showroom at their headquarters in Aveiro. Visit our showroom to see our wide range of products and the latest novelties.

OLI Showroom Inauguration
2012

OLI Russia is founded

As sales continue to grow in Russia, and in order to respond to market needs faster, the first OLI industrial unit outside Portugal was opened in Russia. This cut down on transit time to Russia and provided OLI with an opportunity to produce market specific products in loco. Production at OLI Russia began in 2016.

OLI Russia is founded
2012

AZOR Plus

Saving water in our everyday lives is now, more than ever, crucially important. In order to help people decrease their water consumption, and in turn decrease their water bill, OLI developed the Azor Plus inlet valve, a water-saving solution that equips the latest models of OLI cisterns. The Azor Plus inlet valve can save up to 9 liters of water per day. The decreased consumption of water is due to the delayed refilling of water in the cistern, therefore avoiding water waste during flushing. Thus, water begins to fill the cistern only after the flush valve is closed and all water flushed is efficiently used for cleaning the toilet.

AZOR Plus
2014

Trumpet by Siza Vieira

World-renowned architect and winner of several internaltional awards: 1992 Pritzker Prize; 2001 Wolf Prize of Arts; 2012 Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and 2014 Fritz Hoger award just to name a few, Alvaro Siza Vieira collaborated with OLI to design the Trumpet flush plate, an elegant design perfectly characterizing the pistons of a trumpet. Inspired by the instrument played by the great maestros, Siza created the harmonious design of this flush plate.

Trumpet by Siza Vieira
2015

New state of the art life-test laboratory

The motto at OLI is simple: “Anticipate needs. Find solutions for the future”. With this in mind, a major investment in RDI was the complete renovation of our testing laboratory, which is now equipped with the latest technology that will allow us to be at the forefront when it comes to research and innovation. The lab is divided into two distinct interacting areas: half of the posts are exclusively allocated to tests and standards that permit different product certifications in markets. The other stations are focused on the future, and test products with different levels of water hardness, with rainwater and seawater. With the awareness that water is an increasingly scarce resource, today, and surely in the future, we at OLI do everything in our power to protect against water shortages. We do not consider our efforts in the area a cost, instead we perceive them as an investment in the quality of life for everyone.

New state of the art life-test laboratory

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2016

Archiproducts Design Awards

The Trumpet flush plate was designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, world-renowned architect and winner of the Pritzker Prize. It is the perfect combination of elegance and harmony, both characteristics of a trumpet.

The “Trumpet” flush plate for concealed cisterns won 1st “Archiproducts Design Awards 2016”, one of the most prestigious Architecture and Design awards in the world. “Trumpet” was chosen “Best of Category 2016” in the “Bathrooms” category among 490 nominations from 250 brands from 15 countries.

Archiproducts Design Awards
2016

Branch in Germany is created

Incorporation of OLI Sanitärsysteme GmbH in the town of Möckmühl, Stuttgart. The opening of the German subsidiary intensifies the establishment of the OLI brand in Germany and neighboring markets.

Branch in Germany is created
2016

OLI products as BIM objects

OLI is committed to being at the forefront of development in the construction sector. BIM (Building Information Management) is the new standard of design and construction. BIM facilitates the transfer of information between stakeholders and enables integrated management throughout the product life cycle.


OLI aims to boost the e¬fficiency and creativity of construction projects through cooperative work with architects, engineers, contractors and owners, as well as reinforce its commitment to continuous innovation and the creation of a bathroom that doesn´t waste water, is safe and accessible for all.
Many of OLI´s products are already available as BIM objects in Graphisoft Archicad®, Autodesk Revit® and SketchUp®. OLI will continue to progressively expand their library and offer customers a wide range of Sanitary System solutions.

OLI products as BIM objects
2016

Green Project Awards

The Green Project Award distinguishes, across seven categories, the most innovative projects in the area of sustainability in Portugal. The 9th edition of the awards ceremony took place in Serralves, Porto. The IVC1000 LeakSafe inlet valve was one of the recognized projects in the area of sustainability. OLI, known for promoting water saving, received an honorable mention in the "Product or Service" category.

Green Project Awards
2016

Good Design Award

The Good Design Award is the oldest and most prestigious International Design Award. OLI is proud to have won this award with Glassy, a glass capacitive flush plate that is activated as the hand approaches. Glassy is available with the Hydroboost system, that can make it independent from traditional sources of energy (i.e. the electrical system).
The award-winning solution, Glassy, is a self-sustainable flush plate for in-wall flush cisterns.

Good Design Award

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2017

Millennium Horizontes Awards

OLI was awarded the Millennium Horizons Award in the category "Innovation - Large Companies" at a ceremony presided over by the prime minister, António Costa, on November 15th, 2017.
This is an important distinction that recognizes the permanent investment and work of the brand in innovation and the quality of products, services and processes.
570 companies applied to the Millennium Horizons Awards, which is promoted by Millennium BCP in partnership with the Global Media Group, COTEC and AICEP.

Millennium Horizontes Awards
2017

Renovated showroom

In 2017 OLI renovated their showroom to reflect new products and design trends.

Renovated showroom
2018

New Mold Factory Construction

The construction of a new mold factory aims at increasing our production capacity by 50% and at increasing the quality of complex and demanding molds intended for hydro-sanitary and automotive industries all over the world.

New Mold Factory Construction
2019

OLI today

OLI's entire value chain is controlled from their facilities, that have an area of 882,640 sq ft. Beginning with the conception of ideas to their industrialization and production, ending in their commercialization in more than 80 countries around the world. The growing interest in a contemporary design and in new technologies and materials, always with a focus on water efficiency and respect for the environment, has made OLI a world reference and a brand of excellence. With about 401 employees and 56.3 million Euros in sales in 2018, OLI currently has a yearly production of approximately 2 million cisterns and 2.8 million mechanisms. This makes OLI one of the major producers in Europe for mechanisms for the ceramic industry, as well as concealed and exposed cisterns. Currently, OLI is the only Portuguese company producing concealed cisterns.

OLI today
2020

2020

Thanks to its innovative capacity and fast acting in production, OLI makes its industrial contribution to the national fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, producing a face shield that will help protect health professionals in the treatment of patients with the new coronavirus.

163 000 face shield produced which 61 000 were donated

2020
2021

LESS IS MORE WINS DESIGN AWARDS

Red Dot Design Award, IF Design Award and Archiproducts Design Award were the awards won in 2021 by the LESS IS MORE flush plate.

LESS IS MORE is the name of the flush plate whose design is inspired by the history of the mechanism and the desire to give it an innovative shape, projecting it into the future.

Made of stainless steel, with an eclectic and functional identity, LESS IS MORE was designed by the architect Alessio Pinto who, in addition to being inspired by the history of the mechanism, used the iconic principle "Less is More" by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe.

LESS IS MORE WINS DESIGN AWARDS
2023

10th Expansion of the OLI Industrial Complex

OLI has expanded its industrial complex in Portugal with the construction of a new logistics warehouse. Sustainability and energy self-sufficiency were taken into account in this project, which included the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof and façade of the warehouse, which in the future will be completely automated.
The main objective was to boost process efficiency in the distribution and supply chain operation by providing a faster and more effective response.

10th Expansion of the OLI Industrial Complex
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