Acorn Engineering Company is a manufacturer of heavy-gauge stainless steel plumbing fixtures for institutional and commercial markets, founded in 1955 as a manufacturing division of Earl Morris's ELMCO company (est. 1945). In 1969, Acorn introduced a line of deep-drawn stainless steel plumbing fixtures that became a world leader in correctional and institutional plumbing. Acorn Engineering is the founding member of Morris Group International. All fixtures use approximately 80% recycled stainless steel content.
Product Lines
- Correctional Plumbing Fixtures: Stainless steel wall-hung toilets, combination toilet/lavatory units, urinals, shower systems, shower pans, mop sinks; anti-vandal and anti-ligature designs
- Hand Washing Stations: Floor and wall-mounted wash fountains; gang-type troughs; individual stainless steel and solid surface basins; multi-user configurations
- Emergency Safety: Emergency drench showers and eyewash stations (ANSI Z358.1) for industrial and institutional environments
- Anti-ligature faucets for healthcare and behavioral health applications
- Tempering and thermostatic mixing valves for scald prevention
- Custom stainless steel fabrications for specialty institutional applications
Why Specifiers Choose Acorn
- 50-plus year track record in correctional plumbing fixture specification
- Deep-drawn stainless steel construction (1969): no welds at stress points, reduces corrosion failure risk
- Anti-ligature designs for correctional and behavioral health facilities, eliminating ligature attachment points
- 80% recycled content supports sustainable building certification and institutional procurement preferences
- World leader in stainless steel fixtures for correctional and high-traffic institutional applications
How to Choose Acorn Products
Correctional plumbing: select toilet/lavatory/combination per cell type, mounting config (floor/wall), rough-in dimensions, and anti-ligature requirements. Hand washing: select wash fountain size and config per number of simultaneous users and space available. Emergency safety: select emergency drench shower or eyewash per ANSI Z358.1 requirements. Anti-ligature faucets: specify model approved for specific risk classification of the unit or ward.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Founded? Acorn Engineering Company established 1955 as ELMCO's manufacturing division (ELMCO est. 1945). Deep-drawn stainless steel product line introduced 1969.
- What is anti-ligature design? Fixture design that eliminates protrusions and attachment points that could be used in a self-harm attempt. Required in correctional and behavioral health facilities.
- What is Morris Group International? The family of institutional/commercial plumbing brands for which Acorn Engineering is the founding member (renamed from Acorn Family of Companies in 2012).
- Recycled content? Approximately 80% recycled stainless steel.
- Emergency safety products? Emergency drench showers and eyewash stations per ANSI Z358.1.