Analysis: Sanitaryware
future The merger and acquisition by the larger companies and multinationals are taking place in major sanitaryware manufacturing nations including India, China, and Southeast Asian countries. This has helped capacity buildup parallel to the increase of consumption of sanitarywares in the region with double digit annual growth. The resulted expansion in manufacturing in Asia has been grabbing more market shares in Europe and North America where rising uneconomic operating cost in sanitaryware factories are continuously blocking the growth of the existing units. In recent years, several Western and Japanese operators, such as TOTO, Kohler and others, have shifted their export operations to various Asian locations, particularly, to India and other Southeast Asian countries to stay in the business. “The continuous efforts in developing innovative techniques, processes and products result in the reduction of labour and energy costs, and improvement in productivity and quality,” said Maiti. “Lower cost of production with efficient usages of inputs and drastic reduction in scrap volume leading to minimal environmental problems make the manufacturers compliant,” added Maiti, who is a ceramic scientist and former Director of India’s union government run .Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute, Naruda Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Larger Asian players like 12-13 million pieces of sanitarywares a year production capacity Lixil, and the global leader Roca with an annual production of some 36 million pieces are favouring acquisitions and mergers for rationalization and consolidation of operations for ensuring profitability. Maiti said these help in strengthening the companies themselves and complement each other in sharing information regarding high-tech products, trade and technology resulting in dramatic reduction of administrative expanses and product costs. With such acquisitions and mergers Lixil and Roca have reportedly eliminated inefficiencies of individual enterprises in Asia. Acquisitions have been followed immediately by restructuring and plant rationalization including possible relocation of production. In South and South East Asian countries the premium brands are also manufacturing and selling sanitarywares for both the mid and high scale segments of consumers in competition with the domestic and alien products. The high-tech manufacturer, TOTO has built up a substantial capacity for manufacturing sanitarywares for both middle class and higher end consumers in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and India. Its total global production capacity is estimated to be over 18 million pieces of sanitarywares a year.
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TOTO Group Location: HQ, Kokura, Kyushu Island, Japan Original factory: TOTO Ltd and Washlet manufacturing plant located in Kitakyushu, Japan Products: Ceramic sanitarwares Others: TOTO’s mother factory, TOTO Ltd. based in Kitakyushu, Japan, was founded in 1917. It is the world's largest toilet manufacturer. It has two-thirds of Japan's bathroom market, seven factories in Japan and a presence in 16 countries. The name "TOTO" is an abbreviation of the two Japanese words forming its full name, Toyo Toki (Oriental Porcelain). The company invented and patented the Washlet. The TOTO Washlet is an innovative toilet seat that features an integrated bidet.
LIXIL Group Location: HQ, Chiyoda-ku, 100-6036 Tokyo, Japan Products: Ceramic sanitarwares and other building materials. Markets: Domestic and world markets through its worldwide manufacturing units. Brands: LIXIL sanitarware brands include, American Standard, GROHE, INAX, JAXSON, etc. Others: LIXIL is now investing heavily in East Asia for production of building materials, including sanitarywares. Its product ranges meet a diverse categories of consumers from the middle to upper-ends.
P.T. Surya TOTO Indonesia Location: Tangerang, Indonesia Products: Ceramic sanitarywares Markets: Domestic and export markets Others: P.T. Surya TOTO Indonesia is TOTO’s first overseas factory. Its products include water closets, urinals, bathtubs, washbasins, bidets, sanitarywares with bathroom cabinets and fixtures, etc. The products are exported worldwide.
American Standard Indonesia PT Location: Cileungsi, Cibinong 16820, Jawa Barat, Indonesia Products: Ceramic sanitarywares Markets: Domestic and export markets Others: American Standard Indonesia PT is a major sanitaryware manufacturer in Indonesia to cater the domestic markets and for exports.
PT INAX International (INA Sanitaryware) Location: Semarang 50121, Indonesia Products: Ceramic sanitarywares Markets: Domestic and export markets Others: INAX is the leading Indonesia based ceramic sanitaryware manufacturer, founded decades ago. Siam Sanitary Ware Industry Co Ltd Location: Khokyae, A. Nongkae, Saraburi 18230, Thailand Products: Ceramic sanitarwares Markets: Domestic and export markets Others: Siam Sanitary Ware Industry produces sanitary wares under the COTTO brand name. The products include, bidets, urinals, lavatories, and other bathroom accessories. Offers bathroom design and installation.
American Standard Sanitaryware (LIXIL (Thailand ) Public Company Ltd) Location: Mabkha, Nikompattana Sub District, Rayong 21180, Thailand Products: Ceramic sanitarwares Others: Full range of ceramic sanitarwares. American Standard is part of LIXIL Group of Japan
december/january 2016
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