Toto Introduction - Page 19

While most people don't spend much time thinking about restroom products, we've spend millions of hours doing just that. Obsessing about the way a trapway is glazed in order to minimize residue and streaking. Scrutinizing every single one of our products throughout the entire manufacturing process to make sure our exacting standards are met.

Just how exacting are our standards? well, our competitor's products are required to meet minimum ANSI/ASME and CSA standards. But our products exceed those standards while warming up for TOTO testing.

Take, for example, the ANSI/ASME tests, which were originally designed for 3.5 Gpf toilets. All toilets manufacturer must pass these tests, but then why do we still hear about problems in the filed? One because these test were not designed to   measure 1.6 Gpf toilets, and two these tests are minimum standards tests only, and do not measure performance.

Recognizing these shortcomings, a new proposed ASME Bulk Media test classifying toilets (Class 1, Class2, Class3, and  Class 4) is under consideration by the standard setting committee. This is a step in the right direction, but still not enough for TOTO. We subject our toilets to rigorous tests with "realistic" simulated waste combined with toilet paper. These test re as real as you want to be in this industry. In fact, our test requirements are so tough that many other toilets do not want to be in this industry. In fact, our test requirements are so tough that many other toilets do not even pass TOTO's minimum standard. TOTO testing guarantees performance in every toilet we make.

Our higher than expected standards are just one of the reasons we're the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world toady. But this success didn't come overnight. We began manufacturing vitreous china sanitarwyware in Japan  back in 1917. By the 1940's, our product line and expanded to include faucets and metal fittings.

When Japan experienced water shortages in 1970, we answered the call by developing a 1.6 Gpf (gallons per flush) toilet. And in 1990 when communities across the United States began requiring water-saving low-flush systems, it made perfect sense for TOTO to enter the American market. So while other manufacturers were scrambling to produce water-saving systems for the United States, we already had a 1.6 Gpf toilets that had been wholeheartedly approved by builders, installers and consumers for nearly 20 years. Our 1.6 Gpf toilet quickly earned recognition and were used extensively in major U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles. And the accolades keep coming.

Flush after flush, TOTO performance is outstanding. Our reliability and compatibility are exceptional in the industry. We're a company that produces fixtures as well as fittings - providing a single source, single spec and single responsibility for both components. Our product line consists of china fixtures such as toilets, urinals and lavatories; fittings which include sensor-operated flush valves and faucets; and accessories like heated and soft-closing seats and our Zoë Washlet. The Zoë, with its contoured and ergonomic seat, cleansing warm water stream and air freshening system, has caused even the competition to stare in wonder.

We have over 1,500 engineers to thank for that. They spend most of their waking hours thinking, designing, and developing products that only people obsessed with perfection could develop. One of our latest innovations is "Smart Valve" technology. We applied "fuzzy logic" which reduces water flow during heavy urinal use and increases water flow during lighter use to thoroughly clean the urinals. Our "Smart Valves" are able to flush urinals and toilets once every 24 hours when they aren't in use to avoid sewer gas buildup. You might say we've got the smartest toilets and urinals in the business.

Our hard work and know-how have helped us become the innovation, performance, and technology leader. And our popularity keep right on growing. In fact, we've already had to open a second manufacturing plant outside of Atlanta, Georgia to keep up with the growing demand in America. Robotics plant unique design innovations make this one of the world's most technologically advanced sanitaryware manufacturing facility in the world.

Of course you don't want to spend nearly as much time thinking about restroom products as we do. We wouldn't have it any other way. Which is why we've done all the researching, thinking and testing. So all you have to do is make the most logical choice.