As bathroom distributors struggling with sluggish sales amid overheated price competition show growing interest in discovering differentiated items to secure profitability, Beomhan Industrial Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Young), a leading domestic bathroom accessories company, is launching toilets and faucet fittings well suited to capturing niche markets and moving into full-fledged win-win management.
Beomhan Industrial has introduced the ‘PURO’ brand—comprising direct-flush toilets, eco-friendly lead-free bronze faucets, washbasins and more that can contribute to sales growth in the new-construction and remodeling markets—and is expanding its contact points with bathroom distributors. Beomhan Industrial CEO Kim Young explained, “Low-quality Chinese bathroom products that lead with price are dominating the market, making it difficult for distributors even to maintain their sales,” adding, “Through the ‘PURO’ line, which fully reflects the quality-first philosophy of a craftsman company that has manufactured bathroom accessories 100% domestically for over 40 years, we will provide an opportunity for both suppliers and distribution companies to generate profits, and through this we will achieve a second leap forward.”
Compact Dimensions and Water Savings: ‘PURO Digital Direct-Flush Toilet’
Beomhan Industrial’s flagship product is the ‘PURO Digital Direct-Flush Toilet,’ whose core marketing point is its ‘compact dimensions.’ It is a one-piece toilet with no water tank, and while the product’s overall length is just 530 mm, all detailed dimensions other than the overall size are identical to those of a standard toilet, so there is no inconvenience in use, and it also accommodates a standard bidet. It can be proposed for bathroom spaces where installing a standard toilet is difficult due to tight bathroom layouts, such as urban-lifestyle housing, small studio apartments, officetels and public restrooms, and because its plumbing position is the same as that of existing toilets, it is also competitive in the remodeling market. When incorporated from the design stage, it can improve the efficiency of other spaces, and it also allows for more flexible space allocation in accessible restrooms.
In particular, beyond its optimized dimensions, the PURO Digital Direct-Flush Toilet achieves ‘water savings,’ delivering 20–40% savings compared with the 6-liter eco-friendly certification standard. The product uses 4.8 liters of water for solid waste and 3.5 liters for liquid waste, so under the water-saving grade system that the Ministry of Environment is set to implement, it averages 3.98 liters, meeting Grade 1 requirements, and it can also earn bonus points under the eco-friendly building certification system (LEED). It uses less water, yet its cleaning power is enhanced. A powerful tornado-style direct jet completely washes the interior of the bowl with no blind spots. Because it relies on high-pressure direct water pressure rather than water-tank pressure, its drainage performance is also excellent.
In addition, the PURO toilet’s smooth, skirted design without curves is not only easy to clean but also delivers an integrated look no matter which bidet is installed. A remote-control system has been applied so users can operate the toilet without turning or bending their bodies, adding to its convenience. In recognition of such innovation, the PURO toilet won the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award at the 2018 Good Design Awards.
Clean Water from the Start: ‘PURO Blue Eco-Friendly Lead-Free Bronze Faucet’
Another of Beomhan Industrial’s main items, the ‘PURO Blue Eco-Friendly Lead-Free Bronze Faucet,’ has ‘eco-friendliness’ as its marketing point, fundamentally blocking lead exposure. Instead of inexpensive brass, it uses lead-free bronze to lower the lead (Pb) content. ‘Lead-free’ means that no lead is added when manufacturing the copper alloy, resulting in a very low lead content. Unlike conventional faucets, which apply a chemical eco-coating to the internal waterways such as the spout, Beomhan Industrial’s lead-free bronze faucet is safe in its very composition, allowing permanent use without worry about harmful metals. The zinc content is also managed to below 15%, so there is no concern about dezincification corrosion. In particular, the product applies patented technology, adding silicon instead of tin to facilitate casting and post-processing, making it possible to supply the product at a reasonable price.
Founded in 1971 as Beomhan Industrial, the company has developed and produced bathroom accessories since 1980, and supplies a wide range of bathroom products from toilets and faucets to washbasins and imported faucets. Beomhan Industrial’s strategy is to expand its nationwide distribution network and pursue active marketing so as to maximize win-win synergy with distributors in supplying the latest products that meet the functions the times demand, such as eco-friendliness and water savings. A Beomhan Industrial representative explained, “The PURO toilet and lead-free bronze faucet are products that respond to the demands of consumers who prioritize the environment and health, and they will have effective sales competitiveness in the relevant markets.” 02-3444-4790
Reporter Lee Seok-hyun
Photo: PURO Digital Direct-Flush Toilet and PURO Blue Eco-Friendly Lead-Free Bronze Faucet