TOTO announced on the 22nd that it is expanding its factory in Georgia, USA, to boost the production capacity of toilet bowls by 1.5 times starting this fall. This marks TOTO’s first expansion of its American factory in 28 years, driven by strong sales of Washlet bidets in the U.S., prompting the need to ramp up production.
The Georgia facility will produce 300,000 units annually, including the latest models of tank-integrated toilets. The expansion includes the installation of 34 robots, automating tasks such as the attachment of bowls and tanks to enable high-quality mass production.
Currently, most toilets sold in the U.S. are imported from Asia. With the expansion, over half of TOTO’s toilet production will be domestic, reducing costs impacted by tariffs from the Trump administration.
Construction on the factory expansion began in June 2023 and completed in November 2024, with an investment of around 30 billion yen and spanning 1.46 hectares of floor space. The facility employs about 420 people.
TOTO entered the U.S. market in 1989 and now operates two factories in Georgia. For fiscal year 2024, sales in the U.S. and Canada are projected to reach 70.5 billion yen, more than doubling over the past decade, accounting for around 10% of TOTO’s total revenue.
The popularity of Washlet bidets in the U.S. has surged, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers sought alternatives to toilet paper. This increased interest has spurred demand for toilets, which TOTO plans to meet with expanded production to enhance sales further.
by MagazineKey4532