TOTO is the world’s largest toilet manufacturer, founded in 1917, and known for developing the Washlet, the typical Japanese built-in bidet inside the toilet. And this year, from CES 2021, they showcased new important features for their toilets which complete an already long list of functions.
We know, Japanese toilets have always been the most technological and advanced than the rest of the world. For a long time, they have been restricted to the Japanese world but now we are starting to be influenced by their innovations. On one side because we got used to having technology in everything, and on the other hand because we’re facing problems like sanitation and eco-sustainability for which technology gives a hand.
TOTO’s toilets have the most advanced features in their field, starting from their WASHLET+: Washlets made Japanese toilets famous so that toilet paper is not necessary. This new WASHLET+ with AIR-IN WONDER WAVE technology uses air rich water droplets to produce a more comfortable washing sensation and cleansing with less water consumption. Moreover, water is warmed instantly as needed, so you don’t need to worry about running out of warm water.
In addition, their Washlet has different spray patterns for the rear and front cleansing with a water jet that you can choose among soft, wide, oscillating, and pulsating. The full customization allows you to adjust the position of the cleansing wand and water pressure to achieve perfect results and sensation. The wand, made of high-quality resin, is extremely resistant to waste and stains, and it’s attached to the seat, not to the bowl, so waste is less likely to reach it. The wand is also self-cleaning.
Besides, further importance was given to the material of the toilet. They used CEFIONTECT: a nano-technology glaze that seals the porcelain with an ionized barrier, creating a super-slippery, non-porous surface that repels matter, mold, and mildew. CEFIONTECT is hydrophilic, so water spreads easily over the toilet bowl, and waste particles easily wash away also thanks to the RIMLESS design which leaves no place for waste and makes cleaning much easier.
But even flushing is not like the others because, with TORNADO FLUSH’s dynamic waterjet, water discharges near the front of the toilet bowl and goes in a narrow channel along a hairpin curve. So with sustained water pressure, it completely cleanses the areas where waste accumulates most easily and then washes the entire bowl clean with a powerful stream of water that merges and swirl 360 degrees.
Another important innovation is EWATER+ which is electrolyzed water coming into the house to flow across an anode and cathode. It creates a mild solution of sodium hypochlorite that then flows into the device to be used to keep that product more hygienic and cleaner after every use.
In addition, there’s the PREMIST feature that automatically sprays water over the surface of the inner toilet bowl before every use. Due to the ceramic’s hydrophilic nature, waste washes away more easily. Even the cleansing wand automatically washes with EWATER+ before and after each use. This precise cleaning occurs inside the wand as well as all around the exterior. Even when the toilet is not being used, the wand periodically cleans itself to ensure constant hygienic conditions.
Besides this comforting and useful equipment, TOTO’s toilets include other features to assure a complete comforting toilet, such as soft light to light the toilet when it’s dark, an auto opening\closing lid, a heated seat, a deodorizer, auto flush, and an air-drying system to use after cleansing. So you can save money because you no longer need toilet paper or wipes and towels. In addition, you also save water even when flushing, thanks to the HYBRID ECOLOGY SYSTEM that combines two innovative water streams, one from the plumbing system and one from a small tank inside the toilet to maximize flushing efficiency. Using minimal water, the HYBRID ECOLOGY SYSTEM is so effective at removing waste that a second flush is never required. What’s more, the flushing power remains strong regardless of how high up in a building the toilet is located.
One of their new products also incorporates ACTILIGHT, a UV light that when the lid closes UV light will come on and it creates a photocatalytic reaction inside the bowl to help reduce the amount of debris and contaminants that are in there.
TOTO’s innovation also introduced the concept of WELLNESS TOILET which brings in sensor technology to measure the bio-characteristics of a consumer as they sit on the toilet. It’s not invasive. It’s actually you don’t have to do anything different than sitting down and going to the bathroom like you normally do, but it will begin to collect data from you as you use that toilet and will be able to track your trend every time you visit the toilet in association with an app. Trending analysis of the biofeedback is collected through a variety of sensors that TOTO is now beta testing and that is going to be the very essence of what we believe will be the future of the toilet experience. We still don’t know how the toilet will recognize you, whether it is with the app or by detecting your anal print.
And as for the eco-friendly point of view, they use the ECOPOWER technology for their new products. So, every time you use a toilet, a urinal, or a faucet, a microturbine spins and creates electricity. That electricity then runs the device for every subsequent use. And what’s more, they’ve now incorporated IoT (Internet of Things) into the system that provides the facility managers to actually track every toilet, every urinal, every faucet, how it’s being used, how often it’s being used to provide to custodial staff the opportunity to actually be more efficient and effective in maintaining the hygiene characteristics of that bathroom space.
However, since we’re having more attention to hygiene, TOTO focused more on TOUCHLESS PRODUCTS: today, consumers are intensely concerned about infectious disease transmission when they use the restroom in airports, shopping centers, schools, offices, and other facilities. They want to be sure they can safely use public restrooms without the worry of coming into contact with infectious diseases like the coronavirus. So, TOTO touchless restroom fixtures enable users to wash and dry their hands without touching the toilet, urinal, faucet, soap dispenser, or hand dryer. Consequently, they know they can safely use the restroom and significantly reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases.
Who knows if the Japanese toilet style will spread all over the world?
Source techpublic.com; totousa.com
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