Toto, a leading global sanitary ware brand from Japan, is planning to set up a manufacturing facility in India at an investment of around $100 million (approximately Rs 500 crore). The company may set up its facility either in the western or northern part of the country. “We are currently on the look out for a suitable site in these regions,” Mr Masayuki Suzuki, General Manager (South), Toto India Industries Pvt Ltd, told Business Line .
Toto, Japan, is a $5.2 billion company with presence in many countries in Asia, Europe and America. The company has 25 manufacturing facilities across the world in countries including the US, Mexico, Germany, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. “Our policy is to have facilities wherever we have a reasonable business volume,” he said. For the Indian market, the company is currently importing from its facilities in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Though Toto products are available in the Indian market for several years now, the company set up its wholly owned marketing company — Toto India — only in April this year. And according to Mr Suzuki, the Indian unit posted a turnover of Rs 80 crore for the last seven months. Of this, 70 per cent came from the hospitality industry. “We hope to post at least Rs 150-crore turnover for the whole of next year,” he said.
The company today launched its newest range of ultra sanitary ware at Studio Infiniti — an exclusive brand outlet run by a franchisee in this city.
Announcing the launch, Mr Suzuki said, “We believe that its just not enough to be the best in the market. But, the ability to listen to our customers and design products is our strength.”