Samdo PS and Watos Korea Make First Export of Layered Piping System to Taiwan, Securing Overseas Foothold

Expansion Potential Highlighted by Alignment with Local Regulations and Housing Policies Beyond Initial Batch

From left: Jodonghyun Watose, President Taekwang Song of Watose, President Taeyang Song of Watose, Jongguk Kim, Chairman of the Mechanical Engineers Association, Seongcheol Jung, CEO of Samdo PS, Gongseok Song, Chairman of K-tos, Yongjun Cho, Ph.D. of K-tos, Yonghyun Park, CEO of K-tos, Gwanghee Joo, Head of Department at Watose

Samdo PS and Watos Korea have secured a foothold for entering the Asian market by supplying a Korean-style layered piping system to Taiwan for the first time. On April 16, the two companies announced the export achievement and confirmed the system's applicability in the local market.

Although the contract covers an initial batch in terms of value, industry observers note that its industrial significance goes beyond a simple delivery. This is because the layered piping technology, developed domestically, has secured a real construction reference in line with institutional changes in Taiwan. Industry experts see this as "an example with meaning beyond just an initial performance, and a starting point to gauge the potential for expansion into the apartment and bathroom equipment market in the future."

In particular, market attention is focused on the local partner, TOKO. TOKO is a Taiwanese company dealing in sanitary ware and bathroom fixtures, same-floor drainage systems, unit baths (UB), and public restroom solutions. With a history of exhibiting at international interior design expos and revealing its design and product lines through its own brand channels, it is evaluated as a partner with direct involvement in both installation and market engagement, beyond just distribution.

The market environment in Taiwan is also considered a key background for this export. Local building codes already include standards related to same-floor drainage, and when this system is applied, design and construction guidelines are based on same-floor piping configuration and the principle of non-penetration of slabs. As such institutional foundations are already established, securing real-world application cases is likely to be a crucial factor influencing the pace of market adoption moving forward.

Additionally, the policy to expand residential supply is expected to have a positive impact on demand. Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior has announced plans to directly build 250,000 units of public housing and manage 250,000 units for rental between 2025 and 2032. Consequently, the demand base for bathroom, plumbing, and overall residential equipment is expected to expand in the mid-to-long term.

This project is also significant in terms of its connection to the global equipment market. The global plumbing fixtures market is projected to grow from approximately 89.8 billion dollars in 2023 to 120.9 billion dollars by 2030, and the PVC pipe and fittings market is expected to expand from 46 billion dollars in 2025 to 66.8 billion dollars in 2030. This demonstrates that the layered piping technology is not a niche segment, but rather a core area connected to bathroom, piping, and residential infrastructure as a whole. In particular, the high proportion of demand related to sewage and drainage supports the industrial background for this entry into Taiwan.

The scale of this initial export is for the installation of 150 households, amounting to approximately 26,457,000 won. While the figure itself is not large, the ripple effect of a first application is significant in the construction and equipment industry. After establishing an initial construction record, the piping system is likely to be reflected in design standards and specifications, lead to expansion of the partner network, and be linked to both public and private sector projects.

Capitalizing on this supply, the two companies plan to hold a technology cooperation seminar in Taipei. Through this, they aim not only to supply products but also to transfer design and construction expertise, as well as the entire technology package, to the local market.

In conclusion, analysis suggests that the core of this export lies not in the contract size but in the "entry point." By establishing the first case in Taiwan's bathroom and piping market through TOKO, and given the convergence of local institutional changes, residential policies, and global market growth trends, the companies have confirmed the potential for future expansion.

As the Korean-style layered piping system moves beyond domestic applications and enters commercialization in line with overseas markets and institutional environments, this case is seen as a testbed for Asian market expansion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.