For Immediate Release
February 24, 2016
LIXIL Corporation

LIXIL Develops New Stain-Resistant Ceramic Technology
That Promises a Clean Toilet that Lasts a Century“AQUA CERAMIC” is a world-first for sanitary ware, enabling an enduring shine
through the power of waterTokyo, Japan – LIXIL Corporation (“LIXIL”), a global leader in housing and building materials,products, and services, announces the development of AQUA CERAMIC, a new technology insanitary ware that resists stains and enables toilets to retain their shine for 100 years. The
AQUA CERAMIC toilet is the first in the world to address the four main issues relating tocleanliness in toilets – scuffing and scratching, marks from waste, stains from hard water, andthe build-up of bacteria. LIXIL will offer AQUA CERAMIC in its mainstay household-use toilet
series in Japan beginning April 2016.
Cleanliness remains the primary concern for users in relation to toilets.
LIXIL has been working for more than a quarter of a century to address
this issue, researching the main sources of uncleanliness in toilets anddeveloping new technologies to meet user needs.
These efforts have led to the development of AQUA CERAMIC, bycombining

existingperformancearoundscuff

prevention

andanti-bacterial functionality in compliance with ISO22196 standards, withnew properties to resist waste and hard water stains.
The new AQUA CERAMIC technology features super-hydrophilicity performance on theceramic surface, which allows the rinse water to penetrate beneath any waste that may haveattached to the ceramic, lift it with the power of water, and flush it away. In addition, toprevent the hard water stains that occur when silica in the rinse water chemically combineswith hydroxyl groups ﴾−OH﴿ on the ceramic’s surface, AQUA CERAMIC utilizes a structure
without exposed hydroxyl groups. This stops the formation of hard water stains, keeping theceramic surface flat and smooth.
To ensure that this functionality can be retained over the long-term, LIXIL has developed anew technique for glazing that integrates a special substance to resist waste and hard-water
stains at the molecular level. Unlike the coatings applied to other materials, this allows the1strength of these properties to be retained. Tests confirm that AQUA CERAMIC will not show
wear for more than 100 years. With basic, regular care, AQUA CERAMIC will continue to shine
like new, and can considerably reduce the amount of water and cleanser needed for cleaning.
Beyond adopting AQUA CERAMIC in its household toilet series from April 2016, LIXIL alsoplans to develop other household products adopting AQUA CERAMIC, including washstands,toilet sinks, and other ceramic products.

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Notes: A Japanese version of this press release was distributed in Tokyo on February 23, 2016.
About LIXIL
LIXIL Corporation is a global leader in housing and building materials products and services. The
foundation of LIXIL’s success is our constant investment in technological innovation to improve the way
we live. Delivering core strengths in water, housing, building and kitchen technologies, our brandportfolio businesses LIXIL, GROHE, American Standard Brands and Permasteelisa are leaders in theindustries and regions in which they operate. LIXIL produces some of the world’s most fundamental andinnovative products and services, and our solutions are an integral part of some of the world’s mosticonic and cutting-edge living and working spaces. Operating in more than 130 countries, andemploying more than 80,000 people, we bring together function, quality and design to make people’s
lives better, and more delightful – wherever they are.
About LIXIL Group
LIXIL Group Corporation (TSE Code: 5938) is the listed holding company containing LIXIL Corporation,
LIXIL VIVA CORPORATION and LIXIL Housing Research Institute, Ltd.. The Group is involved in a broad
spectrum of housing-related businesses, ranging from the manufacture and sales of building materials
and housing equipment to the operation of home centers and a network of homebuilding franchises,
and comprehensive real estate service. Led by President and CEO Yoshiaki Fujimori, the Group posted
1.6 trillion JPY in consolidated sales in FY ended March 2015.

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