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COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA — Navien, a global leader in condensing boiler and water heating technology, recently celebrated a remarkable feat: one million condensing units sold.
“While we have reached this milestone quickly and faster than any other competitor in the condensing space, we have only reached our annual goals so it was always in our planning to hit this number around this timeframe,” said Scott Lee, CEO, Navien Inc.
According to Lee, Navien sells more condensing water heaters and boilers than any other manufacturer in the world. Currently, all manufacturing is done in South Korea — the fourth largest boiler market in the world — in a fully automated facility that is the largest single boiler manufacturing plant in the world.
“We are very proud of our production technology that allows us to keep our costs reasonable,” said Lee.
Navien’s model is one of simplicity: provide the best product to the trade and only through a limited number distribution partners.
“This model allows us to remain close to our true customer — the professional contractor,” Lee said. “We feel that if we build the best products available and support them with a committed and highly skilled team, we cannot help but succeed.”
Lee says that he is excited to bring high efficiency products to the U.S. market while at the same time making it easier for the installing contractor to convert to these higher efficiency technologies.
To help reach this remarkable achievement, Navien sees the relationship with its wholesale partners as extremely important. The only way Navien products can be purchased is through an installing contractor.
“Unlike some of our competitors, we are committed to wholesale distribution only and do not sell to retailers, big box stores or through the Internet,” said Lee.
Education, Lee noted, is the most important factor in understanding Navien’s product value and the value of green building innovations. That starts with the professional contractor and Navien’s commitment to training.
“In order to join the trend toward condensing/high-efficiency technology, contractors will need to be trained,” he said.
“As the leader in condensing technology, we will train more than 25,000 individuals this year of the advantages of condensing products, and specifically on the installation advantages of Navien products. Knowledge we are happy to share,” Lee concluded.
KD Navien Chairman Son Yeon Ho relayed a congratulatory message to the crowd, “We can see that our products are becoming more recognized and have become the market standard in North America.”
Yet challenges do exist. “Our market competitors have been researching the advantages of our product and adapting them into their own,” wrote Son.
Nonetheless, the future looks positive for the South Korean boiler manufacturer. Lee says that he is excited to bring high efficiency products to the U.S. market while at the same time making it easier for the installing contractor to convert to these higher efficiency technologies, such as retrofitable tankless water heaters that use an existing gas line and chimney chase; combi boilers that provide as much domestic hot water as tankless water heaters; and combi appliances that deliver large amounts of endless hot water and comfortable hydro-air heat from a high efficiency appliance.