The 2026 Seoul Living Design Fair at COEX in Seoul on the 26th. A booth by the ventilation appliance specialist Himpel, which looked like an actual bathroom transplanted to one side of the exhibition hall, caught visitors' attention.
On the bathroom ceiling was Himpel's new ventilation appliance, Huzente Air360. A staffer on site spoke to the product. "I'm cold, turn on the warm air." The ceiling-mounted device responded immediately. Warm air spread throughout the bathroom.
Huzente Air360 is not a conventional exhaust fan that simply pushes air outside. It is a composite ventilation appliance that combines ventilation and body-dry functions such as warm air and cool air. With a 360-degree motorized rotating discharge structure, it circulates air evenly throughout the bathroom. Considering use while the user is showering, it also comes with voice recognition. It supports music playback, adding an entertainment element.
Shin Young-uk, Himpel marketing division product planning Head of Team, said, "Huzente Air360 will change the paradigm of the bathroom market as a composite ventilation appliance."
At this exhibition, Himpel put forward the concept of a "breathing home." The company implemented an integrated system in which ventilation appliances installed throughout the home—not only in the bathroom but also in the kitchen, bedroom, and living room—detect air quality and operate automatically. When sensors in each space measure carbon dioxide and fine dust concentrations in real time, the devices adjust ventilation on their own.
Himpel is the No. 1 corporations with a 60% share of the domestic bathroom exhaust fan market. The company has grown around its bathroom ventilation appliance brand Huzente. Most construction companies in Korea currently conduct transaction with Himpel.
Himpel is expanding from its existing B2B (business-to-business) transaction-focused business targeting construction companies to the B2C (business-to-consumer) transaction market aimed at general consumers. At the same time, it is broadening into air quality management across the home, including the kitchen and living room. The company posted revenue of 165.2 billion won and operating profit of 20.3 billion won in 2024.
The Hucle Foret kitchen ventilation appliance was also on display at one side of the booth. The product was running, but there was almost no audible noise. Head of Team Shin Young-uk explained, "Noise is just 40 dB (decibels), at library levels." Hucle Foret significantly reduced operating noise by applying a BLDC motor, special low-noise materials, and an optimized fan design.
The Huven Eco system ventilation appliance also drew attention. The product monitors and manages air quality in each space in real time through sensors installed in the living room, bedroom, and kitchen. With a heat exchange efficiency design that retains the heat of indoor air, it also minimizes energy loss during ventilation.
With these new products at the forefront, Himpel plans to strengthen its domestic B2C market and accelerate its push into overseas markets. It is currently seeking entry into 18 countries, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, Europe, and the Middle East. Himpel is targeting revenue of 300 billion won by 2030.
An Gil-seok, head of Himpel's marketing division, said, "Consumers' health and quality of life depend on how the air inside the home is managed," adding, "Himpel will grow into a global corporations that manages air quality across the entire living space."