Coway's new ice water purifiers sell like hotcakes amid rising summer heat

Coway's new Icon Ice Water Purifiers / Courtesy of Coway

Coway is seeing skyrocketing demand for its latest ice water purifier as hot summer weather appears to have arrived earlier than last year, according to the country's major home appliance company, Wednesday.

Icon Ice Water Purifier is the company's first ice-making water purifier in two years. The product started attracting consumers in April when temperatures began rising.

On the back of its popularity, the company's total water purifier sales from April to May jumped by 30 percent compared to last year.

"Usually, we see water purifier sales picking up speed in May when the summer season begins, but this year, with the earlier-than-usual summer, the sales hike started earlier," a Coway official said.

The demand jumped so quickly that Coway started expanding production lines for the new product.

In addition to its manufacturing plant in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, it will start producing the purifiers at its other plant in Incheon. The official said that although it had started running the Gongju factory at its full capacity in April, the plant couldn't keep up with the demand.

Icon Ice Water Purifier is an upgraded version of the model that became a nationwide hit two years ago. It offers the smallest body size in the domestic market.

The new product provides more detailed customization features than its previous model. Users can adjust the water temperature from 45 to 100 degrees Celsius by increments of 5 degrees.

They can also control the water amount by 10 millimeters for use with a wider range of options. The product makes ice cubes in 7 grams or 10 grams, making it more convenient for users to cook or make drinks.

The product has also acquired the highest level in energy efficiency standards for electronic appliances determined by the Korea Energy Agency.

"With the summer becoming more extreme and more people looking for ice makers and water purifiers, the market is also evolving fast," the official said. "On the back of Coway's legacy built on our water purifier business, we'll keep our leadership in the market."