Kiturami, KyungDong Navien expand competition to heating mats

Kiturami’s third-generation carbon mat (left) and KyungDong Navien’s hot water sleep mat (right).

South Korea’s major boiler manufacturers, Kiturami and KyungDong Navien, are expanding their rivalry to the heating mat market as construction demand drops, impacting boiler sales.

To diversify revenue streams, KyungDong Navien has introduced a sleep-enhancing mat powered by artificial intelligence, while Kiturami has set an ambitious sales growth target of 30 percent for its carbon heating mat compared to last year.

KyungDong Navien unveiled on Thursday its Navien Sleep Mat, developed with the sleep technology company Asleep.

The mat leverages AI to analyze sleep stages by detecting breathing sounds and automatically adjusts its temperature to optimize comfort.

Users can control the device through the Navien Smart app, which also provides a sleep quality score based on metrics such as time taken to fall asleep, hours of deep sleep, and night awakenings.

“During polysomnography analysis, the AI sleep mode increased REM sleep by 30.8 percent and deep sleep by 124 percent, significantly enhancing sleep quality,” said a spokesperson from KyungDong Navien.

This improvement was presented at the 27th annual European Sleep Research Society Conference in September.

The Navien Sleep Mat also includes precise temperature control down to 0.5 degrees Celsius and a split heating feature, allowing users to warm only one side of the mat if desired.

Safety measures include a UV sterilization system that inhibits bacterial growth in the water used for heating, along with 15 additional safety features, including overheat prevention and a high-temperature alert.

Kiturami, in the meantime, has fortified its competitive edge with the Third Generation Carbon Ondol Mat, a product that was introduced in 2020.

The mat is designed to address the limitations of earlier models, such as harmful electromagnetic fields and fire hazards in electric mats, as well as leaks, bacterial buildup, and cumbersome maintenance in water-based mats.

Kiturami’s mat uses aramid carbon heating wires, which are five times stronger than steel, to boost durability and resistance to heat.

The mat also converts 220V AC power to 24V DC, reducing the risk of electromagnetic exposure, and has received electromagnetic field (EMF) certification from the Korea Testing Certification (KTC).

Operating at 160W, it offers high energy efficiency, costing just about 2,400 won ($1.74) per month when used for eight hours daily, one-third of the electricity cost of water-based mats.

To support a restful sleep, Kiturami’s mat features an automatic temperature control system that divides sleep time into three phases, adjusting temperatures accordingly.

The mat gradually lowers its heat to keep users comfortably warm without causing them to kick off the blanket due to overheating.

Toward morning, it gently increases the temperature to help users wake up as their body temperature naturally drops. Users can set the time and temperature for each phase to customize their experience.

The shift toward heating mats comes as the boiler market faces challenges due to the construction slump.

With a harsh winter forecasted, demand for heating products is expected to remain steady, and both companies are optimistic about heating mat sales. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average December temperature is projected to drop to 1.1 degrees Celsius, lower than usual.

In light of these predictions, Kiturami has aimed for a 30 percent increase in carbon mat sales over last year, while KyungDong Navien, having achieved a 30 percent increase in sleep mat sales last year, is focused on maintaining strong performance in the heating mat market.