The ISH Report 2025: What We Learned at the World's Biggest Plumbing Expo

ISH Frankfurt has evolved over more than 50 years, establishing itself as the world's leading trade fair in the HVAC and water management sectors. 

The expo, mind-meltingly enormous in its size and scale has long been the pre-eminent launchpad for manufacturers to showcase the latest in design trends, product innovation and emerging technologies within the plumbing, heating and cooling sectors.

On top of that it's where industry professionals come together to discover emerging trends and technologies that will shape the future of modern bathroom design. 

Here are some of the things we noticed at ISH 2025:

Emphasis on Holistic Living Spaces: 

European architects, designers and manufacturers alike are championing a conceptual shift of the bathroom towards a holistic living space, rather than just a functional area. Many product solutions and designs were on display that promote well-being, relaxation, and personal care.

Much conversation was had around the personal needs of the users, and how bathroom designs and products can be tailored, personalized and optimized for the individual.

Smart Bathroom Technologies: 

Smart spaces have been on the horizon for a few years now and intelligent technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent. Think:

• Smart, self-cleaning toilets with bidet functions, heated seats, and water-saving tech. Toto’s latest innovation featured health scanning tech, which analyses "your business" and delivers real-time insights via a smartphone app. 
• Mirrors with adjustable lighting, anti-fog technology, and smart home integration.
• Smart home systems for monitoring and controlling bathroom functions.

Sustainability and Water Conservation: 

The show’s tagline in 2025 was ‘Solutions for a Sustainable Future’ and as such, solutions prioritising climate protection and energy efficiency were a major focus. 

• High-efficiency heat pumps and water heating systems.
• Greywater recycling and ultra-low-flow faucets.
• Emphasis on water filtration and reducing plastic waste.

Design and Aesthetics: 

Notable design trends include: 

• Colour: The colours at ISH were bold and adventurous. A wide mix of colour trends were shown on major bathware stands. 70’s inspired hues like bright orange and lime green could be on their way back? We’re not quite sure. The most notable colours on display were soft pastels and earth tones from lighter tans to deep browns. The most surprising of all was an actual fully licensed Barbie themed pink display
• Textured surfaces: “Liquid floors” - cast floors with epoxy or polyurethane in wet areas were a stand-out and featured in many stands. Although traditionally found in industrial settings there is a definite increase in the use of these floors in wet areas. While not new, these were a notable inclusion in many designs and are being favoured for the elimination of grout lines and almost unlimited flexibility in colours and textures. 
• Warm metallics: Bronze, copper and soft golds were noticeably favoured over colder metallic finishes such as chrome. In saying this, matte black and gunmetal/ graphite also heavily featured in tapware displays.
• Tapware: A focus on sustainable, water conserving designs was highly evident. There was huge variation in the form of tapware across manufacturers, with many experimenting with funky, irregular shapes and configurations.
• Baths: Back to wall baths were much more common than in previous years and are being highlighted as a more practical alternative to freestanding baths. There was also an increase in the amount of deep soaking, cold and hot tubs – another manifestation of the design focus on wellbeing.
• Drainage: In no surprise to anyone, we spent a lot of time reviewing the drainage on display at the expo. Trends mostly indicate a focus toward less obtrusive designs such as slimline tile inserts and partially concealed drains. Some experimentation is being done with rounded and irregular shaped designs, and outlets promoting faster water discharge flow. Vertical outlets are much less common in Europe, and only a couple of manufacturers had these on display. There is a new push towards drains at the wall/floor junction with a new way of integrating the junction into the drain. While this was interesting, it unfortunately wouldn’t be code compliant in Australia.

What We Learned

Wrapping up our experience, it’s undeniable that the form, colour palettes and textures of bathrooms are ever-changing and are reflective of the contemporary tastes of users and design professionals alike. The main takeaway for us was the rising demand for solutions that are more sustainable and more adaptable to the needs of users. As a drainage manufacturer who prioritises product designs that are accessible, sustainable and made from high quality materials – it’s great to see the importance of these features being discussed in such a widely attended expo. ISH is an experience of enormous proportions and is equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. After taking a quick moment to gather our thoughts, it’s time to press on in creating the world’s finest linear drainage solutions, right here in Australia. So long Frankfurt, see you next time around.