Panasonic gains a clearer focus
Projector and plasma division merger will realign portfolio and improve reseller contact, says firm
Panasonic has reshaped its division to gain agility in a difficult market
Panasonic has merged its professional projector and plasma divisions as well as hiving off the shares of its Toshiba joint venture around LCD and OLED products.
A representative for Panasonic Europe said the new division, Professional Projectors and Displays Europe (PPDE), will realign its portfolio to reflect AV trends.
Resellers will gain a single point of reference for the company.
“Management and strategy are combined to ensure more reseller support for all products and a closer interface with our European team,” he said.
The sale of the global company’s shares in Japan-based Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology renamed Toshiba Mobile Display (TMD) to Toshiba is unlikely to affect the UK channel.
“TMD has mainly small mid-size LCD screens for mobile phones and car entertainment, which we do not sell in the UK,” he said.
The move is not a retreat from LCDs or OLEDs (with the latter still in commercialisation), but will help Panasonic take faster decisions.
“The market for flat-screen TVs is still growing,” he said. “Panasonic will continue to secure small and mid-size LCD panels from various vendors including TMD.”
Bob Reikes. managing director of display market analyst Meko, said 2009 will be challenging.
“Advertising revenue may be down, but digital signage segment may take a larger share,” he said. “Efforts to develop better displays will also help offset the decline.”