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Panasonic eyes ending plasma display panel R&D(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) OSAKA, Dec. 17 -- (Kyodo) _ Panasonic Corp. is weighing whether to cease research and development for plasma displays used in flat-panel televisions by the end of fiscal 2012 through March, sources familiar with the matter said Monday. Instead, Panasonic will focus on developing organic electroluminescence panels and other display equipment considered to be more promising as screen technology for the future, the sources said. But Panasonic will continue plasma panel display production for the time being to incorporate them into televisions and industrial-use displays, they said. Panasonic previously followed a business strategy of incorporating plasma display panels in large-screen TVs while utilizing liquid crystal displays for small- and midsize-screen TVs. But the company is moving to limit investment in plasma displays in the face of technological innovations in the field of liquid crystal displays, they said. Panasonic has so far been developing plasma display technology mainly at its factory in Ibaraki, Osaka. It has already consolidated production bases for plasma displays into a plant in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, where it has concentrated on the manufacturing of plasma display panels for industrial-use displays. (c) 2012 Kyodo News International, Inc. |