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JULY 2008 W2 ALERT Pioneer Cuts Costs by Cutting Plasma AssortmentCompany is closing two panel production facilities<Nikkei-TOKYO><July 10, 2008>A report out of Japan by the Nikkei says that Pioneer Corp. is planning to cut their plasma assortment in a bid to improve their profitability and address their “sluggish flat-panel TV business.”
According to the story, Pioneer currently markets four Kuro plasma models: a 42-inch and a 50-inch high definition model…and two “full-HD” models at 50-inch and 60-inch. However, going forward the company plans to drop their high definition models and only offer the “full HD” versions causing them to exit the 42-inch business.
The story goes on to say that the company is planning on closing two production facilities that build the panels in a bid to cut costs and improve profitability.
This effort is most likely related to a previously reported story indicating that Pioneer was dropping their plasma manufacturing business and would purchase plasma panels in the future from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Pioneer will begin using Matsushita produced plasma panels starting in the next fiscal year.
Pioneer is also expected to introduce LCD television products this fall with products it will acquire from Sharp Corp. According to the Nikkei, the first three models are slated to launch in the European market. |
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