Canon and Toshiba will start mass production of ultra-thin flat-panel TVs in early 2008, entering a market dominated by the likes of Matsushita Electric Industrial and Samsung Electronics.
Canon Inc….
Canon and Toshiba will start mass production of ultra-thin flat-panel TVs in early 2008, entering a market dominated by the likes of Matsushita Electric Industrial and Samsung Electronics. Canon Inc. and Toshiba Corp. said 3 October 2006 that they are developing a new type of flat panel claimed to be thinner and and more energy efficient than existing liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma televisions. Production of the new surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) TVs would start at the end of 2007, and go full-scale in 2008, Kazunori Fukuma, head of the venture set up by Canon and Toshiba, said at Japan“s largest electronics trade show, where he presented a 55-inch full high-definition TV for the first time. Canon aims to roll out SED TVs to meet rising demand from consumers who want to watch the 2008 Beijing Olympics with larger, clearer and thinner screens. The spread of digital broadcasts will also boost demand. However, analysts have been concerned that constant price erosion in existing flat TVs and rapidly rising output capacity for LCD and plasma panels, which helps TV makers cut per-unit costs, might damage SED TVs“ chances of commercial success. Amid the industry“s steep price declines and rising demand for larger TVs, Canon and Toshiba in March 2006 delayed the launch of their product by more than a year to the 4Q of 2007 to improve cost competitiveness. The companies said they have invested JPY 200 billion (USD 1.7 billion) to develop and make the new flat panels in Hyogo prefecture, west of Japan. Canon, the world“s largest maker of copiers and digital cameras, has put the SED displays at the center of its growth strategy in its mid-term business plan.