History

For over 100 years, Panasonic Electronic Works has produced
electrical equipment that supports the development of society
and industry as “the infrastructure of our lives”.
Learn more about our history here.

Our History and Heritage

1918~ Electrifying Society at the Turn of the 20th Century

Osaka, 1918: Matsushita Electric Appliance Works was founded. At a time when lights and home appliances were becoming popular with the general public, there was only one electrical supply outlet in the home, restricting the use of multiple products. Matsushita developed the revolutionary “Attachment Plug” with dual sockets for lightbulbs and electric sockets, making electrical appliances more accessible for everyone.

  • Panasonic Group’s Founding Product With its innovative design and affordable price, the Attachment Plug was a hit product — and the beginning of Panasonic’s story.

1945~ Campaigning for Safer & More Secure Electrical Wiring

Post-1940s reconstruction saw a boom in home electrification during the 1950s. However, the quality of electrical wiring did not match the quantity demanded, and many fires were caused by electrical leakage. In 1958, Panasonic ran a massive public safety campaign promoting proper and responsible electrical wiring. This campaign was very well-received, as we’d responded to customers’ needs concerning the safety and security of society, rather than just promoting our own products. This ethos and approach became the foundation of our business activities.

1958 - Safe Wiring Promotional Campaign

Panasonic launched the “National Electric Works Chain Store” system to coordinate projects with electrical contractors. We also worked with electrical power companies to develop a national promotional campaign with the aim of eliminating dangerous and inadequate wiring.

The street light installation campaign in the early 1960s supported safer streets across the country.

1961 - Street Light Installation Campaign

Panasonic cooperated with the police and local governments across the country to promote the
“Bright Town Building Campaign”, which encouraged safer communities and crime-free environments.

1963 - Check & Change Campaign

Following the safe wiring initiative, we launched another campaign to encourage the review of electrical wiring in homes to ensure safe and convenient use of electrical appliances. As well as proper equipment inspection, we also promoted educational campaigns, such as the distribution of the “Proper Wiring Manual”.

1965~ Leading the “New Lifestyle Creation” Movement

By the end of the 1960s, a period of strong economic growth, one million new homes were being built every year.
As demand grew for more comfortable homes, Panasonic led the way in creating Japan’s “new lifestyle” as a comprehensive home builder. We provided support in all aspects of home building, from providing electrical equipment and wiring to developing floor plans and budgets.

1966 - “1,2,3” Campaign for Electrical Equipment Installation

To make electrical installation standards memorable and accessible for the general public, Panasonic introduced the “1 room, 2 lights, 3 outlets” campaign.

1967 - New Lifestyle Creation Movement

Panasonic launched the “New Lifestyle Creation Association” to educate customers about housing services. We established a system to offer comprehensive advice on housing equipment, building materials, and electrical equipment, as well as information on construction companies.

1961 - Developing Easy-to-Install Tightening Terminals

Panasonic went beyond the conventional “binding terminal” wire connection method to develop a new “screw terminal” (EG terminal) which saved the trouble of winding wires. This not only made installation easier, but much safer too, by reducing variations in installation quality, risk of electrical leakage, and short circuits.

1975~ Supporting New Lifestyles with Housing Renovations

In 1973, just as a record 1.9 million new homes were being built, Japan faced an oil crisis. With falling demand, the market focus shifted from quantity to quality. With the post-war housing market facing a period of remodelling and expansion, Panasonic launched the “Extension & Renovation” campaign. This initiative was aimed at innovative products and use of space in existing homes, such as remodelling closets to create storage walls.

Catalogues and advertising leaflets
used during the renovation campaign.

1974 - Housing Renovation Campaign

As demand for new housing declined, we shifted our focus to the vast amount of housing built after World War II. We developed new products for renovations, and implemented large-scale advertising strategies with our chain stores.

1975 - Introducing Quick-Connect Terminals for Easier Wiring Work

Panasonic developed the industry’s first “quick-connect terminal” that allowed wiring without the use of tools, resulting in significant time, labour and cost savings.

Patenting Panasonic’s Technology

Around this time, Panasonic also decided to publish its technical patents. This disclosure, which became the basis for the current Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), was in line with our management philosophy of “better products for more people”.

1986 - Lighting Replacement Campaign

1985~ More Comfortable Environments - Everywhere.

As the Japanese economy moved from high growth to stable growth, people were looking to enhance their quality of life beyond material goods. Panasonic developed products and systems to support more comfortable spaces and more convenient lifestyles in homes, commercial facilities, office environments, factories, urban landscapes, and more.

1993 - “ABC” Campaign for Electrical Facilities

Panasonic spent a long time developing a comprehensive proposal for facilities customers seeking greater and more holistic quality. This became the “ABC” campaign - A (safety), B (convenience) and C (control) - offering a total solution for electrical facility management.

1995 - A&I* Renewal Campaign

Panasonic collaborated with construction companies to promote proposal-based sales to buildings whose facilities were due for new renewal. These proposals included the latest in electrical equipment technology and design, with enhanced safety and energy-saving features to meet the needs of the times.

* Amenity & Intelligence

Taking Our Local Expertise Overseas to Offer Our High-Quality Electrical Infrastructure on a Global Scale

For the first time, Panasonic established manufacturing bases overseas to begin full-scale production of advanced electrical equipment for foreign markets, based on our technology expertise developed in Japan.

1987 - Production Begins in Taiwan,
Thailand & Indonesia

Panasonic established our first overseas factories producing wiring devices in Taiwan and conduit pipes in Thailand. Through a technology licensing agreement with National Gobel in Indonesia, our fluorescent lamp ballasts were produced outside of Japan for the first time.

1992 - Globalisation & Expansion to China

In the early 1990s, Panasonic focused on expanding to the Chinese market, which was growing and developing rapidly. Based on our experience in delivering comfortable lifestyles for Japanese consumers, we established a joint company for manufacturing and sales in China, promoting globalisation while responding to high demand.

2000~ Providing Personalised Comfort with Our Product Ecosystem

The developing modern world brought challenges as well as opportunities, from a globalised economy vulnerable to international impacts to environmental, safety and security issues. Domestically, Japan faced the dual challenge of an aging population and declining birthrate alongside diversifying cultural values. To address these issues, Panasonic began to develop advanced networks of connected equipment and comprehensive control systems, with the technology to customise the necessary settings according to the individual need.

2012 - Pioneering the Use of LEDs

Panasonic delivered all-LED lighting to the stunning TOKYO SKYTREE, a pioneering, shining symbol of modern Tokyo.

A New Era of Diversity with Universal Design

Sales of the Cosmo Wide 21 series of wiring fixtures began. By widening the surface of the switch platform, Panasonic created a switch that is more accessible and convenient in a universal range of applications and installations.

Creating Comprehensive Networks of Advanced Equipment

Panasonic developed the technology to link a wide range of housing, building and urban electrical equipment via the Internet, which evolved into one of our new Solutions businesses.

[2003 - Completing the new Panasonic Tokyo HQ]
Panasonic’s new head office was designed as a “showroom for entire buildings”, featuring advanced technologies and control systems for greater employee comfort and energy savings.

Expanding Production & Sales to Turkey and India

To light up the lives of people all over the world, we continued to expand our international business through overseas acquisitions. Today, Panasonic wiring fixtures are sold in over 60 countries.

2007 - Acquiring Anchor Electricals in India

Panasonic boosted the rapid expansion of the Indian electrical materials market with our acquisition of Anchor Electricals, the largest manufacturer of modular and non-modular electrical switches in the country.

2014 - Acquiring VIKO in Turkey

Panasonic’s acquisition of Turkish wiring device manufacturer VIKO expanded our electrical materials business in Turkey, CIS, Europe and Africa.

Our production presence in Asia expanded with a new factory for electrical installation materials in Vietnam.

2022~ Realising a Safer, More Sustainable Global Society with Advanced Electrical Equipment

In today’s world, sustainability is a priority for society as much as the natural environment. Panasonic Electric Works Company is committed to developing electrical equipment that meets social challenges in an ethical and responsible way. We focus on three key areas to achieve a sustainable balance between human comfort and the natural world: safety and security of life; decarbonisation of society; and next-generation working.

Safety & Security

From lightbulbs to street lamps, modular switches to entire network control systems, we have supported the electrification of society for over 100 years with high-quality products and technologies that provide comfort and peace of mind across the world.

Decarbonisation of Society

From residences to commercial facilities, airports to train stations, stadiums to national landmarks; Panasonic’s advanced energy management systems reduce CO2 emissions while offering comfort and convenience to consumers - and entire communities.

Next-generation Working

Modern working lifestyles require modern solutions. Panasonic’s sensor and digital technology allows optimal control of working environments that balance working conditions and healthy lifestyles.

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