Panasonic Incorporates Sanyo HVAC Unit Into North American Operations

SECAUCUS, N.J., Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced that the Kennesaw, GA-based HVAC Products Group of Sanyo North America Corp.'s Commercial Solutions Division will officially be integrated into Panasonic's North American operations on October 1.  The unit, which is responsible for sales and service for commercial and consumer HVAC products, will be designated Panasonic Air Conditioning Group.  

The HVAC operation is the first Sanyo unit to become part of Panasonic in North America and this move will start the process of incorporating North American units of Sanyo Electric into Panasonic's operations in this region.  The process of integrating Sanyo business units is one of the outcomes of Panasonic Corporation's acquisition of Sanyo Electric, which became final on April 1 this year.  

"Combining this HVAC business into Panasonic's portfolio of businesses will allow us to offer a broader range of solutions to our B2B customers and channel partners," said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America.  "Panasonic is a leader in air conditioning globally, including the production of air conditioning compressors and other key components.  We expect that the newly designated Panasonic Air Conditioning Group will benefit from this expertise and legacy of technology development as well as the growing power of the Panasonic brand."  

The move will expand the Panasonic product portfolio by adding Sanyo's light commercial split HVAC line, 26,000 to 42,000 BTU/hr products, as well as its Variable Refrigerant Flow products (ECOi product line), and will allow for further market and sales expansion in North America.

As a unit of Panasonic, the HVAC team will continue to promote and sell its current product line with high-quality service, while also planning to incorporate new products based on the combination of Panasonic and Sanyo technologies.

The organizational change will enable access to combined engineering and manufacturing capabilities to develop innovative products for the future as well as the strengths of both companies to expand sales and market share.

"The integration of the HVAC Group into Panasonic will enhance this business from the synergy that will be created," said Noboru Nakanishi, Division President, Commercial Solutions, Sanyo North America Corporation. "Sanyo has a very robust HVAC business in North America, and Panasonic has a strong sales network and access to a wide range of channels and partners that will benefit our growing business."

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking (http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2011-Report/BestGlobalGreenBrandsTable-2011.aspx).  As part of its continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Panasonic Corporation of North America will relocate its operations to a new eco-efficient office tower adjacent to a mass transit hub in Newark, NJ in 2013.  Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at http://panasonic.net/eco/ecoideas/.  Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

SOURCE Panasonic