Panasonic Canada discontinues A3 Copier Distribution March 2011

WOW!

On Jan 20 2010, Panasonic Australia notified their dealers of the exact same information, as reported in the Jan 28th edition of "Livewire" a supplement to the Cannata Report.

Panasonic USA could not be reached for comment.

quess it's coming to the US also, just a matter of time, now we see why they let go of most of the dealers last year and went to three or 4 distributors.

I read the article on limewire and it stated the factory in Japan is ceasing to manufacture A3's guess thats it for the US market also!!

The letter has hit US Dealers, as I have been informed.

quote:

limewire

Did Panasonic make their A3 MFPs for anyone else? Were they ever sold under a non-Panasonic label? The color units have a "Fuji" look to them and earlier A3 color units were also sold as Xerox WorkCenters and were from Fuji.

quote:

Originally posted by Clinton:

quote:

limewire

Did Panasonic make their A3 MFPs for anyone else? Were they ever sold under a non-Panasonic label? The color units have a "Fuji" look to them and earlier A3 color units were also sold as Xerox WorkCenters and were from Fuji.

I am certain they were actually Fuji engines labeled as Panasonic models.

In mid-January Panasonic notified its major Chinese copier resellers and distributors that it will withdraw from the market following the 2010 Asian Olympic Games in November 2010.

This is about as official as it gets without a public announcement.

Well, we all saw it coming, Panasonic had to be the first to go. Wonder who will be next, I don't see any other manufacturer dropping out like Panasonic, however I do think that another manufacturer will sell it's stake in MFP's in the next year.

I agree Art, the most notable thing about Panasonic's exit is that it left without being acquired.

Is that stage two of the consolidation process? Maybe stage 1B.

First is acquisitions, then drop outs.

It will be interesting to see how long they stay in the A4, Fax market. Their faxes have tended to be a more premium product and we see them being replaced by MFP's from tier 1/2. Not much else for them to do in the print market.

Panasonic Takes Aim at Fast-Growing A4 Class MFP Market

Company to emphasize growing A4 MFP format in response to customer demands





SECAUCUS, NJ (February 4, 2010) — Panasonic System Networks Company of America today announced plans to substantially increase its footprint in the burgeoning market for A4 multi-function products. The A4 market has undergone rapid growth and is emerging as the de facto standard in the marketplace. As a consequence the A3 market has been fading and will no longer be a focus for Panasonic going forward. Based on internal Panasonic research the A4 market is projected to be dominant by 2012 and account for the majority of imaging devices sold.



According to Product Specialist for MFP/Fax Joseph Odore, the product mix realignment is based on Panasonic's long-standing commitment to proactively fulfilling channel partner and end user requirements by responding to changes in market dynamics in a timely and decisive manner.



"All the relevant indices -- leased machine levels, printed page volume, and overall sales of new machines -- make it clear that A3 MFPs are already, or soon will be, a legacy document format and that A4 MFPs are swiftly becoming the lineup that will best serve our customers’ needs for the beginning of this decade and the foreseeable future,” Odore said.



As a leading manufacturer of document imaging products, Panasonic has an unparalleled ability to turn on a dime in response to customer demands. Designing, engineering and building its own machines and most of the internal components in Panasonic-owned research centers and factories makes adjusting supply-side capabilities to reflect demand-side changes significantly easier for Panasonic than for competitors dependent on 'white box' vendors for their products.



A document-products industry leader for more than four decades, Panasonic also announced that it will continue production of current A3 MFP models through Q1 of 2011 and parts and consumables for those products through Q1 of 2018, respectively to insure customer support as the A4 market rises to dominance. In addition technical and hardware support will be provided through at least Q1 of 2018.



Production, distribution, and future expansion of Panasonic’s award-winning line of best-in-class front office and enterprise scanners, A4 multifunction printers, business fax machines, and advanced interactive whiteboards will be unaffected by the shift in MFP marketing focus. Panasonic reseller and customer support will also be unaffected by the change in MFP business strategy.



"Basically, Panasonic will concentrate our R&D on the future of the MFP market, which is the A4," Odore added. "Since Panasonic's current A3 MFPs are high-performance, mature products with an expansive list of cutting-edge features and a legendary reputation for ease of maintenance and durability, we decided the future growth of our MFP line and its dealers would be best served by tightly focusing on the A4 class devices."





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About Panasonic System Networks Company of America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic System Networks Company of America is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic is the global leader in corded PBX/IP PBX telephony systems and offers a complete suite of office productivity solutions and home communication and networking solutions, including cordless phones, network cameras, electronic whiteboards and photo and multi-function printers that provide convenience, style and ease-of-use for consumer and business applications. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.




All brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

EDITOR’S NOTE

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