Panasonic Electric Works, the lighting business of Panasonic Holdings, announced on the 1st that it will end production of all fluorescent lamps by the end of September 2020. The company will focus on producing energy-saving and long-lasting LED lighting in place of fluorescent lights, and will increase the production capacity of its main Niigata factory (Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture) by approximately 30%. The lighting industry is at a major turning point, with the government setting a goal to switch all lighting to LED by 2012.

The company began manufacturing and selling fluorescent lamps around 1950. It rapidly became popular during the period of high economic growth, and at its peak, more than 100 million bottles were produced annually. The suspension of production was in response to the decision made at an international conference in 2020 to ban the manufacture, import and export of fluorescent lamps that contain mercury, and the company will increase production of LED lighting from its fluorescent lamp business, which accounts for about 60% of the domestic market share. Cut the nikaji.

At a briefing session held in Tokyo, Kuniyasu Shimaoka, General Manager of the Lighting Division, said, “In preparation for the widespread use of LEDs, the replacement of lighting equipment itself has not been widespread, but we are promoting products that are easy to replace and help reduce the construction burden. I will continue to do so,” he emphasized. When replacing fluorescent lights with LEDs, the work must be carried out by a qualified electrical worker, so the company has launched a dedicated website to raise awareness and strengthen information dissemination.

Competition among manufacturers is expected to intensify as demand for LEDs increases due to the discontinuation of production of fluorescent lamps. Iris Ohyama (Sendai City), which handles home appliances and household goods, entered the corporate LED lighting business in earnest in 2010 and is focusing on PR aimed at popularizing its use. Advertisements and TV commercials are promoting the ban on the manufacture and sale of fluorescent lamps, encouraging people to replace them with LEDs.

We also started renting LED lighting from January 2028. The system allows rental fees to be covered by the reduction in monthly electricity bills, and a representative said, “We have made it easier for companies that consider the initial cost to be a burden.” (Sarasa Shimizu, Hiroto Kuwashima)