2005

The Amagasaki Plant (the Third Domestic Plant), the world's largest plasma display panel (PDP) plant, started operations in September 2005. By the end of November, the plant achieved full manufacturing performance of 125,000 units monthly in the first phase of operations. In slightly over two months, vertical production startup had been realized, in commemoration of which an opening ceremony was held on December 2.
In July of the following year, the facilities of the second phase of operations also came online and the scale of PDP production reached a combined monthly tally of 460,000 units at the four plants, the others being the First Ibaraki Plant, Second Ibaraki Plant, and Shanghai Plant.
In July 2001, mass production of PDPs was started in earnest at the First Ibaraki Plant. Since that time, the philosophy has been “panels are to be supplied globally through intensive manufacture in Japan” and “TV sets are delivered straight to markets after production at their place of consumption,” entailing continued proactive investment and expanded production capacity.
Next, in January 2006, work was begun on the Fourth Domestic Plant on the Amagasaki Plant grounds, and once phase-one operations started in June of the following year, it was announced in November 2007 that there would be construction of the Fifth Plant, which would aim for first-phase operations in May 2009.

In January 2008, the latest panel technology was displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show held at Las Vegas, USA. The cutting-edge and original technology of Panasonic Corporation revealed a significant increase in the luminous efficiency of plasma panels, creating a huge sensation and winning high accolades.
As for Panasonic's efforts at making panels thinner, it was announced that 50-inch “full flat models” with flat panel surfaces would be only 24.7mm thick. Furthermore, there was the unveiling of the 150-inch model, featuring the world's largest panel. The emphasis was on panel displays that were thinner and larger, with energy-saving features and high picture quality.
In order to meet the expanding global demand for flat-screen televisions, Panasonic is continuing its commitment to the development of the PDP business through unparalleled manufacturing scale and competency in optimizing cost.