Who Makes What? Plasma TVs

Reviewer: Phil Connor
Review Date: June 2004

Copyright © 2007 PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com. All Rights Reserved.

There are only a handful of major plasma display element (i.e. plasma glass) manufacturers in the world. There is always talk and hype about who makes what in the Plasma TV/Monitor industry (as well as LCD and Projectors). Many manufacturers buy their plasma display elements from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Just to set the story straighter on a few products please see the following notes on which manufacturers make what parts: Just to set the story straighter, here is a run-down of which manufacturer makes which parts.

THE MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

NEC

NEC is an OEM manufacturer, so NEC brand monitors are made completely by NEC. NEC has its own plasma screen glass factory and uses its own processing boards and chips. NEC's glass and plasma manufacturing facilities were recently acquired by Pioneer - however it's marketing arm remains intact.

Panasonic

Panasonic owns its glass manufacturing facilities (Osaka, Japan) as well as engineering its own internal components.

Fujitsu

Fujitsu owns 50% of a plasma screen glass factory with Hitachi in Kyushu, Japan. Though Fujitsu buys some of the internal components (chipsets), it produces most of the internal component boards for its 42" plasma TVs.

Pioneer

Pioneer owns its own plasma screen glass plant and produces most all boards and chips internalized in the plasma monitor. They make all of their own equipment, save for the 4030 and 5030 HD multimedia box, which is made by Sharp.

Sony

Sony makes their own boards and chips but uses a variety of manufacturers for its plasma glass.

Hitachi

Hitachi owns 50% of plasma screen factory with Fujitsu. Hitachi makes its own internal components.

Samsung

Large Korean manufacturer makes its own glass and internal components

LG

Another large Korean manufacturer making its own glass and internal components.

Pictured Above: Internal Digital Video Processor Board for the new line of Fujitsu Plasma Monitors

THE SECONDARY MANUFACTURERS

Toshiba

Toshiba rebadges Panasonic's screens and internal processing components.

Sharp

While Sharp makes some changes to internal components, their plasma TVs are essential repackaged Pioneers.

Runco

Runco's 50" plasma display comes from Pioneer and its 42" plasma display comes from NEC, though Runco may make some modifications to both displays.

Marantz

NEC is the OEM for Marantz's 42", 50", and 61" plasma monitors.

ViewSonic

The OEM of ViewSonic's 50" plasma screen is Pioneer. The OEM for its 42" plasma screen is more than likely a Hitachi.

Gateway

Gateway's 42" and 50" plasma TVs (both the regular and Ultra Bright models) are re-badged Sampo displays. For the 46" they use BenQ as the OEM.

Philips

Philips uses Fujitsu/ Hitachi glass screen and most internal components as well. However, Philips makes its own bezel with built in speakers.