Philips.co.uk Philips Electronics UK Ltd
Title
Philips UK: Electronics, Personal Care, Lighting and Medical solutions
Additional Information
Philips UK official site: Producers of Consumer Electronics, Energy efficient Lighting solutions, Medical Equipment and advanced lifestyle Home Appliances including Avent Mother and Baby products.
Company History
The foundations for what was to become one of the world's biggest healthcare, lifestyle and technology companies were laid in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in 1891 when Frederik Philips and his son Gerard Philips founded Philips & Co. to meet the growing demand for light bulbs created by the commercialization of electricity. Anton Philips joined the company in 1895. Philips began by making carbon-filament lamps and, by the turn of the century, was one of the largest producers in Europe. As developments in new lighting technologies fueled a steady program of expansion, in 1914 it established a research laboratory to study physical and chemical phenomena and stimulate product innovation.
In 1918, it introduced a medical X-ray tube. This marked the beginning of the diversification of its product range and the moment when it began to protect its innovations with patents in areas stretching from X-ray radiation to radio reception.
In 1925, Philips became involved in the first experiments in television in 1925 and, in 1927, began producing radios; by 1932, it had sold one million of them. A year later, it produced its 100-millionth radio valve and started production of medical X-ray equipment in the United States. By 1939, when it launched the first Philips electric shaver, the company employed 45,000 people worldwide.
Science and technology underwent tremendous development in the 1940s and 1950s, with Philips Research inventing the rotary heads that led to the development of the Philishave electric shaver, and laying down the basis for later ground-breaking work in transistors and integrated circuits. The company also made major contributions to the development of the recording, transmission and reproduction of television pictures. In 1963, it introduced the Compact Audio Cassette. In 1965, it produced its first integrated circuits.
The flow of exciting new products and ideas continued throughout the 1970s. Research in lighting contributed to the new PL and SL energy-saving lamps, while Philips Research made key breakthroughs in the processing, storage and transmission of images, sound and data. These led to the inventions of the LaserVision optical disc, the Compact Disc and optical telecommunication systems.
In 1972, the company co-founded PolyGram (Philips 60%, Siemens 40%), the enormously successful music recording label. In 1974, it acquired Magnavox and in 1975, Signetic, both in the United States. Acquisitions in the 1980s included GTE Sylvania's television concern and Westinghouse's lamps business. Then, in 1983, came a technological landmark: the launch of the Compact Disc. Other milestones of the time included the production of Philips' 100-millionth TV set in 1984 and, in 199 5, the 300-millionth Philishave electric shaver.
The 1990s was a decade of significant change for Philips. The company carried out a major restructuring program to return it to a healthy footing, simplifying its structure and reducing the number of business areas. In 1997, in cooperation with several other companies - and building on the success of its Compact Disc technology (invented by Philips and jointly introduced with Sony) - it released what proved to be the fastest growing home electronics product in history: the DVD.
Moving into the 21st century, Philips has continued to change and grow. Long aware that for many people it is no more than a consumer electronics producer, it has dedicated itself to projecting a new and more representative image that reflects the products it offers in the areas of Healthcare, Lifestyle and Technology. By following this up in 2004 with a massive advertising campaign to unveil its new brand promise of 'sense and simplicity', the company confirmed its dedication to offering consumers around the world products that are advanced, easy to use and, above all, designed to meet their needs.
In September 2006, Philips sold 80.1% of its Semiconductors business to a consortium of private equity partners. This laid the foundation for a strong and independent new semiconductors company, named NXP, which was founded on the heritage of over 50 years of innovation at the heart of Philips. The sale marks a further milestone in our shift from cyclical activities to the building of an even stronger company, focused on Healthcare, Lifestyle and Technology, and centered around our brand promise of ‘sense and simplicity’.
In September 2007, Philips communicated its Vision 2010 strategic plan to further grow the company with increased profitability targets. As part of Vision 2010, the organizational structure was simplified per January 1, 2008 by forming three sectors: Healthcare, Lighting and Consumer Lifestyle. These steps further position Philips as a market-driven, people-centric company with a strategy and a structure that fully reflect the needs of its customer base. Through Vision 2010, Philips expects to more than double EBITA per share by 2010 (compared to 2007 expected performance).
Key Product Areas
Philips offer a wide range of consumer products including:
- Sound and Vision
- Personal Care
- Mother & Child Care
- Steam Generator Irons
- Lighting
- PC Products & Phones
Related Domains
