Aug 14, 2012

Panasonic Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Launch of Its First Air Purifier

Panasonic announced that September 2012 will mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of the company's first air purifier.

Panasonic's First Air Purifier, Released by Panasonic in 1962

Panasonic has long been committed to improving indoor air quality, producing electric fans since 1913 and ventilation fans since 1928. However, the company's work on air purification began in 1960, where it started the research and development of air purification technology to help reduce the growing problems of air pollution in urban areas.

After 2 years, the company succeeded in developing models equipped with a three-layer filter for both the household and professional use, and launched these models in September 1962.

The company went on to extend the range of applications of its air purifiers to factories, schools and cars, and developed an electric dust collecting type air purifier.

Air Purifier Equipped With Smoke Sensor for Automatic Operation, Released in 1985

In the 1980s and 1990s, with homes becoming more airtight, interest in the public in measures against cigarette smoke and allergens increased, and Panasonic offered more compact, easy-to-install designs and added other functions to its air purifiers, such as start/stop functions triggered by a smoke sensor that could detect pollution in the air.

In 1995, the company then launched a model equipped a filter coated with catechin, an ingredient of green tea, and later adding anti-bacterial and allergen inhibiting functions with a "Bio Anti-Bacterial" filter in 2002 and an "Aller Buster" filter in 2003.

Model Equipped with the Catechin Filter, Released in 1995
Model Equipped with the "Bio Anti-Bacterial" Filter, Released in 2002
Model Equipped with the "Aller Buster" Filter, Released in 2003

Model Equipped with Peltier Water-Feeding Type nanoe Generator, Released in 2003

Panasonic next went on to look into applications of its nanoe technology which utilizes nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles. The company adopted its nanoe technology in its air purifiers, releasing its first nanoe-equipped models in 2003.

In 2007, the company began offering air purifiers which offer greater air suction at floor level where housedust typically accumulates, and in 2009, the company adopted the "Mega Catcher" system, where the whole front of the air purifier slides, further increasing the air suction power. Panasonic has continued to launch industry-leading products, including models equipped with its ECONAVI systems for energy saving, and twin louver equipped models for more powerful house dust suction.

Model Equipped with "Airflow Robot" for Powerful Suction of House Dust, Released in 2007
Model Equipped with "Mega Catcher", Released in 2009

Air Purifier Equipped with ECONAVI, Released in 2010
Twin Louver Equipped Model, Released in 2012

In the 1970s, the company began overseas promotion of its air purifiers, and now Panasonic air purifiers can be found in Asia and the Middle East. In recent years, as concern towards odors and dust caused by cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes is increasing in China, Panasonic has expanded its business in the region, and is bringing new products to the Chinese market in August, 2012. For more information, please see the press release (Japanese).

Since releasing its first air purifier in 1962, Panasonic has gone on to sell over 10 million units all over the world. The company will continue to develop new technology and products to contribute to the improvement of indoor air quality.