[Graph. Lasers are not consumer products but are they headed down the same path as the price per Watt drops? Graph from Laser Markets Research.]
In 2016 there were a slew of mergers and acquisitions in the optical and laser businesses, and in my view, many of these occurred directly or indirectly due to the market pressures occurring in the industry. There is no doubt that the industry is undergoing change. Just like what occurred in various consumer electronics segments, the same is occurring in lasers and optics.
If we look back to 1966, the manufacturers of TVs were companies like RCA, Westinghouse, GE, Emerson, Zenith and Philco. RCA was eventually acquired by GE in 1986 and broken up. Zenith was acquired by Korean LE Electronics in 1995. Today Emerson, RCA and Westinghouse still manufacture TVs, but in name only. Emerson TVs are manufactured by Japanese company Funai Corporation, who also owns the Sylvania and Magnavox brands. The South Korean company ON manufactures RCA TVs today. So does the TV industry today give us a glimpse into how the laser industry might look in a few years? Read the full blog from Allen Nogee.
If we look back to 1966, the manufacturers of TVs were companies like RCA, Westinghouse, GE, Emerson, Zenith and Philco. RCA was eventually acquired by GE in 1986 and broken up. Zenith was acquired by Korean LE Electronics in 1995. Today Emerson, RCA and Westinghouse still manufacture TVs, but in name only. Emerson TVs are manufactured by Japanese company Funai Corporation, who also owns the Sylvania and Magnavox brands. The South Korean company ON manufactures RCA TVs today. So does the TV industry today give us a glimpse into how the laser industry might look in a few years? Read the full blog from Allen Nogee.
