There have been a few YouTube docs on how Philips lost their size and stature -- say, compared to Sony and others.
This one is new:
This one a few years old:
Philips spent a lot of $$ on R&D, and juggling or implementing multiple projects -- not all of them marketable -- which probably has much to do with their "demise".
Using audio DACs as an example, Philips was experimenting with a lot of architectures in the 80s and 90s:
https://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/the_complete_d_a_dac_converter_list/
For example, a short-lived TDA1549 was replaced only months later by a very similar TDA1305.
While it lasted, I'm sure the folks at Philips had a lot of fun working on these projects. And Philips' overall contribution to consumer and industrial electronics is way beyond. $.
This one is new:
This one a few years old:
Philips spent a lot of $$ on R&D, and juggling or implementing multiple projects -- not all of them marketable -- which probably has much to do with their "demise".
Using audio DACs as an example, Philips was experimenting with a lot of architectures in the 80s and 90s:
https://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/the_complete_d_a_dac_converter_list/
For example, a short-lived TDA1549 was replaced only months later by a very similar TDA1305.
While it lasted, I'm sure the folks at Philips had a lot of fun working on these projects. And Philips' overall contribution to consumer and industrial electronics is way beyond. $.
The latest CEO is a CPA, he decided to focus on areas like medical where they are strong, and get out of competitive areas like lighting and consumer stuff.
Philips lighting is now a new company called Signify, and GE made a new company called Current for their lighting business, same thoughts, too much competition.
They sold the TV business to their Chinese supplier (except to Videocon for India), having seen the future.
Come to that, Panasonic did that as well, getting out of TV, and in India, the cheapest Samsung and LG TVs are 43", the cheaper and smaller screens are lesser known brands.
See how easy it is to make LED lamps, and of the top 10 LED suppliers only Osram is there on the list, from the historical glass lamp suppliers.
Lumileds was a Philips - HP joint venture, now I have not kept track.
Citizen, Nichiya, Ever Bright, Seoul Semiconductor, and many Chinese suppliers supply LEDs and in a vast variety of size, intensity and so on.
The drivers are made in varying scale of production, they are assembled by many factories...I know three in my city and periphery.
Thing is, they use flat glass, if at all. the expensive glass part (for bulbs and tubes) is gone, you can start making lamps with a little money, and a soldering iron, everything is ready made.
The local price in bulk for a 9W driver on board PCB is like 9 cents, you need to mount on heat sink, connect to mains, and there you are.
PWM controller, 18 LEDs, bridge rectifier, other components, , PCB, soldering, freight from China...and they work okay for at least two years.
You cannot make big money on that, so Philips walked away.
The Chinese must be making money, I think.
Historically, the Europeans have wanted 60% gross margins, and they get out if it is not there.
That is all, a commercial decision, they spun off the semiconductor business as NXP long back.
Believe me, Philips Catheter labs and ultrasound equipment are well regarded, doctors love them, and they make money on those, limited competition.
Medical imaging has about 5 companies...Philips, Siemens, Hitachi, Toshiba and GE. The others are smaller, limited geography, limited product range, or simply owned by the above named, using a locally famous trade name.
No ties to any above named entities.
Philips lighting is now a new company called Signify, and GE made a new company called Current for their lighting business, same thoughts, too much competition.
They sold the TV business to their Chinese supplier (except to Videocon for India), having seen the future.
Come to that, Panasonic did that as well, getting out of TV, and in India, the cheapest Samsung and LG TVs are 43", the cheaper and smaller screens are lesser known brands.
See how easy it is to make LED lamps, and of the top 10 LED suppliers only Osram is there on the list, from the historical glass lamp suppliers.
Lumileds was a Philips - HP joint venture, now I have not kept track.
Citizen, Nichiya, Ever Bright, Seoul Semiconductor, and many Chinese suppliers supply LEDs and in a vast variety of size, intensity and so on.
The drivers are made in varying scale of production, they are assembled by many factories...I know three in my city and periphery.
Thing is, they use flat glass, if at all. the expensive glass part (for bulbs and tubes) is gone, you can start making lamps with a little money, and a soldering iron, everything is ready made.
The local price in bulk for a 9W driver on board PCB is like 9 cents, you need to mount on heat sink, connect to mains, and there you are.
PWM controller, 18 LEDs, bridge rectifier, other components, , PCB, soldering, freight from China...and they work okay for at least two years.
You cannot make big money on that, so Philips walked away.
The Chinese must be making money, I think.
Historically, the Europeans have wanted 60% gross margins, and they get out if it is not there.
That is all, a commercial decision, they spun off the semiconductor business as NXP long back.
Believe me, Philips Catheter labs and ultrasound equipment are well regarded, doctors love them, and they make money on those, limited competition.
Medical imaging has about 5 companies...Philips, Siemens, Hitachi, Toshiba and GE. The others are smaller, limited geography, limited product range, or simply owned by the above named, using a locally famous trade name.
No ties to any above named entities.
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