History of Business in Japan

Businesses originally operated by Panasonic Corporation  Businesses originally operated by former SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (until 2013)* The claims "first in Japan," "a world first," "an industry first" are based on our own research at the time.

Before 1960Rise of the cold chain business

1939	Yasuharu Nakagawa founded Nakagawa Kikai Co., Ltd.
1947	Toshio Iue founded SANYO Electric Works. Image caption: From left in back row: Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and his brother-in-law, Toshio Iue	From left in back row: Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and his brother-in-law, Toshio Iue
1950	SANYO Electric Works was incorporated as SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
1953	Nakagawa Kikai Co., Ltd. was renamed Nakagawa Electric Corporation.
1959	Tokyo SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. was founded.
1960	Started production of compressors for refrigerators and air conditioners.
1960	Started production of ice cream stocker (first in Japan).
1961	Started production of freezers and refrigerated display cabinets.
1962	Started production of refrigeration systems.
1963	Entered into a technical partnership with US-based Weber Case & Fixture for large freezers and refrigerated display cases.
1964	Started production of remote type display case with air curtain (first in Japan).
1964	Started production of prefabricated cold rooms.
1965	Started production of commercial microwave ovens.
1967	Started production of small ice makers and launched a business targeting the food service industry.
1968	Started production of counter top juice dispensers (first in Japan).
1968	Started production of cube ice makers (an industry first).
1969	Nakagawa Electric Corporation started production of vending machines.
1969	Started production of commercial freezers and refrigerators.

1970sRapid environmental changes and expansion of business opportunities

1971	Started production of commercial dishwashers.
1972	Nakagawa Electric Corporation was renamed Matsushita Refrigeration Company.
1972	Cold Chain Division was established at Tokyo SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
1973	Started production of air-cool remote semi-hermetic units.
1974	Started production of water-cool semi-hermetic multi units.

1980sBusiness growth through the development of unique products

1983	SANYO Tokki Sales Co., Ltd. was founded.
1984	Started production of chilled displaycase (an industry first).
1986	SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. and Tokyo SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. merged.
1986	Developed cold roll boxes.
1989	Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. transferred its Refrigeration Business Division to Matsushita Refrigeration Company.

1990sPrompt response to emerging challenges

1990	Started production of chilled semi-multi-deck super showcases (an industry first).
1996	Cumulative compressor production exceeded 100 million units.
1996	Antibacterial handles and wire shelves introduced in the EV and UV Series commercial freezers and refrigerators (an industry first).
1997	Launched commercial kitchen equipment (ice makers and dishwashers)with an antibacterial door and hundle.
1997	Started production of vending machines for PET bottle beverages (an industry first).
1998	Launched Mini Kuradansu, a refrigerator with three temperature settings (an industry first).
1999	Started production of freezers dedicated to ice packs (an industry first).
1999	Bikkura, a large commercial freezer and refrigerator with center pillar free pass-through design (an industry first).
1999	Launched a dual-spin soft serve ice cream freezer (an industry first).
1999	Matsushita Food Service Systems Co., Ltd. (later Panasonic Food Appliances Co., Ltd.) was founded.
1999	Released a double-stage rotary compressor compatible with CO2 refrigerant (a world first).
1999	Launched a blast chiller.

2000sEmbarking on a new growth trajectory through business transformation

2000	Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. made Matsushita Refrigeration Company a wholly owned subsidiary.
2000	Launched a counter top showcase (an industry first).
2002	Started production of remote monitoring controllers for refrigeration systems (an industry first).
2003	Launched Tatsujin Gama, a small high-temperature high-pressure cooker.
2004	SANYO Tokyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Appliances Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems Co., Ltd.) was founded.
2006	Started production of soft cream freezer with fruit jams (an industry first).
2008	Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. was renamed Panasonic Corporation.
2009	SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. became part of the Panasonic Group.
2009	SANYO Electric Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.) was founded.
2009	Developed a commercial inverter freezer using CO2 refrigerant (a world first)
2010	Started production of HFC-free condensing units using CO2 refrigerant (first in Japan).
2011	Panasonic Corporation made SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary.
2012	Panasonic Corporation merged with Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. to integrate the businesses of both companies, along with those of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
2015	Panasonic Eco Solutions Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. merged with Panasonic Food Appliances Co., Ltd. and was renamed Panasonic Commercial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
2016	US-based Hussmann Corporation became part of the Panasonic Group.
2020	Discontinued production of vending machines.

Since 2021Toward a new era of food infrastructure

2021	Cold Chain Solutions Company was founded at Panasonic Corporation.
2021	Launched a freezer and refrigerator locker for package delivery (first in Japan).
2022	Rebranded the cold chain business in Japan. Updated the symbol mark and began affixing the logo to all cold chain equipment.
2024	Launched a freezer and refrigerator delivery box for apartment buildings (first in Japan).
2024	Launched a reach-in freezer showcase with a VIG energy-saving door (a world first).
2024	Area Cooling Solutions became part of the Panasonic Group and began operations as Panasonic Cold Chain Poland.
2025	Cumulative shipments of HFC-free condensing units using CO2 refrigerant reached 30,000 units.