Upbeat on the prospects of LED lighting in India, Panasonic Life Solutions India recently set up its first local factory for LED lighting products. In this backdrop, we have Masato Miyamaru, Director – Lighting Business, Panasonic Electric Works India (PEWIN), in an exclusive interview with T&D India, taking us through Panasonic’s lighting business journey in India that started in 2014. The lighting business is a major pillar supporting PEWIN, and Masato Miyamaru believes that by making it a solid foundation, Panasonic can become No.1 in the Indian lighting industry.
Let us start by understanding the various LED-based lighting products currently offered by Panasonic Life Solutions.
In 2014, we began offering LED luminaires for sale in India, helping to accelerate the transition to LED lighting. We offer LED lighting in every category, including road, outdoor, commercial, industrial, and residential, and our products have received great feedback from the market in terms of good qualities, attractive designs, and energy savings.
Incidentally, is Panasonic Life Solutions also involved with non LED-based lighting?
All commercial products use LED as light sources. These light sources are mainstream, as they are environmentally friendly, have a long lifespan and contribute to energy savings as well. Energy conservation is our core value, especially for our lighting segment.
Tell us more about the new LED lighting manufacturing facility at Daman. When is commercial production expected to begin?
The plant started production of downlights in November 2023. Before the establishment of this factory, a lighting lab was set up in terms of quality control. We have also obtained NABL certification, for its core inspection function and the optical testing laboratory. We are aiming to establish quality control system based on Japanese quality management system by developing products of the highest design and quality. We aim to grow faster than the market growth, expand the variety of products, and increase production by approximately 5 times by FY2027.
Would this be Panasonic’s first manufacturing facility in India for LED lighting? Please discuss.
Yes, this will be the first LED lighting manufacturing facility in India. Panasonic aims to become the leading player in the lighting segment in the Indian market by FY2030. The newly established facility will initially manufacture lighting fixtures such as downlights before eventually expanding to other product lines.
We learn from industry players that efficiency of LED lighting, in terms of lumens per watt, is improving. At the same time, pricing of LED lights is getting aggressive, thereby eroding profit margins. What is your overall take on the matter?
When it comes to lowering energy consumption and the impact on the environment, increased LED lighting efficiency is an ideal step. However, during this period of increased price competition, LED lighting is expanding and becoming more widely available in the market. To create a healthy competitive environment, regulation and standardization must be implemented to support the industry as a whole.
On another industry-related issue, what is your view on the overall self-sufficiency of India with respect to power electronics (drivers) associated with LED lighting products?
While India continues to make progress in domestic manufacturing of LED lighting products and their components, improving self-sufficiency in LEDs and power electronics related to LED lighting products will require continued effort and investment in cooperation, technology transfer and knowledge exchange with international partners.
We hear about Panasonic’s “YOI-en” technology service that has been implemented in a renowned real estate project in Mumbai. Tell us more about this technology and the prospects for more such project applications.
YOI-en, which makes this possible, is a cloud-based service that enables wide-area, multi-site and remote staging changes along with communication monitoring and scheduling of equipment lighting fixtures. In the Powai demonstration, the QR code is read by an individual’s smart phone, which acts as a remote control and changes the colour of the lighting. This was a very successful project for us and we felt a strong response in India. We would like to consider developing the business in India, while continuing to introduce such innovative technology.
Please discuss how the lighting business of Panasonic Life Solutions India complements the other verticals like wires & cables, wiring devices, switchgear, etc.
In addition to commercial and outdoor installations, we have recently seen an increase in deliveries to public facilities and landmarks, and we want to continue to be a business that continues to solve our customers’ needs, while raising brand awareness in India.
LED lighting is seen to have a widespread impact across society – right from offering basic lighting to app-based sophisticated high-end lighting solutions to project lighting. Given this, how do you see the years ahead for the LED lighting business of Panasonic Life Solutions?
Panasonic Life Solutions’ LED lighting business aims to accelerate business growth by developing high-efficiency, high-quality LED products, practicing the development of products that meet customer needs, such as smart lighting and providing lighting solutions, and contributing to industrial development and society. The mission is to help people live better lives and develop India’s future growth potential. We will present our consumers unique solutions and products — made with high-quality, high-efficiency, and eco-friendly Indian and Japanese technologies — primarily in the commercial and professional markets.
