Panasonic Leads European Rugged Notebook Market For 10th Consecutive Year With 65.8% Unit Share
Grows Rapidly To Take Clear Number 2 Position In European Rugged Tablet Market
BRACKNELL, UK. 31 JULY 2012
Panasonic Toughbook computers extended its leadership of the European rugged and durable notebook market for the 10th consecutive year in 2011 ending with a 65.8% unit share, according to analyst group VDC Research. Panasonic also grew rapidly in the European rugged slate tablet market, taking second position, with a 17.4% unit share.
Toughbook computer’s unit share of the Durable and Rugged Notebook/Convertible Notebook Computers market grew from 65% in 2010 to 65.8% in 2011. European growth was seen in markets such as alternative energy, smart meters, automotive diagnostics, e-patient record access and internet retail delivery. All these markets require mobile workers in challenging environments to have reliable and secure access to applications.
Panasonic Toughbook computers also experienced double digit overall unit growth in 2011, bucking the negative growth of business laptops over the same time period in Western Europe.
Panasonic’s rapid growth in rugged slate tablets was due to the rapid adoption of its Toughbook CF-D1 and CF-H2 fully rugged devices. The CF-D1 is a rugged industrial tablet, designed with support from global car manufacturers, for conducting the latest diagnostics on engines, automobiles, trucks and machines in either the workshop or field environment. The CF-H2 is a second generation, fully rugged tablet PC and comes in 2 versions: The Field model is designed for field workers in indoor or outdoor harsh environments and the Mobile Clinical Assistant model is designed specifically for health workers.
“This latest market research further underlines the benefits our rugged notebooks, and now our rugged tablets, are bringing to organisations across Europe that are trying to cut costs, improve workforce productivity and customer service,” said Stephen Yeo, Director of the Marketing Communications Group, for Panasonic Systems Communications Europe.
“Designed to be fit for purpose, our Toughbook devices are created with the user in mind, using the latest technology to give our business customers the edge in whatever industries or working conditions they operate.”
David Krebs, VP of Mobile and Wireless at VDC Research concludes:
“Panasonic and its broad portfolio of Toughbook rugged notebooks and tablets is well aligned to meet its customer’s mission and business critical mobile computing needs. Panasonic has long been the benchmark in the rugged and durable notebook market and has rapidly emerged as a strong rugged tablet contender.”
About Panasonic System Communications Company Europe (PSCEU)
PSCEU is the European branch of Panasonic Systems Communications Company, the global B2B division of Panasonic. PSCEU’s goal is to improve the working lives of business professionals and help their organizations efficiency and performance. We help organizations capture, compute and communicate all sorts of information: image, voice, and textual data. Products include PBX telephone switches, document printers, professional cameras, projectors, large visual displays and rugged mobile PCs. With around 500 staff, engineering design expertise, global project management capability and a large European partner network, PSCEU offers unrivalled capability in its markets.
The new PSCEU is made up of four business divisions:
- Communication Solutions including professional scanners, multifunctional printers, telephony systems and HD video conferencing systems.
- Visual System Solutions including projectors, interactive whiteboards, presentation aids and displays. Panasonic is the European market leader in projectors with 28% revenue share.
- Professional Camera Solutions including professional audio visual, security and industrial medical vision (IMV) technology. Panasonic is one of the top two professional camera vendors in Europe.
- Computer Product Solutions including the Toughbook range of rugged notebooks, Toughpad business tablets and electronic point of sales (EPOS) systems. Panasonic Toughbook is European rugged and durable notebook market leader with 65.8% market share in 2011 (VDC, March 2012).
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.85 trillion yen (€71.4 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2012. The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net/
