Managing Director of Snelling Business Systems, Toby Wise, has just returned from Japan, where he was honoured to have been hosted by Japanese electrical giant Panasonic.
Snelling Business Systems has been working with Panasonic for a number of years as one of their key suppliers of audio visual equipment. They have installed some of the company's most cutting edge technology in buildings throughout the country and in early 2011, they will be working with Panasonic to install the very first Panasonic 103" 3D Full HD plasma screen in the UK, together with a triple edge blend 3 x Full HD projection system at the pioneering Ruskin Digital Gallery in Cambridge.
The trip was an opportunity to further cement this relationship between the two companies. Panasonic, now the largest electronics producer in Japan and ranked the 89th-largest company in the world in 2009 by the Forbes Global 2000, arranged a packed schedule, giving Mr Wise the opportunity to fully appreciate the history of the company, their vision for the future and experience some Japanese culture.
Arranged by Jerome Bernard, Panasonic's European Director of AV Systems, the five day trip began in Osaka, before moving on to Kyoto and then Tokyo. During the visit, Mr Wise was given a tour of one of the largest Panasonic installations in the country, was welcomed to the Panasonic headquarters where he delivered a short presentation about Snelling Business Systems, and he was taken on a factory tour, giving him the opportunity to view the production process.
Toby Wise said :
"It was fascinating to witness the production process and see the broadcast technologies we work with on a daily basis being assembled. The quality control is incredible with each product undergoing a rigorous testing process and the experience gave me a real insight into the quality of the Panasonic products we recommend to our clients."
Mr Wise was also given an opportunity to visit the Panasonic Eco Home that was re-opened in October 2010 and boasts groundbreaking technologies, including a home energy management system which controls and monitors energy usage, to ensure that the building delivers a lifestyle with virtually zero CO2 emissions.
Toby Wise said :
"Panasonic has a real vision for the future. Whilst a lot of the AV technologies they are working on is based around 3D, there is also a very strong emphasis on eco products. They are striving to reduce energy consumption, whilst producing products which increase the human experience. It was inspirational to see where they are going with their corporate philosophy".
In addition, Mr Wise was able to enjoy some of the finest Japanese culture, sites and tradition. As well as sampling the many culinary delights the county has to offer, he visited some of the beautiful temples in each city, experienced the majesty of Mount Fuji and stayed a traditional Roykan where he slept on a bamboo mat. He was also given a private tour of the Panasonic museum, which outlines the history of the company, which was founded in 1918 by Konosuke Matsushita.
Toby Wise said :
"There is a real parallel in ethos between the founder of Panasonic and Roy Snelling, who founded the Snelling Group in 1954. Both gentlemen believed that people are more important than the product and thus their companies aim to deliver a service and product that enriches people's lives. It was fascinating to learn so much about Panasonic and see how similar the two businesses are".
Snelling Business Systems looks forward to working with Panasonic and their other core suppliers during 2011.