ClearTech Meets with Panasonic in Japan August 2026

ClearTech clients trust us not only to design and integrate technology solutions, but to support them over the long haul – both by keeping their gear performing at peak levels and by providing strategic guidance on how AV can advance their company objectives in an ever-changing technology landscape. 

To provide real value to our clients, we work with manufacturers we can trust to hold up their end of the bargain for the end user. In our universe of partners, none has proven more reliable than Panasonic. By every measure from performance and durability to ongoing service, this is a brand that stands behind its gear – and has always stood right by our side – on every project. That’s no surprise. Over the years we have invested in each other to create a relationship that gives ClearTech direct access to all their technical and service expertise. 

The most recent evidence of that investment? ClearTech VP Maxwell Brown’s recent visit to Panasonic’s Kadoma manufacturing facility in Osaka, Japan. We spoke with him about the visit – how it came about, what it consisted of, and how the impact redounds to our clients’ benefit. 

ClearTech: Was this your first visit to Panasonic in Japan?

Max: Yes, and it happened somewhat serendipitously. ClearTech is Panasonic’s official launch partner in Southern California for the company’s new line of Direct-View LED (DvLED) displays, which were featured in Panasonic’s recent Illuminate the World tour, hosted in Culver City, California on July 16, 2026. I attended the event, and in a conversation with Panasonic leadership mentioned that I would be in Japan later in the month. They asked if I would be interested in touring one of their manufacturing facilities. 

ClearTech: We know you said yes. Was it simply because you were curious to see the plant?

Max: It’s always interesting to visit a high-tech factory, but mostly I saw it as an opportunity to deepen my connection with a company and a team that have been instrumental in ClearTech’ s success. 

ClearTech: Maybe before we talk about the visit, you can give us an overview of how Panasonic and ClearTech have worked together.

Max: We started selling Panasonic projectors when the company introduced its first laser models around 2013. We loved their performance and felt good about recommending them to our customers. It wasn’t long before we became a certified dealer for Panasonic Visual Solutions. Skip ahead to the present and we’re happier than ever with the company’s technology. Between their LCD projectors and 1- and 3-chip DLPs, Panasonic offers a lineup that gives our clients a wide range of options in terms of brightness levels, lens selection and imaging technology, etc. And now the Direct-View LED displays open a whole new world of options for our clients. The display quality is amazing, but so is the flexibility they offer, along with single-SKU convenience in the all-in-one models, and cost effectiveness in a broad range of applications, from hospitality and retail to education and corporate. 

But it’s not just their products that make Panasonic a preferred partner for ClearTech. Their engineers, sales reps and service experts give us outstanding service. They’ve sponsored AV technology events with us. Panasonic also ensures we have the latest and most detailed product information, and whenever technical issues arise, they deploy every resource to help us. Combine that kind of support with superior product performance and value and you can see why the relationship continues to grow. 

ClearTech: So tell us about the visit. 

Max: Panasonic invited me to visit what they call their “Kadoma Plant” – Kadoma being the area in greater Osaka where it’s located. I was excited to see the factory because it’s where most of the products we purchase are manufactured. 

When I arrived, several representatives were there to meet me, and I was led to a conference room where they went over the company history, operations and current product line. Then I provided an overview of ClearTech and how we’ve integrated their products into our business. This phase of the meeting concluded with a discussion about the Direct-View LED line specifically and how we could work together to take advantage of various opportunities to grow that business. 

From there, I was taken to the quality control testing center for Panasonic projectors. This is where their engineers conduct tests to determine product longevity. They do drop tests to determine product durability when being transported and handled. Fault analysis is also conducted here. Devices are broken down into their component parts, which are then analyzed to identify performance shortfalls and opportunities to increase the products’ useable life. 

My favorite part of quality control testing involved dust testing of projectors. Since products will often be deployed in places that face significant environmental challenges, Panasonic works to understand how factors like airborne particulates impact performance. To this end, they’ve developed their own dust formula to simulate dirty air, which they pump into a sealed environment where the projectors operate in progressively more challenging conditions.

ClearTech: What came next on your tour?

We were off to the factory floor. What struck me here was how carefully the projectors are manufactured. Rather than automated production, Panasonic relies on highly skilled human labor to assemble the gear from – in the case of the 1- and 3-chip DLPs – a few thousand components. The LCD projectors are a bit simpler, but they’re still complex. Over a day, the plant workers will assemble maybe 100 LCD projectors, but just 10-15 of the laser models. I have to say, I walked out of there with a real appreciation for Panasonic’s engineering acumen and manufacturing expertise.

Next, we went to a demo room to look at the Dv-LED line of projectors, including the 137- and 175-inch all-in one units and the new 55-inch Direct-View LED panel displays. This portion of the visit was fascinating because ClearTech is directly involved in launching the Dv-LED products in the United States. It really helps to be able to talk about them with the knowledge I acquired from seeing how they come to life and how they’re engineered to perform. 

ClearTech: Any other experiences at the factory stand out for you?

So many. One of them was fairly basic but still striking. 

You know how projectors are given lifetime ratings? Well, I got to see the room where various models are run continuously. I had always assumed that those ratings were estimates, but it turns out they’re actual measurements.

ClearTech: How did the visit conclude?

With one of the best dinners I’ve ever had! The hospitality I received was exceptional – but I have to say, it wasn’t surprising. Panasonic has always treated us like a valued partner. I’m very grateful for the visit, not just personally but on a very practical level because I learned quite a bit and gained even more confidence in our business relationship. And the confidence I have in Panasonic helps me earn the confidence of our clients.