The foundations for what was to become one of the world's biggest electronics companies were laid in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in 1891.
Philips began by making carbon-filament lamps and by the turn of the century, was one of the largest producers in Europe. As developments in new lighting technologies fueled a steady program of expansion, in 1914 it established a research laboratory to study physical and chemical phenomena and stimulate product innovation. lamp
In 1918, it introduced a medical X-ray tube. This marked the beginning of the diversification of its product range and the moment when it began to protect its innovations with patents in areas stretching from X-ray radiation to radio reception. tube
In 1925, Philips became involved in the first experiments in television in 1925 and in 1927 began producing radios in 1927; by 1932, it had sold one million of them. A year later, it produced its 100-millionth radio valve and started production of medical X-ray equipment in the United States. By 1939, when it launched the first Philips' electric shaver, the company employed 45,000 people worldwide. tv
Science and technology underwent tremendous development in the 1940s and 1950s, with Philips Research inventing the rotary heads that led to the development of the Philishave electric shaver, and laying down the basis for later ground-breaking work in transistors and integrated circuits. Philips also made major contributions to the development of the recording, transmission and reproduction of television pictures. In 1963, it introduced the Compact Audio Cassette. In 1965, it produced its first integrated circuits. head
The flow of exciting new products and ideas continued throughout the 1970s. Research in lighting contributed to the new PL and SL energy-saving lamps, while Philips Research made key breakthroughs in the processing, storage and transmission of images, sound and data. These led to the inventions of the LaserVision optical disc, the Compact Disc and optical telecommunication systems. cd
In 1972, the company established PolyGram, the enormously successful music recording label. In 1974, it acquired Magnavox and in 1975, Signetic, both in the United States. Acquisitions in the 1980s included GTE Sylvania's television concern and Westinghouse's lamps business. Then, in 1983, came a technological landmark: the launch of the Compact Disc. Other landmarks of the time included the production of Philips' 100-millionth TV set in 1984 and, in 1995, the 300-millionth Philishave electric shaver. shave
The 1990s was a decade of significant change for Philips. The company carried out a major restructuring program to return it to a healthy footing, simplifying its structure and reducing the number of business areas. In 1997, in cooperation with several other companies - and building on the success of its Compact Disc technology (invented by Philips and jointly introduced with Sony) - it released what proved to be the fastest growing home electronics product in history: the DVD. electro
Moving into the 21st century, Philips has continued to change and grow. Long aware that for many people it is no more than a consumer electronics producer, it has dedicated itself to projecting a new and more representative image that reflects the products it offers in the areas of Healthcare, Lifestyle and Technology. By following this up in 2004 with a massive advertising campaign to unveil its new brand promise of 'Sense and Simplicity', the company confirmed its dedication to offering consumers around the world products that are advanced, easy to use and, above all, designed to meet their needs.

Source: http://www.philips.com/index.htm
Last modified: Tuesday, 27 September 2005, 9:45 AM