Panasonic Electronic Devices Corporation of America's KNOX Division began operations in 1982 as the North American manufacturing base for Panasonic electronic components. The first products of the Knoxville, Tennessee, location were aluminum electrolytic capacitors and loudspeakers.

     Initially, both single-ended radial and two-pin snap-in capacitors were included in the product line. The small radials were soon discontinued in Knoxville as it became evident that larger case sizes would become the competitive strength of the plant. The Capacitor Plant currently produces two-pin and multi-pin snap-in capacitors.

     The initial loudspeakers were targeted for Hi-Fi consumer electronics systems. The Speaker Plant focus quickly shifted to the automotive industry, however, and is now regarded as the premier automotive speaker design and manufacturing center in the world. Designs created in our Knoxville engineering center for OEM's are produced not only in Knoxville but in Panasonic and non-Panasonic manufacturing plants around the world.

     The Aluminum Foil Plant was established in 1991 in order to integrate the Capacitor Plant vertically. Beginning with only four small formation machines, the plant has now grown to the largest Panasonic formation facility in the world and the largest formation facility in the Western Hemisphere.

     All KNOX Division manufacturing and support activities take place in our 363,000 square foot building in our Forks of the River Industrial Park campus in southeast Knox County. The cleanliness necessary to prevent contamination to capacitor products has been extended to the rest of the facility, too. All employees wear company-provided upperwear and shoes to promote team consciousness, conformity, and cleanliness.