Posted on July 11, 2013 Kyle Salem Panasonic Corp
Few companies that operate in the realm of electronics and industrial automation have established a legacy as deeply rooted and globally influential as Aromat Corporation. Originally developed as the American subsidiary of a storied Japanese manufacturer, Aromat played a vital role in expanding automation and relay technologies across the North American market.
Now part of a corporate family that has grown into one of the largest names in global electronics—Panasonic—Aromat’s legacy is embedded in decades of engineering excellence, global partnerships, and transformative industrial solutions. In this blog, we will delve into both the history and current status of Aromat Corporation, providing context to how this company helped shape the landscape of industrial automation and electronics in the United States and abroad.
The story of Aromat Corporation begins with its parent company, Matsushita Electric Works Ltd., which was part of the broader Matsushita industrial group founded by Konosuke Matsushita in Osaka, Japan, in 1918. Originally a small-scale operation producing bicycle flashlight components, the enterprise quickly grew into a major player in Japan’s electrical manufacturing sector, gaining recognition for its innovations in lighting equipment, household appliances, and wartime materials such as airplane propellers and electrical fixtures during World War II.
In the aftermath of the war, Allied occupation policies aimed at decentralizing industrial power led to the restructuring of many large Japanese conglomerates. As a result, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. was split into two distinct entities. One retained the original name and continued manufacturing consumer electronics, while the other became Matsushita Electric Works Ltd., focusing on automation controls, electronic materials, wiring products, and related industrial technologies.
It was within Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. that Aromat Corporation was founded in 1974 as its North American subsidiary. Aromat’s mission was to introduce the company’s advanced automation solutions to the United States, supporting American industries with high-performance relays, sensors, and control systems that reflected Japanese engineering excellence.
Aromat Corporation secured a strong foothold in the North American market by delivering high-quality industrial automation components tailored to the evolving needs of manufacturers and engineers. Centered around relays, sensors, timers, and control devices, its product portfolio was built to simplify circuit designs, reduce system complexity, and ensure operational efficiency. As such, these components found widespread application in sectors like factory automation, automotive electronics, telecommunications infrastructure, and home appliance control systems.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Aromat solidified its reputation for technical innovation and product reliability. In particular, its electromagnetic and solid-state relays became well-regarded for their precise performance and long service life in high-demand environments. The company also expanded into advanced photonics and motion control technologies during this time, aligning its offerings with the growing push toward intelligent automation and precision-driven manufacturing across various sectors in North America.
A pivotal shift in corporate identity began in the early 2000s. Over the decades, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.’s consumer electronics line marketed under the Panasonic brand gained significant international traction due to its reputation for innovation, reliability, and mass-market appeal. By the early 21st century, Panasonic had become the company’s most recognized name worldwide.
In response, Aromat Corporation was rebranded in 2005 as Panasonic Electric Works Corporation of America to facilitate tighter coordination in product development, marketing, and supply chain management. This extended to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, which in 2008 chose to unify its various subsidiaries under the name Panasonic Corporation, fostering enhanced brand clarity, streamlined marketing strategies, and a more integrated global presence.
Ultimately, in 2012, the integration was completed when Panasonic Electric Works Co.—the renamed successor to Matsushita Electric Works Ltd.—was fully merged into Panasonic Corporation. This consolidation not only solidified a unified corporate structure, but also enabled the former Aromat Corporation to fully leverage Panasonic’s extensive research and development resources, global logistics networks, and expanded customer base. The move reinforced Panasonic’s position as a dominant force in electronics while preserving the high-performance standards established by Aromat.
Today, the legacy of Aromat Corporation continues through an extensive range of Panasonic industrial automation and electronic components. Panasonic’s current product lines inherited from Aromat include:
These items are critical to the function of systems in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, robotics, industrial HVAC, factory automation, building infrastructure, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. In each of these fields, reliability, integration, and performance are imperative qualities, which Panasonic continues to deliver by building on Aromat’s foundational engineering principles and decades of application-specific experience. To support long-term consistency and reduce system redevelopment costs, many product lines also retain backward compatibility with legacy Aromat designs.
As of 2024, Panasonic operates more than 580 consolidated subsidiaries and employs approximately 320,000 people globally, according to the company’s most recent financial and sustainability disclosures. It remains a leading force in automotive electronics, energy storage, and smart factory solutions, as well as lands among the world’s top producers of electronic components for electric vehicles (EVs). The company also continues to rank as one of the top five global television manufacturers and maintains a prominent position in semiconductor-related solutions.
Moreover, Panasonic has been recognized for its contributions to sustainability and innovation. In the 2024 Corporate Knights Global 100 ranking, Panasonic was listed among the top 100 most sustainable corporations in the world. The company’s growing investments in green energy technologies, including next-generation EV battery systems and hydrogen fuel cells, emphasize its forward-looking approach to global energy and climate challenges.
As this history demonstrates, the Aromat Corporation name is tied to a rich legacy of industrial innovation, technical excellence, and customer-focused engineering. Whether identified by its original name or under the Panasonic Electric Works brand, their products are essential for a wide array of modern systems. These parts should only be secured from dependable sources, and ASAP Semiconductor serves as one such procurement partner offering unrivaled access to top-quality items from trusted entities like Panasonic.
Through our platform, customers can purchase countless components that are suitable for demanding industrial and commercial applications, each of which are shipped out with pertinent documentation for compliance and traceability. Furthermore, with competitive pricing, fast lead times, and exceptional service, we strive to present a seamless procurement experience every time. This being said, we encourage you to explore our inventory and connect with our experts to see how we can assist with your operational needs.
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