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KDK

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Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.
Founded1909
Headquarters Japan
ProductsRange hoods
Air doors (air curtains)
Hand dryers
Electric fans (including ceiling fans and ventilating fans)
Dehumidifiers
WebsiteKDK Japan

KDK Malaysia
KDK Indonesia

KDK Singapore

Kawakita Denki Kigyosha (Japanese for "Kawakita Electric Company"; commonly known as KDK), is the brand name used by Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd., a separate company of the Panasonic Corporation (formerly the Matsushita Electric Industrial Group), to manufacture the group's ventilating products. Before becoming part of Matsushita Electric, KDK was a separate company not affiliated with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. KDK was registered as a trademark in 1912 but originated in 1909 as Nippon Electric Industry Co. Ltd.

File:Kdk 1.jpg
A KDK desk fan sold in the '50s

KDK primarily manufactures electric fans, although the company also manufactures ceiling fans, ventilating fans, range hoods, air doors (air curtains), hand dryers, dehumidifiers, and subterranean air blowers, under the Panasonic brand.

History

This unusual ceiling fan was a rare and poorly organized fail-sales attempt of an imported KDK ceiling fan which was relabeled "RoyalAire By KDK" by then distributor Sumitomo America in the decade of the 1980s for the United States.

KDK became part of the Matsushita Conglomerate in 1956. Matsushita Seiko as it was known is no longer headquartered in Osaka, Japan; manufacturing for KDK and Panasonic Ventilating products was transferred from Selangor, Malaysia to mainland China in 2001. All manufacturing is done at the Shenzhen Panasonic Air Works Co., Ltd. factory in Shenzhen, China and the international sales offices has also re-located to Hong Kong under the Matsushita Seiko Hong Kong International Manufacturing Company, Ltd. known as "HIMCO" since 2001.

The oldest KDK distributor is Abdulaziz & Sulaiman Saleh Al-Hakbany Sons Trading Co. from Saudi Arabia which dates back to 1936. Puerto Rico is the second oldest KDK distributor dating back to 1940. The newest distributors for KDK are La Innovaccion from the Dominican Republic (2002) and O.C.S. from Jamaica (2004); the latter also distributes National Branded Fans which will now be known as Panasonic as in 2008.

KDK has made two attempts to distribute their products in contiguous United States. The first attempt was in 1983 when U.S.-based Patton Industries imported the electric oscillating fans, relabeled them "KDK by Patton", and the ceiling fans were then relabeled "RoyalAire" by Sumitomo America, one of Matsushita's banks, shareholders and insurance providers. This was a failure as the products never caught on with consumers. The second attempt was in 1998. Miami-based importer Caribbean Export Appliances,Inc. tried to sell KDK products but, due to their high resale prices and poor selection of models and colors, sales were minimal. The inventory was exported to Jamaica and other Caribbean nations until the Puerto Rico distributor reported it to Matsushita Seiko, which in return revoked Caribbeans Exports' distribution license.

File:KDK D40Y-B Desk Fan.jpg
A 2014 KDK D40Y Desk Fan, manufactured and sold in the Philippine market, features a newer Aeropitch™ blade

In April 2002, Matsushita Seiko Co., Ltd. changed its name to Matsushita Ecology Systems Co.,Ltd. after corporate restructuring and dissolution of the partnership between Matsushita and Seiko. The company opened a wholly owned sales branch in Malaysia in April 2002. In Indonesia, the company established on December 1, 2001 and early KDK products manufactured by PT. National Gobel until December 1, 2001. In Singapore , the company established on 1995. In August 1996, the company has been the sole distributor for KDK fans in Singapore.

In 2009, KDK celebrated the 100th anniversary of its establishment.

Products

KDK currently manufactures electric fans, ceiling fans, ventilating fans, range hoods, air doors (air curtains), hand dryers, dehumidifiers, and subterranean air blowers. However, electric fans have been primarily their most profitable product, on which they remain the world's leading manufacturer of electronically-operated fans in different varieties, such as orbit fan, wall fan, desk fan, pedestal fan, living fan, and stand fan. KDK also manufactures all electric fans sold under the Panasonic brand.

File:P-1635-panasonic-f40dyp.jpg
A 2011 Panasonic F-40DYP Desk Fan, manufactured and sold in the Philippine market, features an older blade design

KDK pioneered the 1/f yuragi™ technology - a one of its kind in electric fan industry - on which the electric fan varies the wind speed in order to simulate the natural breeze of the environment. Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology Report claimed that this feature could help minimize muscle pain by preventing rapid body temperature loss due to constant wind penetrating the human body. KDK also features a new ball bearing type motor, which is more durable, longer lasting, better in performance, and energy saving, versus their previous motor. Both features are also available in the Panasonic branded electric fans.

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