By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 11/20/2008 8:33:00 AM

Osaka, Japan — In an effort to improve its cost efficiency and price competitiveness, Panasonic said Wednesday it will consolidate all plasma panel production in Hyogo Prefecture by the end of the year, the Nikkei news service reported.
Panasonic currently manufactures 65-inch plasma panels at a plant in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, and produces all other sizes at two factories in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
By centralizing production of all screen sizes at the efficient Amagasaki facilities, Panasonic said it expects to cut production costs, including electricity charges, by up to $42.2 million year.
Panasonic said it also intends to concentrate development and testing of flat panels, including next-generation OEL panels, at the Ibaraki site. A new development site for LCD panels is planned to be established there next fiscal year, along with a prototype production line for LCD screens, Nikkei reported.