Philips 2005 Annual Report Download - page 48

Philips Annual Report 200548
Information on the Philips Group
Other Activities
Corporate Investments
Corporate Investments, with some 4,900 employees,
manages a portfolio of activities that strategically no longer
tintothecurrentoperatingdivisions.Mosthavebeen
earmarked for full or partial divestment, while others are
temporarily parked for re-allocation to strategic initiatives
or are being redesigned for other purposes. The most
important activities in this group are as follows:
Philips Enabling Technologies Group
Philips Enabling Technologies Group (ETG) operates in the
business of system integration of mechatronic (sub-)systems
and modules for OEMs in the high-tech capital equipment
industry. ETG is an equipment foundry offering its customers
equipment manufacturing, engineering and supply chain
management. ETG applies technologies in sheet metal,
ultra-high precision machining, assembly and system
integration capabilities.
Assembléon
Assembléon is a wholly owned subsidiary that develops,
assembles, markets and distributes a diverse range of
surface-mount technology placement equipment. Its
customers use Assembléon machines to place surface-
mount devices and other electronic components on
printed circuit boards.
Philips Business Communications
Philips Business Communications, a provider of enterprise
communication solutions, signed a memorandum of
understanding in 2005 to form a venture with NEC, who
will take a majority share. The new company name will be
NECPhilipsUniedSolutions,andPhilipswillhold40%of
the shares. The transaction, conditional upon regulatory
approvals, is expected to be completed in 2006.
Others
Other activities in Corporate Investments are Philips Power
Solutions, Philips High-Tech Plastics, Anteryon, Ommic and
Philips Advanced Metrology Systems.
In 2005 the activities Philips Sound Solutions and RF
Solutions were successfully repositioned to other parts
of the company, Optical Storage and Semiconductors
respectively.
In 2005 the following activities were sold: CMS Louviers,
Philips Aerospace and High-Tech Plastics Automotive.
Philips Design
Philips Design is dedicated to creating value by providing
distinctive, innovative and cost-effective design solutions
that satisfy people’s needs and help make an increasingly
complex world more accessible. It does this through its
proprietary High Design process. High Design is based
upon in-depth research into people’s behavior, their
relationship with technology, socio-cultural dynamics and
evolving lifestyles. The know-how gained is then fed into
the innovation process, fostering cross-company synergies
and opening up new business opportunities. One of the
most skills-rich and longest-established design studios in
the world, Philips Design has some 450 employees from
over 30 countries located in 12 studios around the globe.
Philips Design also supports other global companies such as
Microsoft, Securitas, Deutsche Telekom, Procter & Gamble,
Hewlett-Packard, General Motors and Masterfoods, and
is a respected strategic design partner in the areas of
innovation, brand & identity and marketing.
Sinceitsrststeps80yearsago,designatPhilipshas
evolved into a key driver of innovation. Each year Philips
Design receives a variety of global awards in assorted
categories – including product design, communication
design, concept design and interface design. In 2005 alone,
Philips received a total of some 40 design awards from
Red Dot Award for ‘Glowing Places’
In 2005, Philips won the prestigious Red Dot Award in the new
‘design concept’ category. The winning work, ‘Glowing Places’, was
developed by Philips Design in collaboration with the Helen Hamlyn
Research Centre at the Royal College of Art in London. ‘Glowing
Places’ uses interactive lighting, embedded in public seating, to
respond to people’s presence and behavior.