FINLUX

FINLUX is a Finnish consumer-electronics brand whose roots lie in radio and television manufacturing in Lohja. Its industrial origins reach back to Iskumetalli Oy, a company that began producing tube radios under license from Sweden's Luxor in 1949 and entered television production in 1958. When the Luxor licensing relationship ended in 1971, the Finlux name was formally introduced. The name combined elements associated with Finland and Luxor and became the identity of the consumer-electronics business within the Oy Lohja AB industrial group. The brand developed a substantial position in Finnish television manufacturing during the 1970s. In 1972 it presented the Finlux Peacock, its first colour television, developed by engineer Martti Ahava. The Colibri model followed in 1974. Finlux also became associated with technical development beyond conventional television hardware. In 1977, Lohja began producing electroluminescent displays after acquiring a development project led by Dr. Tuomo Suntola. The displays used the atomic-layer-deposition process developed through that project and were marketed under the Finlux name. Lohja later sold the electroluminescent-display operation to Planar in 1991. Another important product development was the Finlux OBC, or Optimum Brightness Contrast, colour-television line introduced in 1978. The range was developed by engineer Heikki Tupala and became one of the company's most successful Finnish products. Lohja expanded its consumer-electronics activities in 1979 by acquiring Asa Radio Oy of Turku, a long-established Finnish radio and television manufacturer. At that point, the group was producing approximately 170,000 television sets per year under the Finlux and ASA brands. Ownership and manufacturing changed repeatedly during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 1992, Finlux television manufacturing was sold to Nokia, which already operated television businesses using brands including Salora, Schaub-Lorenz and Oceanic. Nokia subsequently sold its television factories and brand names to Hong Kong-based Semi-Tech in 1996. Semi-Tech continued operating a Finnish television factory until 2000, when its Finnish subsidiary entered bankruptcy. A new Finlux Oy, owned by Norwegian company Otrum Electronics, was then established to continue television production. Its product strategy remained heavily dependent on cathode-ray-tube televisions at a time when the market was moving rapidly toward flat-panel displays. The company failed to make the transition quickly enough and accumulated approximately 50 million euros in debt before filing for bankruptcy in September 2005. In January 2006, Turkish electronics manufacturer Vestel Elektronik acquired the Finlux brand. Vestel was part of Zorlu Holding and assembled televisions in Turkey. Before the acquisition, Finlux had held meaningful market positions in the United Kingdom and Benelux, as well as in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Under Vestel ownership, FINLUX continued as a consumer-electronics brand rather than as an independent Finnish manufacturing company. Its historical identity remains linked to Finnish television engineering, while its later commercial structure reflects Vestel's manufacturing and brand-management operations.

FINLUX developed from the Lohja, Finland, industrial environment. Iskumetalli Oy, originally associated with industrial pumps, began making tube radios under a Luxor license in 1949 and produced its first televisions in 1958. Iskumetalli became part of the Lohja industrial group in 1964. After the Luxor license expired, the Finlux name was introduced in 1971 as the identity of the consumer-electronics business. The company expanded into colour television during the 1970s. Its first colour set, the Peacock, appeared in 1972, followed by the Colibri in 1974. In 1977, Lohja entered electroluminescent-display manufacturing after acquiring a project led by Tuomo Suntola. The resulting displays used atomic layer deposition and were also sold under the Finlux name. The display business was sold to Planar in 1991. Finlux's 1978 OBC television range, developed by Heikki Tupala, became a particularly successful product line. In 1979, Lohja acquired Asa Radio Oy, expanding the group's Finnish consumer-electronics manufacturing base. The combined operation was producing about 170,000 televisions annually under the Finlux and ASA names. The brand changed hands as the European television industry consolidated. Finlux television manufacturing was sold to Nokia in 1992. Nokia transferred its television factories and brand names to Hong Kong-based Semi-Tech in 1996. Semi-Tech maintained production in Finland until 2000, when its Finnish subsidiary went bankrupt. Otrum Electronics subsequently established a new Finlux Oy to continue production. The replacement company struggled because its range remained centered on CRT televisions while consumers were moving to flat-panel technology. It accumulated around 50 million euros in debt and entered bankruptcy in September 2005. Vestel Elektronik acquired the Finlux brand in January 2006. Vestel, part of Zorlu Holding, manufactured televisions in Turkey and inherited a name that had previously enjoyed notable distribution and market presence in the United Kingdom, Benelux, Italy, Spain and Portugal. FINLUX thereafter remained an active brand under Vestel ownership, with its historical association with Finnish television technology continuing alongside a broader international manufacturing structure.

• 2006

  Vestel acquires the brand

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Vestel Elektronik acquired FINLUX and continued operating the name within Zorlu Holding's electronics group.

• 2005

  Finlux Oy files for bankruptcy

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  The Otrum-owned Finlux Oy entered bankruptcy after failing to adapt its CRT-centered product line to the flat-panel television market.

• 2000

  Semi-Tech's Finnish subsidiary enters bankruptcy

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Semi-Tech's Finnish television subsidiary filed for bankruptcy after continuing production through the end of the 1990s.

• 1996

  Nokia sells television assets to Semi-Tech

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Nokia sold its television factories and brand names to Hong Kong-based Semi-Tech.

• 1992

  Television manufacturing sold to Nokia

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Finlux television manufacturing was transferred to Nokia.

• 1991

  Display operation sold to Planar

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  The electroluminescent-display manufacturing business was sold to Planar.

• 1979

  Asa Radio acquired

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Lohja acquired Asa Radio Oy, increasing the scale of its Finnish radio and television activities.

• 1978

  OBC television line introduced

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Finlux launched its Optimum Brightness Contrast colour-television range, developed by Heikki Tupala.

• 1977

  Electroluminescent-display manufacturing begins

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Lohja began manufacturing electroluminescent displays using technology associated with Tuomo Suntola's development project.

• 1972

  Peacock colour television launched

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Finlux introduced its first colour television, the Peacock, developed by engineer Martti Ahava.

• 1971

  Finlux brand introduced

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  After the Luxor licensing agreement ended, the Finlux name was formally introduced within the Lohja group.

• 1958

  First television receivers produced

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  The company's Finnish manufacturing operation entered television production.

• 1949

  Radio production begins under Luxor license

  [1]Finluxen.wikipedia.org

  Iskumetalli Oy began producing tube radio receivers in Lohja under license from the Swedish company Luxor.

A Finnish-origin consumer-electronics brand historically associated with television engineering and later operated within Vestel's international television portfolio.

• Colour television · 1972

  Finlux Peacock

  The Peacock was Finlux's first colour television, introduced in 1972. Developed by engineer Martti Ahava, it represented the brand's transition from earlier radio and monochrome television production into colour television manufacturing.

• Colour television · 1974

  Finlux Colibri

  The Colibri was a Finlux colour-television model introduced in 1974. It followed the Peacock and formed part of the brand's expansion of its colour television range during the 1970s.

• Colour television line · 1978

  Finlux OBC

  The OBC, short for Optimum Brightness Contrast, was a colour-television line launched in 1978. Developed by engineer Heikki Tupala, it became one of the most successful products associated with the original Finnish Finlux operation.

• Display technology · 1977

  Finlux electroluminescent displays

  During the late 1970s and 1980s, Lohja manufactured electroluminescent displays marketed under the Finlux name. The production process used atomic layer deposition technology developed in a project led by Dr. Tuomo Suntola.

• Televisions

  Finlux television sets

  Television sets remain the core product category associated with FINLUX. The brand moved from Finnish-made radio and CRT television products through successive ownership changes and later operated under Vestel's international consumer-electronics structure.

• 2008Hammarby shirt sponsorship

  Sweden

  FINLUX served as the main shirt sponsor of Swedish football club Hammarby during the 2008–2009 period.

  Outcome. The arrangement gave FINLUX branded exposure in Swedish football.

  Source
• 1986Sheffield Wednesday shirt sponsorship

  United Kingdom

  FINLUX sponsored Sheffield Wednesday Football Club from 1986 to 1988, placing the brand on the club's shirts during that period.

  Outcome. The sponsorship increased the brand's visibility in English football and caused the FINLUX name to appear in archival footage connected with the Hillsborough disaster.

  Source

• 2006

  Vestel acquires FINLUXM&A

  Background

  Following the bankruptcy of Finlux Oy, the brand remained commercially valuable in several European television markets.

  Action taken

  Vestel Elektronik acquired the FINLUX brand and brought it into the Zorlu Holding electronics group.

  Aftermath

  FINLUX continued as a Vestel-owned consumer-electronics brand, with television assembly associated with Vestel's Turkish manufacturing base.

  Source

• 2005

  Bankruptcy of Finlux OyOther

  Background

  Finlux Oy's product range remained focused on CRT televisions while the market shifted toward flat-panel technology.

  Action taken

  The Otrum-owned company filed for bankruptcy after accumulating approximately 50 million euros in debt.

  Aftermath

  The brand was acquired by Vestel Elektronik in January 2006 and continued under new ownership.

  Debt. approximately 50 million euros (At the time of the September 2005 bankruptcy filing)

  Source

• 1992

  Sell television manufacturing to NokiaM&A

  Background

  The Finlux television operation was transferred during a period of consolidation in the European television industry.

  Action taken

  Finlux television manufacturing was sold to Nokia, which already operated several television brands.

  Aftermath

  Nokia later sold the television factories and brand names to Semi-Tech in 1996.

  Source

1. 1Finluxen.wikipedia.org