Whenever I watch movies, Samsung always brings me to a new place.
From Hogwarts to Narnia to Asgard…
Although, I wonder…
Samsung always transports me to a new place, but where does it come from?
I got the answer. Let me tell you all about it.
Keep reading to discover:
- Countries where Samsung will build their newest TV factories.
- The reason why Samsung doesn’t make their TVs in one place.
- 9 essential things you need to know about Samsung TV production.
- And so much more…
Where are Samsung TVs made?
Samsung TVs are made primarily in Korea. There are also TV production plants in Mexico, India, and Vietnam. Samsung is also building a new factory in Pakistan to help boost their employment.
9 things you need to know about Samsung TVs
#1: Samsung started as a grocery store
Talk about humble beginnings…
Did you know that Samsung started as a small grocery store in 1938?
Yes. You heard that right…
Samsung didn’t start by selling phones or TVs…
They started selling noodles and goods in Taegu, South Korea.
It seems like a far cry from the multi-billion dollar company we know now, doesn’t it?
What’s more, is that the store stood during the height of WWII. A time when Koreans were still under the Japanese regime…
This means that the Korean-owned Samsung would’ve been under intense scrutiny then.
It’s a good mental exercise to imagine a world if that small grocery didn’t survive.
Thankfully, it did…
And the small grocery shop in Taegu blossomed into a multinational company.
What a glow-up.
#2: Samsung manufactured their first TV in Korea during the late 60s
Now, let’s fast forward a couple of decades.
The year is now 1969, and the USA has just landed the first person on the moon.
As for Samsung? They’ve not been idle the past couple of years.
In fact, between 1938 and 1969, here are some notable things that they did:
- Expanded into textiles and wooden mills.
- Acquired Korea’s the 3 biggest banks in Korea.
- Branched out into industrial and chemical production.
- Bought out insurance companies, oil refineries, nylon factories, and a department store.
And in 1969, they started to produce black-and-white televisions in Korea.
They’ve begun exporting televisions to other countries in just a little more than a year.
To everyone in the world, Samsung seems destined to be the next great company.
And, as luck would have it, they met that expectation. And more.
#3: Samsung doesn’t make their TVs in one place
Some people think Samsung TVs are made in 1 country. Particularly in Korea.
They’re wrong.
Here’s the secret:
Your Samsung TV might’ve been to more countries than you have stamps on your passport.
How so?
You see, there are places called “assembly plants.”
This is the place where the parts of your Samsung TV are assembled.
Yep. That’s right…
Samsung manufactures each part of your TV in different places.
The reason?
It’s easier this way to train factory employees…
After all, a different skill set is required to create each part of your TV.
You may also be interested in: Why Is Samsung TV Expensive?
#4: The establishment of Samsung’s first TV factory in Pakistan
2021—A year I’m sure most of us would rather forget.
But it’s not without its silver linings.
For one, Samsung has opened its first TV manufacturing plant in Pakistan.
The plant—in operation since the last quarter of 2021—aims to produce 50000 TVs annually.
Now, why is this good news?
Because this was a plan made in partnership with the Pakistan government.
You see, the Pakistan government introduced the “Made in Pakistan” policy in 2020.
Their goal? Bolster their own country’s manufacturing industry…
Which will then boost their country’s workforce by creating more jobs. Allowing them to be one step closer to eradicating unemployment.
#5: Samsung’s $200 million commitment to India
Samsung entered the Indian market in 1995…
But it wasn’t until the mid-2000s that they built their first plant in the said country.
Established in 2007, the Samsung factory in Sriperumbudur was a game-changer.
Why?
Because they’re one of the first factories to produce QLED TV, Samsung’s flagship TV model.
Not just that, the same factory also produces Samsung’s other smart appliances, like:
- Refrigerators.
- Air conditioners.
- Washing machines.
And now, in 2022, Samsung is investing more in the region.
By how much, you ask?
INR 1588 crore or almost $200 million.
Samsung will use this money to set up a new 22-acre plant in Sriperumbudur.
Like the new factory in Pakistan, this deal is set to give thousands of new jobs in the region…
Something that India, a country with a large population, needs.
#6: The effects of the Ho Chi Minh lockout on Samsung’s Vietnam factory
One of Samsung’s largest factories in Asia is in Vietnam.
The Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City is home to more than 7000 employees.
This particular plant is so big that they’re not only shipping TVs to Southeast Asia…
But also to the USA and Europe.
Here’s the thing:
Even big companies like Samsung aren’t immune to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the Vietnam government decided to lock out Ho Chi Minh.
Meaning that Samsung was forced to stop the production of TVs in the area.
That said, they found a way around it.
Instead of shutting down the factory, they allowed workers to rest in close locations.
The thing is…
Vietnam implemented stricter restrictions. Resulting in a complete temporary shutdown of the plant.
And the result is staggering:
Almost $145 million a day were lost until Samsung opened the plant again.
#7: The decision to stop the TV manufacturing plant in Russia
One of Samsung’s largest markets in the world is Russia.
But, in light of the conflict against Ukraine…
In 2022, Samsung suspended all factories in Russia until the conflict is resolved.
That announcement was days after they stopped selling their devices to the region.
The company made this decision in solidarity with Ukraine. In fact, other companies have also stopped serving Russia once the conflict escalated.
What does this mean for Samsung?
Turns out that principles cost a lot of money.
The research company, Omdia, estimates that Samsung exports may decrease by 10%. The most are around 50%.
How is it possible to lose that much over one country?
You see, Russia is big and strategically placed. It’s near to both Europe and Asia.
That’s why their factories were among the most important for Samsung…
Which makes their decision to stop manufacturing in the country much nobler.
#8: The move away from China
For such a big country, it might surprise you that there was only one Samsung factory in China.
Good catch if you noticed that I said “was.”
This is because Samsung has closed shop on its only Chinese factory in 2020.
Now, it’s easier to say that they moved away from China because of the pandemic…
But the truth is, it was only the last straw.
Samsung has already started shifting away from China way before that.
The move away from China started when the US-China trade war started…
Which allowed a 25% tariff on US goods from China, and vice versa.
For Samsung, that meant that being in China was no longer profitable.
And, little by little, they decided to cut their losses and began downsizing…
Until the eventual shutdown of the last factory in 2020.
If you’re interested to learn more about this news, tune in to:
#9: The half-a-billion dollars investment into Mexico
Now, for some breaking news:
Samsung has invested $500 million to create one more factory in Queretaro, Mexico.
Yep, half a billion dollars. And that’s an even bigger investment since they already have a different factory in Mexico.
You might be wondering:
“Why such a large investment in one country?”
The answer is simple:
First, Samsung is committed to creating as many jobs as possible in countries that need them.
And second, Mexico has an interesting location in a global context.
It’s the country that links North America and Latin America—two of Samsung’s largest markets.
In the grand scheme of things…
$500 million is little compared to the profits Samsung will get from this new plant.
Are Samsung TVs reliable?
Samsung TVs are reliable—after all, there’s a reason why they’re still the biggest TV manufacturer in the world.
Nowadays, they’re known to produce the only true QLED TVs in the market.
The groundbreaking QLED technology allows them to have the best TV display right now. QLED allows Samsung TVs to have deeper colors and more control over the picture quality.
Not only that, but Samsung is also committed to bringing you the best sound experience.
This is evident after acquiring Harman, one of the best audio companies in the world.
And Samsung isn’t stopping…
In fact, they’re investing billions of dollars into R&D just to serve its customers better.
All in all, reliability and innovation.
Expect those when you’re getting a Samsung TV.