Matsuskita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic will close its rear-projection TV assembly plant in Vancouver, Wash., in yet another blow to a category undone by the popularity of flat-panel TVs. In shutting the 22-year-old factory, Panasonic will lay off 89 workers. The plant employed 460 when it built TV/VCRs and direct-view sets. Hitachi, Toshiba and, most recently, Sony, have dropped rear-projection TVs to focus on flat-panel. Sony's SXRD- based rear-projection models are being closed out by many retailers.