Latest news with #heatedtobacco
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Philip Morris (PM) Defies the Naysayers as Smoking Stays Hot in 2025
Imagine a tobacco stock surging 53% in six months—yet that's exactly what Philip Morris International (PM) has achieved, defying the usual stigma attached to sin stocks and a declining global smoker base. Unlike many of its peers, PM's story stands apart: its traditional cigarette business remains stable, heated tobacco products are experiencing rapid growth, and oral nicotine offerings are gaining momentum. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Add a weak dollar boosting its predominantly international revenue, and it's clear PM's growth engine is running strong, justifying the rally and potentially signaling more upside ahead. Cigarettes may seem like a dying product, but Philip Morris International's (PM) combustible division is proving otherwise. In Q1, cigarette shipment volumes rose 1.1% to 144.8 billion units, and organic revenue increased 4%, fueled by an 8.3% price hike. Marlboro's enduring brand strength, along with a 0.4% market share gain to 24.8% (excluding the U.S. and China), highlights PM's pricing power and market resilience. Strategic local manufacturing has also helped preserve margins amid rising raw material costs. The results speak for themselves: combustible gross profit rose 5.3% organically, even with some headwinds from a commercial model change in Indonesia. PM's ability to raise prices without sacrificing volume underscores the strength of its brand. While the global cigarette market is shrinking by roughly 2% annually, PM's smart execution keeps the segment profitable, helping fund its transition to next-generation nicotine products. If combustibles are PM's foundation, IQOS is the growth engine. Heated tobacco unit (HTU) shipments surged 14.4% to 37.1 billion units last quarter, while global in-market sales rose 9.4%, including a 9.3% increase in Japan, where IQOS now holds a commanding 32.2% market share. Europe is also a key growth driver, with countries such as Hungary (41.9%) and Greece (34.4%) reporting impressive market penetration. Backed by $14 billion in R&D since 2008, IQOS now delivers higher margins than cigarettes, proving the investment is paying off. The strength lies in PM's efficient scale and relentless innovation. Its multi-category approach—bolstered by launches like IQOS ILUMA in Japan—continues to deepen consumer loyalty. Even amid challenges like the EU flavor ban in Italy, PM has offset losses with strong double-digit growth in Spain and Germany. With 38.6 million adult users globally, IQOS is far from niche—it's a global force driving PM's next phase of growth. Then there's ZYN, Philip Morris's nicotine pouch brand, which is rapidly gaining traction in the U.S. ZYN shipments soared 53% to 202 million cans last quarter, prompting the company to raise its full-year guidance to 800–840 million cans. International markets also contributed, with 53% growth in countries such as Pakistan and the UK. Thanks to margins exceeding 70%—about five points higher than those of combustibles—ZYN played a key role in helping smoke-free products contribute 44% of the total gross profit. Smart moves, such as early capacity expansions in March, ensured that supply kept up with demand. But ZYN isn't just a U.S. story—it's a global growth play. With 182% volume growth in non-Nordic international markets, PM is leveraging its global distribution muscle and FDA clearances to accelerate expansion. The 27.2% volume growth in Q1 reflects PM's successful pivot toward discreet, high-margin alternatives that resonate with younger consumers and working professionals. It's a textbook example of how to spot and capitalize on shifting consumer preferences. After an 80% rally, you might expect Philip Morris to be overvalued—but its forward P/E of 23, based on projected 2025 adjusted EPS of $7.36–$7.49, tells a more nuanced story. While that's not cheap for a tobacco stock, PM is far from typical. With 12–14% organic EPS growth forecasted for 2025—driven by 20.4% growth in smoke-free revenue and a weak dollar amplifying its 90%+ international earnings—this valuation appears well-supported. The weak dollar, in particular, is an underappreciated tailwind, boosting earnings in key international markets, such as Japan and Europe. Add to that $180 million in Q1 cost savings and a $2 billion efficiency target by 2026, and PM is positioned to continue expanding margins despite headwinds such as tax pressures in India. Altogether, this creates a strong case for PM to deliver 15%+ EPS growth annually in the coming years, making today's valuation look not just justified, but compelling. Wall Street remains highly bullish on Philip Morris, with a Strong Buy consensus based on eight Buy and one Hold rating over the past three months, and notably, no Sell ratings. However, PM's average 12-month stock price target of $188.67 suggests a meagre 3.3% upside over the coming year. Philip Morris is no longer your grandfather's tobacco company. Its recent surge reflects a bold transformation toward smoke-free alternatives, with ZYN and IQOS driving growth while traditional cigarettes continue to generate solid cash flow. A weak dollar is further boosting its international-heavy revenue base, and with 12–14% EPS growth projected, PM's momentum looks far from accidental—it's the mark of a company redefining its future. While its P/E of 23 isn't bargain-basement, it's a reasonable price for a business evolving into a modern, high-margin growth story. In my view, PM still appears to be an attractive option. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Morrisons & Sainsbury's told to make major change to stores as government warns supermarkets ‘stop promoting' product
SAINSBURY'S and Morrisons have received a stern warning from the government in relation to a popular product. The two major chains have been instructed to stop 'promoting' the item as they could be in breach of the law. 2 2 According to the BBC, the two supermarkets received a letter instructing them to remove any adverts which displayed heated tobacco products. Heated tobacco differs from cigarettes and vapes as it uses an electrical current to directly warm up the tobacco. This produces a vapour which can be inhaled. Smoking advertisements were banned in 2002 by the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. The ban covered any products which could be "smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed". Since the heated tobacco products produce a vapour - not a smoke - advertising laws are much murkier. Speaking about the letter, a spokesperson for Sainsbury's said: 'We offer a range of age-restricted products under our strict Think25 policy, including this heated tobacco device which is advertised. 'This is an alternative to cigarettes and is fully compliant with current legislation. We recognise the deeply complex and emotive nature of this topic. 'We remain in close contact with the Government and industry partners and are planning our transition to ensure we also comply with planned incoming legislation." A spokesperson for Morrisons said: "We only received a letter at the end of May. "We are just in the process of reviewing it and will respond back to the Department for Health and Social Care in due course." The Department of Social Care have been approached for comment by The Sun. Starmer CONFIRMS smoking ban plan with cigarettes to be banished from pub gardens Previously, a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson told the BBC: "In May, we wrote to supermarkets reiterating that the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002… applies to all tobacco products currently on the market, and formally requested they stop advertising and promoting heated tobacco products in stores. "All tobacco products are harmful to health." The proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill will tighten existing advertisement laws and has received the backing of prominent Labour politicians, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Baroness Meron. So far, the bill has passed in the House of Commons and awaits the approval of the House of Lords. Another key component of the bill is a proposed ban on the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009. It is hoped that this will create a "smokefree generation', driving down cancer rates and other health problems. The move was aimed to prevent young people from buying the single-use devices and becoming addicted to tobacco. Traders who continue selling the product face a £200 fine and repeat offenders face prison time.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sainsburys and Morrisons told to stop advertising heated tobacco
The government has written to Sainsbury's and Morrisons asking them to stop "advertising and promoting" heated tobacco products, which it says is against the BBC reported in February the supermarkets were displaying posters and video screens showing devices which create a nicotine-containing vapour by heating tobacco with an electric the time, both supermarkets said they believed the adverts were response to the letter, Sainsbury's said it was in "close contact with the government", while Morrisons said it would reply "in due course". In 2002, the Labour government under Tony Blair passed a law banning tobacco advertising. It defined a tobacco product as something designed to be "smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed".Morrisons has argued that this means that it doesn't apply to heated tobacco products, as they don't produce for Philip Morris International's (PMI) iQos heated tobacco device on posters and video screens was still on display in Sainsbury's and Morrisons stores visited by the BBC in June, where they were visible to said it believes the Department of Health's interpretation of the law is wrong, and said it has "complied with all applicable laws and regulations" since it launched iQos in government has now written to the supermarkets clarifying that in its opinion, the law does apply to these products.A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson told the BBC: "In May, we wrote to supermarkets reiterating that the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002… applies to all tobacco products currently on the market, and formally requested they stop advertising and promoting heated tobacco products in stores."All tobacco products are harmful to health," the spokesperson added. Surveys by the charity Action on Smoking and Health suggest that awareness of heated tobacco products has risen sharply over the past year, and is even higher among young adults, compared with those over 40. Among 11 to 17-year-olds, nearly a quarter had heard of heated tobacco, up from 7.1% in 2022, the last time they were 3.3% of respondents to their survey said they had tried heated tobacco, and for 11 to 17-year-olds, the figure was 2.7%. While low, the charity said this was still "worryingly similar to the levels of use among adults".Experts say that although research on the health effects of heated tobacco is limited, it is likely to be less harmful than cigarettes, but worse for you than vapes, and less effective at helping smokers heated tobacco products a new health risk?A spokesperson for Morrisons said it was reviewing the letter and would respond "in due course".Sainsbury's said it believed its ads were compliant with the law. A spokesperson said: "We remain in close contact with the government and industry partners and are planning our transition to ensure we also comply with planned incoming legislation."It would be for a court to rule definitively whether the government is right that heated tobacco advertising is banned under current law - but so far no-one has brought a law will be clarified when the government passes the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is expected to conclusively ban all tobacco and vape advertising and bill is making its way through parliament and is currently at the committee stage in the House of Cheeseman, the chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, urged the government to pass the law as quickly as possible. "It is outrageous that certain supermarkets still do not seem to be prepared to comply with the law, even when told they are in breach."The longer this takes to resolve, the more children will be exposed to tobacco product marketing," she Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act applies UK-wide, but health is a devolved issue. The devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland all said they agreed with the DHSC in England that advertising heated tobacco is and Tesco both said they do not accept tobacco advertising.
Japan Times
06-06-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Smoke and mirrors: How big tobacco manipulates science in Japan
In April 2019, I joined Philip Morris Japan as director of medical and scientific affairs. I'm a doctor — and a smoker — and after 25 years working in global health for the Foreign Ministry, I was attracted by the smoke-free vision of Philip Morris International, the world's largest tobacco company. Philip Morris, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, states that it is building its future on 'smoke-free products that — while not risk-free — are a far better choice than cigarette smoking.' Products such as its Iqos 'heat-not-burn' device, which heats tobacco without setting it alight, offer a better alternative for adults 'who would otherwise continue smoking cigarettes,' the company says, claiming that this amounts to 'tobacco harm reduction.' Yet while working at Philip Morris Japan, I came to view this as an illusion, a vision used to mislead customers around the world, including in Japan. It was here that Iqos was first launched in 2014 and the country remains the most successful market for the device — with Iqos' global revenue now surpassing that of Marlboro, the world's bestselling cigarette brand, also owned by Philip Morris. I decided to come clean after witnessing how the company used what I believe amounts to bribery to manipulate scientific research at some of Japan's leading universities to show that heated tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes — despite this not being backed by independent science. After raising my concerns within Philip Morris Japan to little effect and my firing in October 2019, I decided to share my story with government authorities and the media. I am now advocating for an end to improper and potentially illegal practices in this industry and for Japan's tobacco policy to change. I became one of only a handful of whistleblowers in the history of the global tobacco industry to help break the spell that so many are under. Dubious harm reduction claims Philip Morris International says that it has 'dedicated more than 1,460 scientists, engineers and technicians, and invested over USD 14 billion in the research and development of innovative smoke-free products.' It also claims that, according to 'laboratory tests,' the aerosol (smoke) from Iqos and similar products 'has an average of 95% lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) and is less toxic than cigarette smoke.' Without directly stating that Iqos are less harmful than cigarettes, Philip Morris' message is a smart combination of four talking points: Heated tobacco's aerosol has less HPHC, tobacco harm is reduced, Iqos is a better alternative to cigarettes and therefore better for public health, and the company is committed to a smoke-free future. In April 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of Iqos, a decision 'largely predicated on scientific research provided by PMI (Philip Morris International) in its application, including its clinical and post-market studies from Japan,' as stated in a paper by the Tobacco Control Research Group of the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. In July 2020, the FDA went on to approve Iqos as a modified risk tobacco product, namely one that reduces the risk or harm of tobacco-related disease — a profoundly disappointing decision and one based on the lower levels of HPHC detected in heated tobacco smoke. However, in an earlier deliberation, the FDA's own Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee denied that such reduced exposure was likely to lead to a 'measurable and substantial reduction in morbidity and mortality.' In addition, in a study published last year, a group of researchers from Yokohama City University found that the cigarette smoke extract of heated tobacco products and combustible cigarettes both induce cytotoxicity, i.e., cell damage. Yet many view heated tobacco products as reducing the risk of tobacco-related diseases, especially in Japan, the country with the highest use of these products globally. Such beliefs are 'in defiance of independent research evidence,' according to The BMJ medical journal. Regardless of how many harmful constituents are present in Iqos and similar devices' smoke, what really counts is how much actual harm they cause the human body. Where there's smoke, there's fire When I joined Philip Morris Japan, I inherited two cooperation projects with the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. In the former case, the company was paying ¥36 million ($250,000) annually to a private consultancy firm owned by a University of Tokyo professor. As I told my superiors at the time, the firm didn't provide Philip Morris Japan with deliverables that justified such a high fee: These amounted to some low-quality academic articles and a medical industry forum at the university on innovation in and public acceptance of heat-not-burn tobacco products (and vaccines). The real purpose of the ¥36 million, I learned through company documents and colleagues, was to facilitate the hiring of an economist employed by Philip Morris International as a visiting scholar within the professor's university department and then to publish research under the university's name. I raised my concerns internally: Given the substantial size of the payments and the lack of due diligence when it came to the relationship with the consultancy firm, I pointed out that this arrangement posed reputational risks for Philip Morris. I feared that the payments could amount to bribery. Ultimately, the economist wasn't hired as a visiting scholar and — while the professor didn't disclose the payments his company was receiving from Philip Morris Japan to the university — a university investigation was conducted in 2020, five years after the consultancy had started receiving ¥36 million a year from my former employer. The university found no conflicts of interest or breaches of its code of conduct. This is despite its ethics guidelines stating that its employees cannot use their position 'to advance private interests for their own benefit or for the benefit of organizations to which they belong.' Visitors of a tobacco products store in Tokyo are only allowed to use heated tobacco products like Philip Morris' Iqos. If Japan is to make its indoor smoking ban effective, it must extend it to smoking rooms for heated tobacco products. | REUTERS In the Kyoto University case, Philip Morris Japan paid ¥18 million a year to research contractor CMIC, which in turn paid ¥16.5 million to a professor from the university. Kyoto University's ethics committee approved a CMIC-sponsored research project to be conducted by the professor, but no mention of Philip Morris was made in the contract between the firm and the institution or in the university's official records. The research — which focused on Japanese smokers undergoing smoking cessation treatment and was also provided to the FDA — was supervised by CMIC. In my view, the professor did not provide a labor input equivalent to the ¥16.5 million he was receiving, therefore also raising my suspicions that this amounted to bribery. While it is standard practice for companies, including in the tobacco industry, to sponsor scientific research, what also worried me was that in this case, this was not out in the open. Philip Morris Japan's compliance office investigated my allegations of wrongful conduct, but these were found to be without merit. I was given a negative performance evaluation and told I had failed my probation period at the company. Eventually, I was dismissed. I believe this was a form of retaliation for having raised my concerns, though my former employer denies my termination was unlawful. However rigorously Japanese scientific research standards are applied, they cannot fully prevent wrongdoing by people committed to working for both research and industry in unethical and potentially corrupt ways. After all, a vision founded on deliberate scientific fraud is an illusion. Fighting back Once I was fired, I could start to truly fight back. Where raising the alarm internally hadn't worked, the only option was to look outside. 'Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants,' late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brendeis once wrote. I approached the Japanese health and finance ministries, with the latter exercising significant authority over tobacco policy, from price and tax approval to regulating marketing and health warnings. No serious action came of this. In May 2020, I also received a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who I had contacted on suspicion that Philip Morris' actions may have breached the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Under it, a publicly traded American company is prohibited from bribing foreign officials — including employees at state-funded universities. While I am not aware of an ongoing SEC case, it is not standard practice for the commission to divulge such information — not even to whistleblowers — so as to preserve the integrity of investigations. What I do know is that not long after my interview, Philip Morris International hired a new general counsel, Suzanne Rich Folsom, a corporate governance expert with rich experience in investigations and compliance. As well as talking to government officials, I also turned to the media. I was in touch with a reporter from a major Japanese newspaper and, despite their initial interest in my case, nothing came of it. Later, I found that Philip Morris International was sponsoring a conference organized by the same media outlet and that the tobacco conglomerate's CEO, Jacek Olczak, was due to speak at the event. But the sponsorship was cancelled just a few days before the forum, after several speakers had withdrawn their attendance in protest. Yet as recently as this March, two other Japanese outlets published interviews with Olczak, including statements that heated tobacco products substantially decrease exposure to cigarettes' harmful substances and that they present fewer health harms compared to their combustible counterparts. Perhaps I can't blame these newspapers for publicizing misleading tobacco industry talking points. After all, I myself had once believed in the positive health effects of heated tobacco products and Philip Morris' smoke-free vision. After my revelations failed to spark much attention in Japan, I turned to academics and journalists in the U.K. The University of Bath's Tobacco Control Research Group published articles detailing how Philip Morris Japan tried to 'exploit science' at Japanese universities. In Nicotine & Tobacco Research, it wrote that 'some of PMI's most significant clinical and post-market studies were conducted in Japan ... However, our findings raise concerns about the integrity of this evidence base and, by extension, the true harms of PMI's products.' Still in the U.K., The Bureau of Investigative Journalism published an expose and several stories as a result of my whistleblowing. In them, Japan is described as a 'tobacco state' because of the close relationship between tobacco companies and government agencies. For example, Japan Tobacco International, one of the world's largest tobacco manufacturers, is one-third owned by the finance ministry. Yet these revelations were largely ignored by the Japanese media. Moving forward My message is simple. Japan should address and properly regulate the entire spectrum of nicotine delivery products, from the most to the least harmful. If heated tobacco products are allowed, Japan should be consistent in its policy and also permit e-cigarettes: These contain nicotine but not tobacco and are classified as medicinal rather than tobacco products under Japanese law, which bans their sale. E-cigarettes are not risk-free and many health authorities express concern about their use, especially among young people. Yet these devices have been found to be less harmful than smoking conventional cigarettes, as detailed by sources such as National Health Service in the U.K. and John Hopkins University in the U.S. 'For people who smoke, legal e-cigarettes are an option to help them stop,' according to Cancer Research U.K., the world's largest independent cancer nonprofit. Also, Japanese regulators should ban heated tobacco smoking rooms, which it approved when the country adopted its indoor smoking ban in 2020: An outcome that Philip Morris Japan lobbied for, targeting select politicians with — guess what — favorable scientific research. When I was dismissed from the company, I faced turmoil and financial concerns. I was initially afraid to have my name out in public, but I was inspired to speak out by those who revealed the sexual abuse they had faced in the Japanese entertainment sector. Every time I pass an Iqos store, I cannot help but feel that I did the right thing in making my voice heard to protect public health. Awareness of hypocrisy and malpractice in the tobacco industry is the first, concrete step toward a truly smoke-free world. Shiro Konuma is the director of an elderly care home in Hokkaido. A former director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Global Health Policy Division, in 2019 he was briefly director of medical and scientific affairs at Philip Morris Japan.
Reuters
04-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Firstunion Launches World's First Puff-to-Heat Product, PTH MASTER, Ushering in a New Era of Heated Tobacco
JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 4, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- On May 30, 2025, Firstunion, opens new tab's premium technology brand, PTH, opens new tab, officially launched the world's first mass-produced Puff-to-Heat product—PTH MASTER—in Jakarta, Indonesia. Equipped with multiple industry-first technologies, PTH MASTER resolves long-standing pain points associated with traditional heated tobacco products, such as preheating requirements and inconsistent flavor, offering consumers a more convenient, consistent, and harm-reducing experience. Traditional heated tobacco products typically require 15–30 seconds of preheating and cannot pause once activated, significantly limiting user experience. PTH MASTER employs a proprietary Distributed Hexa-Core Thermal Control System, using precise point-to-point heating applied directly to individual tobacco sheets. This achieves true Puff-to-Heat functionality without any preheating, allowing users to start and stop freely. Combined with HOP™ Honeycomb-Engineered Tobacco, this technology ensures peak flavor from the first puff to the last by evenly and consistently heating only the targeted tobacco area, completely addressing the traditional issue of inconsistent flavor. PTH MASTER introduces three key technological breakthroughs, fundamentally reshaping the industry: This triple-technology integration resolves the fundamental issues of preheating delays and declining flavor consistency. 'With PTH MASTER, we set out to redefine what heated tobacco can offer. This new puff-to-heat system eliminates preheating and delivers consistent flavor from the first puff, making the entire experience simpler, smoother, and more intuitive. It reflects our belief that real innovation starts with understanding how people live—and designing technology that fits seamlessly into their lives,' said Jack Kuai, product lead of PTH Master. Built upon extensive consumer research, PTH MASTER redefines the user experience with a "zero-compromise design philosophy." It features dual intelligent modes—Ultra (6 strong puffs) and Eco (12 gradual puffs)—to accommodate diverse lifestyle scenarios, from fast-paced business interactions to relaxed leisure moments. Its ultra-thin micro tobacco chamber, the Tiangong Chamber, is less than 9mm thick, supporting one-handed operation while minimizing accidental activation. In terms of interaction, PTH MASTER incorporates a 0.71-inch Chrono Halo Display and over ten linear-motor tactile feedback patterns, providing real-time information such as battery status and puff count, along with intuitive operation guidance. Crafted from 100% renewable aluminum alloy and medical-grade ceramic mouthpieces, it combines premium feel with sustainability. In terms of harm reduction, PTH MASTER significantly decreases harmful emissions through precise temperature control and optimized materials. Laboratory testing confirms that heating temperatures remain strictly below 350°C, preventing excessive harmful substance formation. Compared with conventional cigarettes, PTH MASTER achieves an average comprehensive harm reduction rate exceeding 97% [1]. Each HOP tobacco sheet contains just 120mg of tobacco, a 60% reduction compared to traditional reconstituted tobacco sheets, yet still delivers excellent first-puff satisfaction and consistent flavor. Additionally, a zero-nicotine version is available for consumers seeking non-addictive alternatives. In appearance, PTH MASTER derives its color inspiration from Earth's 4.6-billion-year evolutionary palette, offered in three series—Master, Ultimate, and Premium—with seven color options: Master Edition Royal Vermilion; Ultimate Edition Dune White and Basalt Black; Premium Edition Misty Gray, Rosewood Brown, Dai Emerald, and Starry Blue, harmoniously blending natural beauty and advanced technology. For flavor variety, HOP offers innovative options such as Classic Tobacco, Strong Menthol, Light Menthol, Blueberry Menthol, Clove, and zero-nicotine variants like Classic Tobacco and Blueberry Menthol. Tobacco is sourced from the world's premier regions, aged 540–720 days for optimal maturity. Master perfumers with over 20 years of experience employ exclusive blending techniques to integrate tobacco and natural essences, fully preserving the core aromatic profile and ensuring precise flavor replication. Firstunion has specialized in heated tobacco technology for over a decade, holding more than 2,000 related patents (including over 200 international PCT patents) by Q1 2025. PTH MASTER is the culmination of efforts by a global interdisciplinary team comprising over 100 experts from materials science, structural engineering, electronics, software, tobacco science, industrial design, and automation. The team spent over three years developing hundreds of prototypes and conducting thousands of tests, finally achieving breakthroughs in instant heating and consistent flavor output, redefining industry technology standards. As the world's first mass-produced Puff-to-Heat product, PTH has filed over 50 patent families. Leveraging Firstunion's seven global laboratories, six intelligent manufacturing bases, and extensive R\&D capabilities, PTH aims to drive technological advancements, ushering the industry into the 'no preheating' era. Notes About PTH Established in 2025, PTH is the world's first brand to launch Puff-to-Heat tobacco products. Its revolutionary heated tobacco product, PTH MASTER, has over 50 patent families registered across multiple countries. As Firstunion's new premium brand, PTH embodies the group's relentless pursuit of next-generation tobacco technology. Crafted by an elite team of industry masters, it combines cutting-edge technology and artistic aesthetics, redefining standards for new tobacco technology. Explore more at opens new tab. About Firstunion Group Firstunion Group, founded in 2004, is a Shenzhen-based leading company in global electronic atomization industry. Firstunion is dedicated to offering one-stop solutions to customers through world-class electronic atomization are honored to partner with over 200 brands across more than 80 countries and regions worldwide. Leveraging our independent research and development capabilities, we have established key technological platforms, including nicotine atomization, non-combustion heating, medical atomization and functional substance atomization. These platforms enable us to offer a diverse range of products, such as atomized electronic cigarettes, heat-not-burn (HNB) devices, products for delivering seven leading innovation laboratories and six manufacturing centers strategically located in key domestic and international markets, Firstunion has earned numerous international management system certifications and qualifications. Additionally, our products have received several prestigious international design more information, visit Media Contact Suki Xu pr@ ### SOURCE: Firstunion Group Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
