Ploom

Ploom
IndustryTobacco
PredecessorPax Labs
Founded2007
Founder
Key people
  • Veljko Vuckovic (strategy director)
  • Alexandre Sofianopoulos (RRP, Consumer Experience Management & Digital VP at JTI)
OwnerJapan Tobacco International
Websitehttps://www.ploom.com/

Ploom is a brand of tobacco heating devices that integrates aspects of both traditional and electronic cigarettes. The device employs a technology that heats tobacco without combustion. It is marketed by Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI).

History

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Early Developments

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Ploom was initially developed in California by James Monsees and Adam Bowen. The two friends were studying design at Stanford University. For their final thesis, they developed the design of an e-cigarette that would provide smokers with the nicotine they seek without the additional carcinogenic substances resulting from burning tobacco.[1] Two years later, in 2007, they founded the company Ploom to distribute their e-cigarette.[2] Unable to find support from financial institutions, Ploom relied on private investors like Nicholas J. Pritzker[1] to launch their products.[3][4]

In 2010, Ploom released a model called the Ploom Model One Vaporizer, designed like an oversize pen. The initial Ploom e-cigarette did not have commercial success.[5]

Partnership between JTI and Ploom

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In 2011, Japan Tobacco International invested $10 million into the company.[6] Ploom used this money to create the Pax, a vaporizer that resembled a stubby iPhone.[7] Subsequently, Ploom released the ModelTwo. In 2015, JTI acquired the patents and trademarks.[1] JTI retains the rights to manufacture and distribute the ModelTwo device and the pods product line.[8]

While the product was invented to support smokers, cannabis users discovered that the Pax streamlined the cannabis experience.[5] JTI asked to part ways with Ploom. Ploom retained their rights to the Pax product, while Ploom changed their name to Pax Labs and bought JTI out of their share.[9]

After the JTI Takeover

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In 2016, Ploom was launched on the Japanese market[10] and then in other countries, including France,[11] Italy, South Korea[12] and Switzerland.[13] The initial launch in Fukuoka, Japan, was so popular that shipments were suspended after a week due to a supply shortage.[10] According to JTI, Ploom would make it possible to inhale 99% of harmful constituents in less, compared to a cigarette that burns.[13] But the owner also acknowledges that no toxicity studies have been conducted on Ploom.[14]

In 2023, Romania is the tenth country where JTI is launching Ploom.[15] JTI plans to invest $3 billion in the global expansion of Ploom and is targeting 24 countries in 2024.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Creswell, Julie; Kaplan, Sheila (2019-11-23). "How Juul Hooked a Generation on Nicotine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  2. ^ Yakowicz, Will (June 10, 2015). "This Silicon Valley Company Just Raised $47 Million to Smoke Cigarette Makers". Inc.
  3. ^ Huddleston, Jr., Tom (June 10, 2015). "Investors are lining up for this e-cig, vaporization company". Fortune. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  4. ^ Crook, Jordan (June 10, 2015). "Pax Labs Heats Up With $46.7 Million In Series C Funding". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "The Spark". Big Vape The Rise and Fall of Juul. Season 1. October 11, 2023. Netflix.
  6. ^ "Newer Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Japan Tobacco International". Tobacco Tactics from the University of Bath. February 16, 2023.
  7. ^ Tolentino, Jia (2018-05-07). "The Promise of Vaping and the Rise of Juul". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  8. ^ Lawler, Ryan (2015-03-11). "The Pax 2 Improves Upon One Of The Best Vaporizers On The Market". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  9. ^ Page, Barnaby (February 17, 2015). "Ploom and JTI agree to split up, divide heat-not-burn brands". ECigIntelligence. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Uranaka, Taiga. "Smoke without fire: Japan becomes test ground for real tobacco e-cigarette". Reuters. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ploom, alternative à la cigarette électronique, débarque en France". France 3 Paris Ile-de-France (in French). 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  12. ^ "«Ploom», le vaporisateur à tabac arrive en France". Les Echos (in French). 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  13. ^ a b "Avec Ploom Tech, Japan Tobacco aspire à fumer dans les avions - Le Temps" (in French). 2017-07-21. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  14. ^ Nau, Jean-Yves (2014-04-30). "Tabagisme : Ploom® la nouvelle cigarette «à nocivité réduite» l'est-elle vraiment ?". Rev Med Suisse (in Swiss French). 428: 986–987.
  15. ^ E, O (September 28, 2023). "JTI Group vrea să investească 2 miliarde euro în produsele cu potenţial de risc redus". Bursa.
  16. ^ "JTI to Launch Ploom in Greece". Retrieved 2024-07-22.
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