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 Sonova headquarters | |
| Company type | Aktiengesellschaft |
|---|---|
| SIX: SOON | |
| ISIN | CH1012549785 |
| Industry | Medical devices |
| Predecessor | Phonak AG |
| Founded |
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| Headquarters | Laubisrütistrasse 28,, Switzerland |
Key people |
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| Products | Hearing instruments |
| Brands |
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| Revenue | CHF 3,627 million (2024)[1] |
Number of employees | 17,990[1] (2024) |
| Website | www |
Sonova Holding AG (Phonak Holding AG before 1 August 2007) is an internationally active Swiss group of companies headquartered inStäfa that specializes in hearing care (hearing instruments,cochlear implants,wireless communication). The Sonova group operates through its core business brands Phonak, Unitron, Advanced Bionics, AudioNova andSennheiser (Licensed). It is one of the largest providers in the sector worldwide. The group and its brands hold 24% of the global hearing aid market in sales.[2] As of 11 September 2022, Sonova was a component of theSwiss Market Index.[3]
The group traces its roots back to theZürich-based AG für Elektroakustik, which was founded in 1947 with the participation of Ernst Rihs who acquired a majority shareholding in 1965, renaming the company Phonak AG in 1977.[4] His two sons, Hans-Ueli andAndy Rihs, also went on to join the firm, along with Beda Diethelm; after Ernst Rihs' death, the two sons took over his shares while Beda Diethelm became a shareholder with equal rights.
Phonak Holding AG was founded in 1985 as aholding company for the Phonak Group. In 1987 corporate headquarters were moved from Zurich toStäfa. The company was floated on theSWX Swiss Exchange in 1994 and renamed Sonova Holding AG on 1 August 2007, although this change applied only to the holding company and in parts to the subsidiaries; the product names have remained unaffected.
In November 2009, Sonova announced the takeover of the Advanced Bionics Corporation, a company based in California which specializes in developing and manufacturing cochlear implants.[5] The purchase was successfully completed in January 2010.[6]
In March 2015, Sonova announced the takeover of Hansaton Akustik GmbH, a Hamburg-based, family-run wholesale hearing instrument company.[7] The purchase was successfully completed in April 2015.[8]
In May 2016, Sonova announced an agreement to acquire AudioNova International B.V., one of Europe's largest hearing aid retailers,[9] and successfully completed the acquisition of AudioNova in September 2016. The combination of AudioNova and Sonova creates one of the broadest hearing aid retail service networks in Europe.[10]
Sonova mainly develops and marketshearing aids,cochlear implants, andwireless communication devices compatible with their hearing devices.[1]
Sonova operates four business divisions –
The group consists of more than 30 constituent companies.[11] Its research facilities are located inSwitzerland, Canada, and the US, with manufacturing plants inSwitzerland, China andVietnam. Distribution is handled by its in-house wholesale network and independent sales partners. The group also owns retail outlets in selected countries.
Sonova operates through its following core business brands:[12]
AudioNova International B.V (AudioNova) is a Dutch-based audiological solution provider and one of Europe's largest hearing aid retailers, operating over 2,500 stores in 10 countries. In May 2016, Sonova purchased AudioNova for€830M from Curacao-based investment companyHAL Holding N.V,[13][14][15][16] completing the acquisition in September of that year. In the United States, AudioNova operates over 436 clinics, offering both hearing aids and audiology services.[17]
Phonak manufactures a wide range of digital hearing aids and integrated wireless communication systems.[18] After the merger of Advanced Bionics into Sonova, Phonak started developing wireless technology for Advanced Bionics cochlear implants; notably the Roger receivers that connect to cochlear implant speech processors.[19][20] In 2016, Phonak launched their first rechargeable hearing aid device.[21]
Unitron is a hearing aid manufacturer founded in 1964 in Newfoundland, Canada. Today, it operates in more than 70 countries and is headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.[22][23]
Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Sonova group since 2009. Advanced Bionics developscochlear implant technology designed to help children and adults with profound hearing loss receive greater access to sound.[24]
Upon the acquisition by Sonova, Advanced Bionics started integrating Phonak technology into their speech processors, starting with the Naída series.[25] Along with sound processors, the company utilizes Phonak technology for bluetooth streaming, Easycall,[26] and FM systems.[27]
As of 2016, Advanced Bionics' primary competitors wereMED-EL andCochlear Limited in the cochlear implant market, in which those two companies held around 67% of the market; as percent of the market share Advanced Bionics (20%) holds less thanCochlear Limited and more thanMED-EL (17%).[28][29][30] In 2022 Advanced Bionics lost 5% of the market to Cochlear Limited and Med-EL due to implant recalls.[31]
In 2020, the company released the world's first cochlear implant sound processor specifically for children. The Sky CI M uses Phonak's Marvel platform and has Phonak Roger technology built in.[32]
In November 2010, Advanced Bionics recalled a batch of its HiRes 90K implants after many recipients, including children experienced painful malfunctions that caused electric shocks, convulsing, and vomiting.[33][34] In Sadler v. Advanced Bionics, the company was found to have been negligent and was forced to pay punitive damages as well as for the medical care needed by the victim of the faulty device,[35] but the company announced it would appeal on the grounds of thepunitive damages being too high.[36] Years before patients had experienced such drastic device failures, the company had been repeatedly warned of problems with the HiRes90k since 2004. Over 4000 devices were recalled, of which 1000 had failed.[34]
In March 2020, Advanced bionics recalled a batch of its Ultra 3D implants due to poor performance.[37]
Sennheiser Consumer Business is a consumer electronics manufacturer specializing in audio. Sennheiser had announced that they are looking to sell their consumer business to a willing buyer to focus on the Professional business. It was announced on 7 May 2021 that Sonova would be acquiring the business for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition had been completed in early 2022. The brand has become part of Sonova's Consumer Hearing department. It is estimated that about 600 employees had been involved in the transition.[38][39][40]
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