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Widex India introduces new generation hearing
aids
By A Correspondent - Bangalore
Widex India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of US$ 250 million Widex
Aps, Denmark, the manufacturer of largest number of hearing
aids, is looking at India as an export base for its marketing
operations in South Asia.
‘‘We
are looking at funding from financial institutions like ICICI
and Standard Chartered for setting up dispensing centres and
make our products available at affordable prices. We also
plan to provide technical know-how and financial support to
audiologists in India to set up their own centres,’’
says T S Anand, managing director, Widex India.
By the end of March this year, Widex India plans to launch
the fourth generation advanced hearing aid Senso-Diva, priced
at Rs 75,000. The German and Indian 80:20 joint venture intends
to raise the standards of dispensing in India.
Earlier at a press conference, Widex announced the launch
of Bravo, its new generation digital hearing aids in Bangalore.
The new range of digital hearing aid is a major breakthrough
not only from the technology point of view but from the market
point of view as well. The Bravo series consists of B2 (behind
the ear), B2X (in the canal), B2-CIC (completely in the canal
and the ultimate in discretion), B1 (behind the ear) and B1X
(in the canal).
The company also announced that it would expand its presence
in India by opening ten hearing aid centres in major cities
shortly with local partners and diagnostic centres. “Our
research indicated that pricing would be key to better penetration
of digital hearing aids in the Indian market and Bravo presents
the opportunity for us to do exactly that with its 100 per
cent digital functionality and competitive pricing. We expect
the market for digital hearing aids in India to expand considerably
with competitive pricing,’’ said Anand.
Priced between Rs 15,000-75,000, the Bravo series is expected
to be sold at 10,000 pieces in the current year. Mike Dictmann,
regional exports manager, said, ‘‘Widex India is
keenly looking at instituting scholarships for students qualifying
to become hearing specialists. This will lead to increased
availability of trained professionals which inturn will lead
to further expansion of the market.”
The Senso hearing centres of Widex are located at Delhi, Chandigarh,
Pune and Bangalore and more are in the offing. Currently with
Rs five crore turnover, the Indian subsidiary of Widex is
expected to touch Rs 10 crore this
year.
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