Danish hearing aid producer sets up in Malaysia

GN ReSound, a leader in innovative hearing technologies, on 3 September inaugurated its newest manufacturing and distribution facility in Kulaijaya, Johor, Malaysia.

The ceremony was hosted by the Danish company’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Anders Hedegaard and joined by dignitaries including Danish Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Mr. Nicolai Ruge; Malaysia’s Minister of International Trade and Industry, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed; Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan: in addition to a number of GN ReSound global executives.

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GN ReSound CEO Mr. Anders Hedegaard receiving a plaque from Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan

ReSound develops consumer hearing aids that are distributed via a global network of independent audiologists, including throughout the region. That includes some hospitals, if they include audiology clinics.

“GN ReSound’s expansion into Malaysia represents the latest effort in our ongoing commitment to meeting the growing global demand for innovative hearing solutions,” said Mr. Hedegaard. “This first-class facility will advance our mission and help us continue to revolutionize what is possible in terms of hearing accessibility.”

The opening of GN ReSound’s Johor facility is just one of many initiatives the company has underway to support the development of their Smart Hearing portfolio for users around the world. The company also maintains manufacturing and distribution facilities in Xiamen, China, the UK, Spain, and R&D and manufacturing facilities in Denmark and the United States.

The major new Danish investment into Malaysia is a milestone where this Southeast-Asian emerging hub has managed to become the winner in competition with other alternatives all over the world that GN ReSound surveyed before settling for Johor.

“GN ReSound’s search for a site for a new manufacturing and distribution facility included a number of factors, including a favourable economic and political climate, a modern infrastructure that provides easy access to global markets, a well-educated and high performing workforce, and GN ReSound found all of these attributes in Johor, Malaysia after a thorough survey of more than a dozen locations around the globe.” GN ReSound told ScandAsia.

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The 5,000 m2 facility expands GN ReSound’s global production capacity and will serve as a key component of our global supply chain infrastructure. With its proximity to Singapore’s import and export infrastructure it also serves as a new distribution hub for the region.

One hundred employees have already been hired at the facility, which will rely on vendor and support relationships with a number of area businesses. At full capacity, GN ReSound’s facility has the potential to create approximately 450 jobs during significant ramp-up expected during the rest of the year.

“GN ReSound draws on a diverse set of skills and backgrounds to bring our Smart Hearing technology to users around the world, including sound and electrical engineers, product designers, software developers, manufacturing and global distribution specialists, and administrative and managerial staff to support our mission.”

IN terms of setting up in Malaysia compared with China GN ReSound commented: “Some things are faster and easier in China, some are faster and easier in Malaysia. Overall, establishing a company and a manufacturing and distribution facility in Malaysia has been fairly straight forward.”

The growing global demand for hearing solutions directly relates to an increasing aging population the world over.

“Age-related hearing loss is by far the most common type of hearing loss. We are seeing growing global demand for hearing aids, including in Asia. About 360 million people, or five percent of the global population, have some type of hearing loss. With this increasing market population, our industry’s growth is also driven by more awareness of hearing health, and the introduction of innovative Smart Hearing technologies that allow for personalization and control that we have never seen before.”

GN ReSound has launched the world’s first full family of Smart Hearing aids, allowing wearers to personalize their hearing like never before.

“Smart hearing aids, such as the ReSound LiNX2, were developed for people with hearing loss looking to connect, interact, and engage with their world on equal footing as everyone else. ReSound Smart Hearing combines the latest in sound quality with the ability to personalize audio settings and stream direct stereo sound from a smart phone, allowing wearers to utilize their hearing aids as high-quality stereo headphones to talk on the phone, make FaceTime calls and listen to music in high-quality stereo sound without the need of an additional remote control, accessory or pendant.”

Users of the ReSound LiNX2 can personalize their hearing experience directly through an App. They can also easily access hearing aid features from within the device itself, including volume, battery life, presets, and Live Listen, which uses the iPhone’s built-in microphone to deliver sound to the hearing aid.

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Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan

“GN ReSound is proud to have introduced the world’s smartest hearing aid in 2014, and has continued to build on these capabilities into 2015 and beyond. GN ReSound’s Johor, Malaysia facility is very much a part of that effort.”

Therefore hearing aids can have the same functionality as earphones, and more.

“Yes, smart hearing aids can serve as high-quality stereo headphones to talk on the phone, make FaceTime calls and listen to music in high-quality stereo sound without the need of an additional remote control, accessory or pendant.”

Denmark’s strength and expertise within this sector is impressive: While Denmark has a population of just 5.6 million people, Danish companies, such as GN ReSound, supply half the world’s hearing aids.

“Denmark’s leadership in hearing and audiological innovation goes back more than a century. Denmark is a leading destination for professionals, students, and researchers making advancements in sound and audio technology and being supported by industry, educational institutions, and Danish government programs to promote the science.”

About Joakim Persson

Freelance business and lifestyle photojournalist

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