意大利Amplifon
意大利助听器零售商Amplifon

Amplifon is an Italian multinational company with its head office in Milan. It is the world leader in the distribution of hearing systems (hearing aids) and their fitting and personalisation to the needs of clients with hearing impairment.

Founded in 1950, Amplifon also contributes to the development of methods of evaluation and rehabilitation and provides medical staff with the equipments, services and know-hows essential for the otological diagnosis and for the computerised integrated management of audiological systems.
Amplifon is a Milan based Italian multinational company.
It is the world leader in the distribution of hearing-aids
and in their adaptation and tailoring to the needs of hypoacusis patients.


 

Foundation and development
Set up in Milan in 1950 by Algernon Charles Holland, Amplifon made its entry into the world of distributing and fitting of hearing aids in Italy. In the following years new technology led to big changes in this sector. The development of transistors and the resulting production of the first hybrid half-transistor hearing aid (1951), immediately followed by a fully-transistorised hearing aid, led to an explosion in the market.

It was during this phase, in the '60s and '70s, that Amplifon became the leader in the distribution, sales and fitting of hearing aid products in the Italian market, opening new points of sale in all regions. To support its core business it set up two organisations which remain very important to this day: the CRS (Center for Research and Studies) for study and research related to hearing deficit, a reference point for medical specialists; and Amplaid, a biomedical line which offers ENT specialists a series of instruments, always the latest developments in the field of audiology for diagnosis and rehabilitation. The CRS is of increasing strategic importance in the medical community thanks to its regularly organisation of workshops, events and seminars on this topic.

Restructuring
In the '90s, following a change in management, the strategy of the company changed to focus more on the satisfaction and loyalty of clients by developing unique and innovative services: the aim of the company is to give the client maximum satisfaction.

Technological developments also continued and, in 1996, Amplifon was again at the forefront by introducing in Italy the first completely digital hearing aids characterised by particularly small dimensions and a very high level of sound quality. The combination of high technology and client-centred services took Amplifon to a leader position in the Italian market with a market share of 47%.

The development of an internationalisation strategy began with the setting up of Amplifon Ibérica, a company that distributed and fitted hearing aids in Spain, which later expanded into Portugal.

Acquisitions
The period from 1998 to 2000 was characterised by expansion, involving the acquisitions of the most important foreign competitors. In only three years the following companies were acquired: Micro-electric (Swiss market leader), Viennatone (3rd player in the Austrian market), CCA Groupe (French market leader), Surditè Dardy (French-Swiss market leader), Miracle Ear (American market leader) and Acoudire (Dutch market leader).

Stock market listing and expansion
A further important step in the development strategy of the Amplifon Group was the listing of Amplifon S.p.A. on the Italian Stock Exchange on 27 June 2001. Further worldwide expansion continued and the Group, in that same year, extended into the Middle East, thanks to a joint venture with Bardissi Medical, the Egyptian market leader in hearing aids, and into Eastern Europe with the strategic acquisition of 100% of Viton, a Hungarian company which distributes hearing aids in the home market.

The years 2002 and 2003 were very important in terms of growth in the American market; the acquisition of 100% of Sonus Corporation followed by 100% of the National Hearing Centers increased Amplifon Group's market share in the USA by 10%. In November 2003, with the acquisition of Beter Horen Nederland, Amplifon consolidated its world wide leadership in the market obtaining complete territorial coverage and a market share of over 35%. Starting from 2005, Amplifon enters the German market by the acquisition of Axt-Wendton, followed by another acquisition of Dr. Hähle Hörakustik GmbH in eastern Germany. In July 2006, the Group acquired 100% of Ultravox, the leading company in the distribution of hearing aids in the UK, world's second largest market. The transaction was in line with the Group's strategy to have a strong position in the most important markets worldwide.