Prodways Group, a French 3D printer producer and service provider, has announced the acquisition of hearing aid manufacturers Surdifuse and L’Embout Français.
Upon acquiring 100% of the companies share capital, Prodways Group plans to accelerate production of customized 3D printed medical devices such as customized ear tips for hearing aids.
Accelerating 3D printed hearing aid production
In 2017, the two historic French laboratories, Surdifuse and L’Embout Français, merged to form Surdifuse-L’Embout Français. Guillaume Felten, President of Surdifuse-L’Embout, explained, “The hearing market is undergoing significant change. We are structured to continue to serve our customers in the best conditions of quality, time and order tracking.”
“Cross-cutting exchanges of good practices, methods, management tools and the complementarity of production sites will allow us to gain considerable time to achieve this goal. This is all the meaning of this rapprochement and I have a lot of ambitions for this Group.”
By 2018, Surdifuse-L’Embout Français became the French leader in the tailor-made adapter market for hearing aids. In the same year, it produced approximately 150,000 hearing aids using additive manufacturing and 3D modeling.
Prodways 3D printed hearing aids
Preceding this acquisition, Prodways Group previously acquired a 75% stake in medical device manufacturer Interson-Protac that also uses 3D printing to make hearing aids. Prodways Group will now strategically lead Surdifuse-L’Embout Français to strengthen its place in the medical sector, which the company has identified as a major growth driver in the Products division.
In addition, Prodways Group has accrued 40 new employees who will work over sites in Paris and Lyon. This acquisition is expected to generate revenue of more than €3 million and make a positive contribution to the Group’s income.
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Featured image shows 3D printed hearing aids from Surdifuse-L’Embout Français. Photo via Surdifuse-L’Embout Français.
