Sonova operates through its following core business brands:
AudioNova
AudioNova International B.V (AudioNova) is a Dutch hearing aid retailer operating over 2,500 stores in 10 countries. In May 2016, Sonova purchased AudioNova for €830M from Curacao-based investment company HAL Holding N.V, completing the acquisition in September of that year. In the United States, AudioNova operates over 436 clinics, offering both hearing aids and audiology services.
Phonak
Phonak manufactures digital hearing aids and integrated wireless communication systems. 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. In 2016, Phonak launched their first rechargeable hearing aid device.
Unitron
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.
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Advanced Bionics
Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Sonova group since 2009. Advanced Bionics manufactures cochlear implants for children and adults.
Upon the acquisition by Sonova, Advanced Bionics started integrating Phonak technology into their speech processors, starting with the Naída series. Along with sound processors, the company utilizes Phonak technology for bluetooth streaming, Easycall, and FM systems.
As of 2016, Advanced Bionics' primary competitors were MED-EL and Cochlear 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 than Cochlear Limited and more than MED-EL (17%). In 2022 Advanced Bionics lost 5% of the market to Cochlear Limited and Med-EL due to implant recalls.
In 2020, the company introduced the Sky CI M cochlear implant sound processor for children, which utilizes Phonak's Marvel platform and integrated Roger technology.
2010 recall and litigation
In November 2010, Advanced Bionics recalled a batch of its HiRes 90K implants following reports of malfunctions involving device overstimulation. 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, but the company announced it would appeal on the grounds of the punitive damages being too high. Reports regarding technical issues with the HiRes90k had been documented since 2004. Over 4000 devices were recalled, of which 1000 had failed.
Ultra 3D quality issue
In March 2020, Advanced bionics recalled a batch of its Ultra 3D implants due to poor performance.
Sennheiser (Licensed)
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.
