Keywords
Citation
(2003), "Hearing aid manufacturer Widex A/S purchases multiple Viper SLA systems from 3D Systems", Assembly Automation, Vol. 23 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2003.03323dab.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Hearing aid manufacturer Widex A/S purchases multiple Viper SLA systems from 3D Systems
Hearing aid manufacturer Widex A/S purchases multiple Viper SLA systems from 3D Systems
Keywords: Rapid manufacturing
3D Systems Corp. has announced that Danish hearing aid manufacturer, Widex A/S, has acquired multiple Viper SLA® systems for custom manufacturing of in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids.
A pioneer in hearing aid manufacturing, Widex is one among the six major hearing aid companies which have now purchased the Viper SLA system to revolutionise hearing aid manufacturing. Widex will use the stereolithography (SLA) systems as part of their worldwide patented manufacturing method for hearing aid production.
"A new paradigm is occurring in the manufacturing of hearing aids. There are now nearly 29 million people reporting hearing difficulties with only 22 per cent of these currently using hearing aids. That number will grow as the population ages," says Brian Service, CEO of 3D Systems. "Each hearing aid user needs a custom-made hearing aid shell for proper fit and function, and that is where our digital manufacturing solution comes in. Traditional production techniques, which require manual processing of the hearing aid outer shell, simply do not offer manufacturers the ability to fabricate highly accurate outer shells on a production basis."
To address the challenge of proper fit and function, 3D Systems developed an advanced digital manufacturing (ADMSM) process to be used as an in-line automated manufacturing process to enhance production quality and functionality. Widex chose 3D Systems' Viper SLA system because of its ability to fabricate highly accurate, fine detailed hearing aid shells on a production basis, while maintaining the current hearing aid look and feel.
"Our solid imaging systems enable Widex to use our systems to produce the final hearing aid shell for in-line manufacturing process. This alleviates production bottlenecks and provides the flexibility needed to meet market demand for faster product delivery and greater accuracy. The industry has a potential to produce an estimated 5-7 million hearing aids per year using our ADM solution," says Wayne Merson, 3D Systems' Business Development Manager for Hearing Aids. "As major hearing aid companies change the way they manufacture hearing aids, we expect the demand for solid imaging systems will continue to grow."
"One of the benefits of 3D Systems' technology is the fine feature detail that is achieved using the Viper SLA system to reproduce the custom, made-to-order shell," says Jan Tøpholm, CEO of Widex. "The material looks and feels like the traditional hearing aids found in the market today. The Viper system allows us to convert a manual production process to a digitally automated process – computer aided manufacturing of individual shells for hearing aids (CAMISHA).
"Our patented manufacturing process, CAMISHA, uses the Viper SLA system combined with advanced scanning, providing significant quality improvements for hearing aid users as well as the personnel engaged in the production and fitting of hearing aids. With CAMISHA, hearing aid users will receive far more precise and well-functioned hearing aids with a better fit and far greater comfort," concludes Tøpholm. "The Viper SLA systems also allows Widex to create new and more intricate designs that were not possible with the manual process."
Widex A/X currently has five Viper SLA systems installed and anticipates placing additional Viper systems around the world.
For further information, please visit our Web sites: www.widex.com, www.3dsystems.com