Widex
Widex is the world’s sixth largest hearing aid manufacturer. In close collaboration with international audiological researchers and specialists, the company has developed a wide range of digital hearing aids, including the world's first 100% digital in-the-ear hearing aid in 1995.
The Danish company was founded in 1956 by the Tøpholm and Westermann families, who still own and run the company. Widex’ hearing aids are sold in almost 100 countries and the company employs approximately 2,000 people around the world.
Widex’ new headquarters are located in Allerød Municipality, Denmark, north of Copenhagen. The new headquarters use groundwater for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Widex also placed an energy-generating wind turbine beside the building, despite the location being one of worst places for harnessing wind energy in Denmark.
- The History of Widex
Several of today’s big Danish companies came from humble beginnings – often a garage or cellar. That’s how it was for Widex, too. The cellar beneath christian Tøpholm’s suburban home in Nærum was
immediately taken into use as a combined development laboratory, workshop and production hall.
The resignation benefit from Oticon mainly went to meet the daily household needs of their two homes, so the budget was tight. Luckily both Tøpholm’s and Westermann’s parents could help out with a couple of small loans, and a father-inlaw acted as guarantor for a bank loan.
Tøpholm also had some modest savings, and Westermann made use of his possibility to serve as a reserve officer at Høvelte Barracks. But funds were still very limited, when you think of the investments that hearing aid production requires in components, tools, production equipment and various accessories.
- Milestone
These are some highlights from Widex’ history of innovation:
2010 -WIDEX BABY440: world’s first hearing aid designed specifically for babies.
2009 -CLEAR440: Widex’ first completely wireless hearing aid.
2008 -Passion: world’s smallest RIC hearing aid - only 21 mm in diameter.
NanoCare: a unique, Widex patented wax guard system based on nanotechnology enhances the performance of hearing aids and increases their lifecycle.
2005 -Inteo: world’s first hearing aid giving a tailor-made sound experience.
1995 -Senso series: world’s first fully digital in-the-ear hearing aid – no less than a revolution. In 2005, CNN lists modern, digital hearing aids as one of the top 25 innovations of the past 25 years.
1990 -CAMISHA (Computer aided manufacturing of individual shells for hearing aids): a groundbreaking, Widex-patented technology based on computer modelling and laser technology. CAMISHA transforms the way shells, earmoulds and earpieces are made across the entire industry.
1988 -Quattro Q8: first digitally programmable hearing aid with remote control.
1956 -Widex 561: Widex’ first hearing aid - an elegant pocket model!
