Global Ear Protection Devices Industry

• Publication date: February 2010

This report analyzes the Global market for Ear Protection Devices in US$ Million. Annual forecasts are provided for the period 2007 through 2015. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided.The report profiles 62 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as 3M Company, Aearo Company, ADCO Hearing Products, Inc., Amplifon SpA, Centurion Safety Products Limited, DELTA PLUS S.A, Elvex Corporation, GN ReSound A/S. Hellberg Safe...

This report analyzes the Global market for Ear Protection Devices in US$ Million. Annual forecasts are provided for the period 2007 through 2015. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided.The report profiles 62 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as 3M Company, Aearo Company, ADCO Hearing Products, Inc., Amplifon SpA, Centurion Safety Products Limited, DELTA PLUS S.A, Elvex Corporation, GN ReSound A/S. Hellberg Safety AB, JSP Ltd., Moldex-Metric, Inc., Moldex-Metric AG & Co. KG, Mine Safety Appliances Company, MSA Sordin AB, North Safety Products Europe BV, Oy Silenta Electronics Ltd., Phonak AG, Productos Climax, Radians, Inc., Scott Health & Safety Ltd., Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc., Sonic Innovations, Inc., Sonomax Hearing Healthcare, Inc., Sperian Protection, Starkey Laboratories, Inc., and VISPRO Protection, SL. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are mostly extracted from URL research and reported select online sources.

Electronic Component And Semiconductor Industry

EAR PROTECTION DEVICES MCP-6139
A GLOBAL STRATEGIC BUSINESS REPORT


CONTENTS


I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITION

Study Reliability and Reporting Limitations I-1
Disclaimers I-2
Data Interpretation & Reporting Level I-3
Quantitative Techniques & Analytics I-3
Product Definitions and Scope of Study I-3


II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW II-1
Noise Induced Hearing Loss - A Major Occupational Disorder II-1
Table 1: Permissible Noise Exposure Levels in Workplace II-1
Hearing Protection Devices - A Brief II-2
Table 2: Noise Levels for Various Sound Sources II-2
Outlook II-2
Stringent Regulations to Fuel Sales of Hearing Protection
Devices II-3
Noise Management Programs and Awareness to Drive Sales II-3
Challenges Ahead II-3

2. REGIONAL OVERVIEW II-4
The United States II-4
Outlook II-4
Alarming Statistical Facts II-4
Table 3: Number of Individuals with Hearing Loss in the US
in Different Age Groups (includes corresponding Graph/
Chart) II-5
Increasing Cases of NIHL II-5
Industrial Workers at Higher Risk II-5
Hearing Protection Market: Highly Competitive II-5
Market Analytics II-6
Table 4: US Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Ear
Protection Devices by Product Segment - Earplugs (Disposable
and Reusable) and Earmuffs Markets Independently Analyzed
with Annual Sales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2007
through 2015 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-6

Table 5: US Historic Review for Ear Protection Devices by
Product Segment - Earplugs (Disposable and Reusable) and
Earmuffs Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in US$ Million for Years 2001 through 2006 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-7

Table 6: US 9-Year Perspective for Ear Protection Devices by
Product Segment - Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Sales for
Earplugs (Disposable and Reusable) and Earmuffs Markets for
2007, 2009 & 2015 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-7
Canada II-8
Hearing Loss - A Chronic Disorder II-8
Europe II-8
Outlook II-8
Overview of Select European Markets II-8
France II-8
Germany II-9
United Kingdom II-9
Spain II-9
Czech Republic II-9
Table 7: Women Exposure to Loud Noise at Workplace -
Percentage Share in Select Sectors (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-10
Asia-Pacific II-10
Outlook II-10
Overview II-11
Sensear’s New Device to Minimize Industrial Noise II-11
Africa II-11
Hearing Disorders in African Children II-11
Latin America II-11

3. PRODUCT OVERVIEW II-12
Hearing Impairment and Deafness II-12
Hearing Loss - An Overview II-12
WHO Grades of Hearing Impairment II-12
Types of Hearing Loss II-13
Central Auditory Processing Disorder II-13
Sensorineural Hearing Loss II-13
Conductive Hearing Loss II-13
Mixed Hearing Loss II-13
Hyperacusis II-13
Temporary and Permanent Threshold Shift II-13
Noise Induced Hearing Loss II-14
Causes for Hearing Disorders II-14
Presbycusis II-14
Otosclerosis II-14
Meniere's Disease II-14
Acoustic Neuroma II-14
Ototoxicity II-14
Tinnitus II-15
Ear Protection Devices II-15
Types of Ear Protection Devices II-15
Earmuffs II-15
Earplugs II-16
Types of Earplugs II-16
Drawbacks of Earplugs II-16
Earplugs and Mechanism of Action II-16
Earplug Ratings II-16
Earplugs and Health Hazards II-17
Customized Earplugs II-17
History of Earplugs II-17
Other Hearing Protection Devices II-18
Canal Caps II-18
Alternative Methods of Ear Protection II-18

4. PRODUCT INNOVATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS II-19
Howard Leight Launches QuietDose™ II-19
Cirrus Healthcare Products Introduces ClearEars™ II-19
Sonic Innovations Introduces a Series of New Products II-19
Phonak Launches iSense II-20
Mine Safety Appliances Unveils left/RIGHTTM Ear Muff II-20
EAR-O-TEC Introduces Hearing Safety Device II-20
Elvex Unveils New Level-Dependant Muff II-21
Howard Launches Lightweight Belt Clip for Earmuffs II-21
Sony to Launch New Headphone Model MDR-NC500D II-21
Howard Announces Clarity Multiple-Use Earplugs II-21
Howard Unveils Thunder T2HV Earmuffs II-22
New Rechargeable FM/AM Earmuffs from Elvex II-22
Memorex Introduces New In-Ear Headphones Range II-22
IntriCon Introduces Ethos™ II-22
RidgeLine Unveils Gold Series Pro Ears Hearing Protection
Headset II-23
Maxell Unveils Latest Headphones and Earphones Range II-23
Gateway Safety Unveils New Earmuffs in Sound Series II-24
Creative Introduces Noise Canceling, Aruvana X-Fi Headphones II-24
SureFire Unveils EarPro FoxEars™ II-24
Widex India Launches Advanced Hearing Aids II-25
North Safety Launches ComFitAB II-25
Howard Introduces PerCap Foldable Banded Earplugs II-25
Elvex Launches QuieTunes AM/FM Radio Earmuff Musical Kit II-25
Bilsom Upgrades Viking Series Earmuffs with AFC Technology II-26
Cirrus Healthcare Launches BioEars II-26
Jackson Safety Launches the Jammer II-26

5. RECENT INDUSTRY ACTIVITY II-27
Sonomax Sells Software System Rights to 3M II-27
Sperian Protection Grabs New Supply Contracts II-27
3M Takes Over Quest Technologies Inc II-27
Honeywell Takes Over Norcross II-27
HearUSA Amends Agreement with Siemens Hearing Instruments II-28
3M Pockets Aearo Technologies II-28
Sperian Protection Takes over doseBusters USA II-29
Avada Takes Over Four Hearing Care Centers II-29
Micromedics Pockets Santa Barbara Medco II-29
Amplifon Acquires Horakustik Gerland Horsysteme II-30
Amplifon Takes Over Hörakustik Heckhuis & Michael and
Hörgeräte Weigmann II-30
Sonic Innovations Signs Agreement with Amplifon II-30
Sonic Innovations Takes Over American-Hearing II-31
Amplifon Takes Over Knaus II-31
Sonic Innovations Takes Over Hearing Associates of Pensacola PA II-31
Sperian Protection Takes Over Nacre II-31
Bacou-Dalloz Renamed as Sperian Protection II-32

6. FOCUS ON SELECT GLOBAL PLAYERS II-33
3M Company (US) II-33
Aearo Company (US) II-33
ADCO Hearing Products, Inc. (US) II-33
Amplifon SpA (Italy) II-33
Centurion Safety Products Limited (UK) II-34
DELTA PLUS S.A (France) II-34
Elvex Corporation (US) II-34
GN ReSound A/S (Denmark) II-34
Hellberg Safety AB (Sweden) II-35
JSP Ltd. (UK) II-35
Moldex-Metric, Inc. (US) II-35
Moldex-Metric AG & Co. KG (Germany) II-35
Mine Safety Appliances Company (US) II-35
MSA Sordin AB (Sweden) II-36
North Safety Products Europe BV (Netherlands) II-36
Oy Silenta Electronics Ltd. (Finland) II-36
Phonak AG (Switzerland) II-36
Productos Climax (Spain) II-36
Radians, Inc. (US) II-37
Scott Health & Safety Ltd (UK) II-37
Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. (US) II-37
Sonic Innovations, Inc. (US) II-37
Sonomax Hearing Healthcare, Inc. (Canada) II-37
Sperian Protection (France) II-38
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (US) II-38
VISPRO Protection, SL (Spain) II-38

7. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE II-39
Table 8: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Ear
Protection Devices by Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan,
Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
America Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in US$ Million for Years 2007 through 2015 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-39

Table 9: World Historic Review for Ear Protection Devices by
Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin America Markets
Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$
Million for Years 2001 through 2006 (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-40

Table 10: World 13-Year Perspective for Ear Protection Devices
by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Sales
for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan),
Middle East, and Latin America Markets for Years 2003, 2009 &
2015 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-41


III. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Total Companies Profiled: 62 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries - 78)

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Region/Country Players
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The United States 38
Canada 3
Europe 30
France 5
Germany 5
The United Kingdom 5
Italy 2
Spain 2
Rest of Europe 11
Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) 7
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