Interview with Denis Carpenter, Technical Manager, Rayovac Zinc Air Batteries & Randy Raymond, VP & General Manager, Rayovac Global Hearing Aid Batteries
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Topic: Rayovac Mercury FREE Hearing Aid Batteries
CAROLYN SMAKA: Today I'm speaking with Denis Carpenter and Randy Raymond from Rayovac about some exciting news. Thanks for your time today, gentlemen.
RANDY RAYMOND: Thank you, Carolyn.
DENIS CARPENTER: Our pleasure, Carolyn.
SMAKA: Can you tell me about your backgrounds and what you each do for Rayovac?
CARPENTER: I'm the technical manager for zinc air hearing aid batteries, so I'm in zinc air battery development. I've been working on zinc air batteries for 30 years. I can remember back to the days of mercury hearing aid batteries and the development of the first zinc air cells.
SMAKA: I remember when Rayovac size 10 batteries first came out! I'll never forget how amazed I was when I first saw a CIC hearing aid.
CARPENTER: That's right, size 10 batteries allowed for the miniaturization of hearing aids and made the CIC possible. It was revolutionary. We were first to develop the size 10, and now it's essentially almost a third of the market. As you know, in addition to CICs, many of the slim tube instruments utilize a size 10 as these smaller batteries enable smaller instruments.
SMAKA: In what year did Rayovac introduce the size 10?
CARPENTER: 1986.
SMAKA: Gosh, was it really '86? I'm old!
[laughter]
SMAKA: Randy, what is your role at Rayovac?
RAYMOND: I am the Vice President and General Manager for Rayovac's global hearing aid battery business. I've been with Rayovac now for about 14 years. My background is in sales, marketing and general management.
SMAKA: You've both been with Rayovac for a long time.
RAYMOND: Yes, but Denis way longer.
[laughter]
SMAKA: Our topic today is the brand new Rayovac Mercury FREE hearing aid batteries. Why is this a milestone for the industry?
RAYMOND: Well, first off the battery industry started moving away from mercury in the 1990s. At that time, mercury was eliminated from alkaline batteries, which are the most widespread battery chemistry in the marketplace. It has been a bit of a holy grail to remove mercury from zinc air batteries as technically it is a very difficult challenge. But Rayovac has overcome those challenges with our new mercury free product line.
SMAKA: Why did the industry start moving away from mercury - what was the impetus?
CARPENTER: One of the real drivers here, Carolyn, has been the regulations and legislation that has materialized in several states.
RAYMOND: That's right. Several states - such as Maine and Connecticut - introduced legislation or regulations that would serve to ban mercury in general in button cells of all types. I believe Ontario, Canada also has such legislation. Through NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a trade association of electrical manufacturers including dry cell battery manufacturers, participating manufacturers agreed to move to eliminate mercury in our cells by 2011. So now those states have postponed the introduction of their legislation until June of 2011.
With the release of our mercury free batteries this month, we're two years ahead of the agreed upon date. In terms of battery development, two years isn't that long a period of time. But we've been able to beat the deadline and should be able to meet the requirements of Connecticut and Maine.
Now that mercury free batteries are broadly available, we expect that this type of legislation at the state level will continue to proliferate.
SMAKA: You referred to removing mercury from zinc air batteries as the 'holy grail'. Why was it so difficult?
CARPENTER: Mercury suppresses gassing on initial storage and after partial discharge. It's a very good electronic conductor, and it improves discharge voltage. It also improves the initial service life, and it gives lots of service-life retention. Essentially, the battery lasts in storage very long with mercury. So mercury has multiple uses in batteries.
SMAKA: If mercury does all those things in the battery, how are you able to take it out?
CARPENTER: Essentially what we have had to do is find additives that can do each one of those things that mercury does. We had to create a kind of cocktail of ingredients that suppresses the gassing, allows for good conductivity, while achieving the capacity and retention that is required over time.
SMAKA: Are all Rayovac hearing aid battery sizes available in mercury free?
CARPENTER: Sizes 10, 13, and 312 are now available and size 675 will be launched late summer.
SMAKA: 10, 13, and 312 are the bulk of the batteries being used today.
CARPENTER: That's correct. Size 675 represents a relatively small proportion of the hearing aid battery market.
SMAKA: Is there a difference between Rayovac's mercury free batteries and other mercury free batteries on the market?
RAYMOND: Yes, there are very significant differences. In our testing of competitive products in the marketplace, our products are superior. In fact, on certain tests as much as 40% superior.
SMAKA: Superior in what ways?
RAYMOND: Our mercury free batteries are superior in terms of battery life - which is the most important feature in a battery as far as consumers are concerned.
SMAKA: Yes, absolutely. That would be all sizes?
RAYMOND: In depends on the cell size, but certainly up to 40% across the range.
Denis, what would you say is the broad average?
CARPENTER: Approximately +20% as a market-weighted type of performance. So if you just happen to buy a battery in the marketplace based on the market penetration of various sizes, you should expect a 20% improvement using our product versus a competitive mercury free product. What that essentially means is that in every five days of use, you get a free day with Rayovac as compared to the competition.
SMAKA: How does the life of a mercury free battery compare to that of a traditional zinc air with mercury?
CARPENTER: When you're talking about the life of the battery as used in an actual hearing aid, it will last just as long.
SMAKA: Are mercury free batteries better for the environment?
RAYMOND: Well, even though the quantity of mercury in hearing aid batteries is very, very small, there's really no such thing as a good amount of mercury in a landfill. We certainly understand that. So it was our mission to both eliminate mercury from our cells while ensuring that we retain all the performance and reliability that customers expect in their batteries.
SMAKA: Ok, this may sound like a silly question, but could I tell by looking at a battery whether it was a mercury free battery or not?
RAYMOND: Chances are not. In our batteries, the external parts in the mercury free batteries look identical to the traditional product.
SMAKA: Where can professionals and consumers get these batteries?
RAYMOND: First we're rolling these out to hearing care professionals under our ProLine and Extra brand names.
SMAKA: Will both types of hearing aid batteries - with and without mercury - be available?
RAYMOND: They will both be available for a period of time. However, we are committed to moving fully to zero mercury as our capacity allows us to do that.
SMAKA: So we've actually talked about two major technical innovations today - Rayovac's mercury free batteries in 2009 and the invention of the size 10 battery way back in 1986.
RAYMOND: Yes, this latest product release is one in long series of technical innovations from Rayovac. Last fall we also rolled out nickel-plated stainless steel battery housings. Internally, we use the word "can" or "top" - but basically we're referring to the battery's metal housing. And these nickel-plated stainless steel metal parts resist corrosion. This is especially critical in the new mini BTEs that are susceptible to moisture ingress.
SMAKA: Yes, and I think the mini BTEs are generally fit to a younger demographic who are typically more active, so more apt to build up perspiration.
RAYMOND: Correct.
SMAKA: Are nickel-plated stainless steel metal parts used in all battery sizes?
RAYMOND: Yes, they are.
SMAKA: I learned a bit about this at your booth at AudiologyNOW! in Dallas - it's really interesting. How was the convention for you?
RAYMOND: It was great. The zero mercury products were prominently displayed in our booth and generated a lot of excitement. We were very pleased about that. That's the number one thing we talked about.
Our team also talked with customers about the latest business building approaches and marketing strategies, which are particularly important in the current challenging economic environment.
SMAKA: Denis, Randy - thanks so much for your time today. Hope to speak with you again soon.
RAYMOND: We'll look forward to that, Carolyn. Thank you very much and you take care.
CARPENTER: Thanks, Carolyn.
More information about Rayovac mercury free hearing aid batteries can be found by visiting www.rayovac.com or on the Rayovac Web Channel on Audiology Online.
Additionally, a recorded course entitled, Going Green? Introducing the World's Longest Lasting Mercury Free HA Battery by Rayovac, can be found in the AudiologyOnline eLearning library, or by clicking here: www.audiologyonline.com/ceus/
RANDY RAYMOND: Thank you, Carolyn.
DENIS CARPENTER: Our pleasure, Carolyn.
SMAKA: Can you tell me about your backgrounds and what you each do for Rayovac?
CARPENTER: I'm the technical manager for zinc air hearing aid batteries, so I'm in zinc air battery development. I've been working on zinc air batteries for 30 years. I can remember back to the days of mercury hearing aid batteries and the development of the first zinc air cells.
SMAKA: I remember when Rayovac size 10 batteries first came out! I'll never forget how amazed I was when I first saw a CIC hearing aid.
CARPENTER: That's right, size 10 batteries allowed for the miniaturization of hearing aids and made the CIC possible. It was revolutionary. We were first to develop the size 10, and now it's essentially almost a third of the market. As you know, in addition to CICs, many of the slim tube instruments utilize a size 10 as these smaller batteries enable smaller instruments.
SMAKA: In what year did Rayovac introduce the size 10?
CARPENTER: 1986.
SMAKA: Gosh, was it really '86? I'm old!
[laughter]
SMAKA: Randy, what is your role at Rayovac?
RAYMOND: I am the Vice President and General Manager for Rayovac's global hearing aid battery business. I've been with Rayovac now for about 14 years. My background is in sales, marketing and general management.
SMAKA: You've both been with Rayovac for a long time.
RAYMOND: Yes, but Denis way longer.
[laughter]
SMAKA: Our topic today is the brand new Rayovac Mercury FREE hearing aid batteries. Why is this a milestone for the industry?RAYMOND: Well, first off the battery industry started moving away from mercury in the 1990s. At that time, mercury was eliminated from alkaline batteries, which are the most widespread battery chemistry in the marketplace. It has been a bit of a holy grail to remove mercury from zinc air batteries as technically it is a very difficult challenge. But Rayovac has overcome those challenges with our new mercury free product line.
SMAKA: Why did the industry start moving away from mercury - what was the impetus?
CARPENTER: One of the real drivers here, Carolyn, has been the regulations and legislation that has materialized in several states.
RAYMOND: That's right. Several states - such as Maine and Connecticut - introduced legislation or regulations that would serve to ban mercury in general in button cells of all types. I believe Ontario, Canada also has such legislation. Through NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a trade association of electrical manufacturers including dry cell battery manufacturers, participating manufacturers agreed to move to eliminate mercury in our cells by 2011. So now those states have postponed the introduction of their legislation until June of 2011.
With the release of our mercury free batteries this month, we're two years ahead of the agreed upon date. In terms of battery development, two years isn't that long a period of time. But we've been able to beat the deadline and should be able to meet the requirements of Connecticut and Maine.
Now that mercury free batteries are broadly available, we expect that this type of legislation at the state level will continue to proliferate.
SMAKA: You referred to removing mercury from zinc air batteries as the 'holy grail'. Why was it so difficult?
CARPENTER: Mercury suppresses gassing on initial storage and after partial discharge. It's a very good electronic conductor, and it improves discharge voltage. It also improves the initial service life, and it gives lots of service-life retention. Essentially, the battery lasts in storage very long with mercury. So mercury has multiple uses in batteries.
SMAKA: If mercury does all those things in the battery, how are you able to take it out?
CARPENTER: Essentially what we have had to do is find additives that can do each one of those things that mercury does. We had to create a kind of cocktail of ingredients that suppresses the gassing, allows for good conductivity, while achieving the capacity and retention that is required over time.
SMAKA: Are all Rayovac hearing aid battery sizes available in mercury free?
CARPENTER: Sizes 10, 13, and 312 are now available and size 675 will be launched late summer.
SMAKA: 10, 13, and 312 are the bulk of the batteries being used today.
CARPENTER: That's correct. Size 675 represents a relatively small proportion of the hearing aid battery market.
SMAKA: Is there a difference between Rayovac's mercury free batteries and other mercury free batteries on the market?
RAYMOND: Yes, there are very significant differences. In our testing of competitive products in the marketplace, our products are superior. In fact, on certain tests as much as 40% superior.
SMAKA: Superior in what ways?
RAYMOND: Our mercury free batteries are superior in terms of battery life - which is the most important feature in a battery as far as consumers are concerned.
SMAKA: Yes, absolutely. That would be all sizes?
RAYMOND: In depends on the cell size, but certainly up to 40% across the range.
Denis, what would you say is the broad average?
CARPENTER: Approximately +20% as a market-weighted type of performance. So if you just happen to buy a battery in the marketplace based on the market penetration of various sizes, you should expect a 20% improvement using our product versus a competitive mercury free product. What that essentially means is that in every five days of use, you get a free day with Rayovac as compared to the competition.
SMAKA: How does the life of a mercury free battery compare to that of a traditional zinc air with mercury?
CARPENTER: When you're talking about the life of the battery as used in an actual hearing aid, it will last just as long.
SMAKA: Are mercury free batteries better for the environment?
RAYMOND: Well, even though the quantity of mercury in hearing aid batteries is very, very small, there's really no such thing as a good amount of mercury in a landfill. We certainly understand that. So it was our mission to both eliminate mercury from our cells while ensuring that we retain all the performance and reliability that customers expect in their batteries.
SMAKA: Ok, this may sound like a silly question, but could I tell by looking at a battery whether it was a mercury free battery or not?
RAYMOND: Chances are not. In our batteries, the external parts in the mercury free batteries look identical to the traditional product.
SMAKA: Where can professionals and consumers get these batteries?
RAYMOND: First we're rolling these out to hearing care professionals under our ProLine and Extra brand names.
SMAKA: Will both types of hearing aid batteries - with and without mercury - be available?
RAYMOND: They will both be available for a period of time. However, we are committed to moving fully to zero mercury as our capacity allows us to do that.
SMAKA: So we've actually talked about two major technical innovations today - Rayovac's mercury free batteries in 2009 and the invention of the size 10 battery way back in 1986.
RAYMOND: Yes, this latest product release is one in long series of technical innovations from Rayovac. Last fall we also rolled out nickel-plated stainless steel battery housings. Internally, we use the word "can" or "top" - but basically we're referring to the battery's metal housing. And these nickel-plated stainless steel metal parts resist corrosion. This is especially critical in the new mini BTEs that are susceptible to moisture ingress.
SMAKA: Yes, and I think the mini BTEs are generally fit to a younger demographic who are typically more active, so more apt to build up perspiration.
RAYMOND: Correct.
SMAKA: Are nickel-plated stainless steel metal parts used in all battery sizes?
RAYMOND: Yes, they are.
SMAKA: I learned a bit about this at your booth at AudiologyNOW! in Dallas - it's really interesting. How was the convention for you?
RAYMOND: It was great. The zero mercury products were prominently displayed in our booth and generated a lot of excitement. We were very pleased about that. That's the number one thing we talked about.
Our team also talked with customers about the latest business building approaches and marketing strategies, which are particularly important in the current challenging economic environment.
SMAKA: Denis, Randy - thanks so much for your time today. Hope to speak with you again soon.
RAYMOND: We'll look forward to that, Carolyn. Thank you very much and you take care.
CARPENTER: Thanks, Carolyn.
More information about Rayovac mercury free hearing aid batteries can be found by visiting www.rayovac.com or on the Rayovac Web Channel on Audiology Online.
Additionally, a recorded course entitled, Going Green? Introducing the World's Longest Lasting Mercury Free HA Battery by Rayovac, can be found in the AudiologyOnline eLearning library, or by clicking here: www.audiologyonline.com/ceus/
