What began back in 1946 with the company owner's hearing impairment has grown to become a globally successful high-tech company developing hearing instruments for the hard of hearing. Over 500 highly qualified personnel work in the Bernafon research and development centre in Bern and all over the world on their joint corporate mission of helping people to hear and communicate better.
The story of Bernafon hearing aids began 60 years ago at the firm Gfeller AG in Flamatt, which at that time made mechanical and electromechanical products. The motivation for initiating the hearing aid activities came from the company owner, Hans Gfeller, who suffered from severe hearing impairment himself. 
Hans Gfeller
These activities started with a homemade hearing amplifier for Hans Gfeller powered by large batteries. The first serial-production pocket hearing aid was then launched on the market in 1946. As a hearing aid pioneer, Bernafon has consistently succeeded in surprising the market with innovative technologies for the benefit of the hard of hearing since that time. The world's first adjustable hearing aid, the world's first computer-programmable hearing aid as well as the first hearing instrument with ChannelFree™ signal processing are important milestones in its successful product history. 
Bernafon Headquarters
Today 110 personnel are employed at the Bernafon head office in Bern, Switzerland of whom over 70 are involved in product development, digital signal processing, electroacoustics, software, design and technical audiology. Around the world, Bernafon employs a little over 500 people with 14 company-owned sales subsidiaries and independent distribution partners in more than 60 countries around the globe.
About Bernafon
The Bernafon Group operates with a worldwide network of 14 sales companies and independent distributors in over 40 countries, which allows us to offer our customers rapid service at all times. Find out more about our Research and Development and production facilities or contact your local Bernafon representative. www.bernafon-us.com
Additional information can be found on the Bernafon Web Channel at Audiology Online: www.audiologyonline.com/channels/bernafon.asp
60 Years of Innovative Hearing Instruments from Bernafon
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