Licensed by three of the largest hearing aid manufacturers, Aridion™ is transforming conventional levels of reliability by substantially reducing warranty failure and repair costs and ultimately increasing user confidence. Plus, to coincide with the 2010 EUHA Congress, P2i will unveil details of the new compact Aridion™ processing machines, designed specifically to address the needs of smaller hearing aid manufacturers and dispensers. Measuring just 580mm (W) x 860mm (H) x 750mm (D), the Aridion™ 8 machines allow for cost-effective and efficient processing of lower product volumes. They can be installed at any location that has a standard power supply and are operated at the touch of a single button, opening up a unique opportunity for all hearing aid manufacturers to provide Aridion™ protection to the millions of hearing aids made each year.
Stephen Coulson, Chief Technical Officer at P2i, comments: "Proven to be five times more durable than the market-leading coating, Aridion™ is the ultimate protective shield for high-performance hearing aids - regardless of how intricate the design is or the environment it is worn in. We're already achieving excellent results with major manufacturers and see huge potential for Aridion™ across the entire market through our new machine."
Aridion™ is applied using a special pulsed ionised gas (plasma), which is created within a vacuum chamber, to attach a nanoscopic polymer layer - one thousand times thinner than a human hair - to the hearing aid. This dramatically lowers the product's surface energy, so that when humidity or sweat come into contact with it, they form beads and simply roll off.
Plus, because Aridion™ can coat every aspect of a finished product at the nanoscopic level, it protects much more thoroughly than alternative approaches where individual product components are treated prior to assembly. The result is a truly durable liquid repellent coating that does not affect the product's look, feel or delicate acoustic properties.
