Correction: HR originally wrote that in the first sentence that Spectrum Brands Holdings is the parent company of VARTA batteries. We would like to clarify that Spectrum is the parent company of VARTA Consumer Battery and that there is no relation between Spectrum and VARTA Microbattery GmbH, We regret any confusion. –T. Valenza

Spectrum Brands Holdings, the parent company of Rayovac and VARTA Consumer Battery, is making another multi-million dollar research and development investment into its hearing aid battery manufacturing facilities.

The company says that the investment will support product enhancements and new cell manufacturing and packaging lines. The investment will also ensure that Rayovac’s two hearing aid battery facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom have the capacity to meet the increasing demand.

Rayovac’s plants already manufacture hundreds of millions of battery cells each year, which are exported to more than 100 countries. Part of the reason for the expansion is to meet demand from new emerging markets, such as Latin America, China, India, and Russia, where hearing aid sales are growing.

Randy Raymond, vice president of Rayovac (pictured), commented in the press release, “The new technologies our team is developing will help us to meet our commitment to hearing aid users and the global hearing healthcare industry to provide the longest-lasting, most reliable hearing aid batteries available. And, of course, it is a given that this effort is directed behind batteries that contain no added mercury.”

This new investment marks a period of continued growth and recognition for Rayovac’s hearing aid battery business. The company has garnered several international awards, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Export in 2012, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2011, and two International Business Awards (The Stevies®).

In April 2012, Rayovac launched its best-performing, most powerful hearing aid battery, which is designed to last longer and to have an operating voltage able to support power-hungry high-end hearing aids.

“The global hearing aid battery market will continue to grow, driven by a combination of factors such as aging populations, advances in hearing instrument technology and growth in emerging markets,” added Raymond. “Our leadership in technology, performance, and reliability has positioned Rayovac as the global market leader in zinc air hearing aid batteries. We remain committed to advancing battery technology for the hearing healthcare market, as we have for more than several decades.”

SOURCEE: Spectrum Brands