Date: March 2007
AUDIO INDUCTION LOOP TRAINING GOES INTERNATIONAL
Ampetronic launched its first dedicated Audio Induction Loop training course for specifiers and installers over a year ago. Based on its success, the course has now rolled out across Spain through distribution partner Neotecnica S.A.
The course is part of Ampetronic’s commitment to raising the standards of induction loop installations throughout Europe, thus ensuring that installed systems provide intelligible sound and make a positive difference to the lives of the hearing impaired. Ampetronic see this as an essential part of developing high quality and widely adopted assistive listening systems, with the Spanish course initiating a broader push to spread training on a global scale.
“The Disabilities Discrimination Act (DDA) in the UK is a mixed blessing,” says Ken Hollands, Commercial Director for Ampetronic. “Induction loops are being installed across a wide range of environments from theatres, museums, stadiums and churches to shops, airports, car parks and stations. However, the facility managers responsible don’t always understand the reasons for installing loop systems and all too often the specifiers and installers don’t have the know-how to make the most of a fully integrated system. Installed systems often either don’t work at all or provide such poor performance that hearing aid users do not want to use them. The end result of this is that companies are simply wasting their money and may still be open to prosecution under the DDA.”
Javier Pérez, technical Sales Director for Neotecnica adds, “Ampetronic has shown us how a well designed and properly installed system should perform, just how easy it is to get it wrong and how easy it is to get it right. The Spanish Market for Audio Induction loops is in its infancy and we do not want to make the same mistakes as can be seen in many installations in the UK. Our aim is to develop a well-trained base of installers throughout Spain in pace with demand, so every system that gets installed here meets the international standard IEC 60118-4.”
The course discusses the difficulties for the hard of hearing and explains how assistive listening systems can make a positive difference. It takes a brief look at the competing technologies before focusing on induction loop systems. By the end of the course, the candidate should have all the tools and know how to survey, specify, design, install and commission most induction loop systems.
“It’s encouraging to see such a good uptake for the training course in Spain,” concludes Ampetronic’s managing director, Julian Pieters. “The same issues as we see in the UK extend to mainland Europe, where the EU Directive lays down a similar fundamental framework as the DDA. Therefore, it’s important that we ensure all our customers are fully equipped with the requisite skills to implement what is required.
“As well as the planned roll out of a series of out-of-house courses with distributors and key customers in the UK this Spring, we will continue to work hard with our distributors in other parts of the world to allow the same opportunities on a global level.”
Contact support@ampetronic.com for more information on courses.
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Press Contacts:
Julian Pieters at Ampetronic
Tel: +44 (0)1636 610062
Email: julian.pieters@ampetronic.com
Javier Pérez at Neotecnica
Email : javierperez@neotecnica.es
Sarah James at Gasoline Media
Tel: +44 (0)1372 471472
Email: sarahj@gasolinemedia.com