Harman International has announced the acquisition of privately-held Duran Audio BV, providing electro-acoustic and software-based directivity control technologies that include the AXYS Intellivox line of “steerable” columns.
The AXYS products and core technologies will become an integrated part of the Harman Professional audio product line.
“Today’s acquisition of Duran Audio BV bolsters Harman’s stated commitment to advance our technology leadership through both R&D and acquisitions,” states Dinesh C. Paliwal, Harman chairman, president, and CEO. “Over the years, Duran Audio has established a distinct and loyal customer base built on innovative technology. By leveraging Duran’s unique product lines with Harman’s global footprint and product synergies, our business is optimally positioned to serve new customers around the world with expanded audio solutions.”
Gerrit Duran, founder of Duran Audio notes, “Our focus has always been on innovation. Over the years we have developed a range of solutions for some of the most difficult problems facing sound system designers, architects and acoustic engineers. Today’s acquisition by Harman presents many wonderful opportunities to push the R&D boundaries even further and to deliver some truly unique technologies to a wider customer base.”
Founded in Zaltbommel, The Netherlands by Gerrit Duran in 1981, Duran Audio’x AXYS range of professional audio products includes loudspeakers, amplifiers, signal processors and network devices. the company pioneered modern loudspeaker “beam steering” and “beam shaping”],” which are essential to addressing demanding acoustic environments. The company has also provides audio solutions for European EN-54 safety applications and software technologies for audio design.