Australia’s Cochlear plans expansion in China

Bionic ear implant maker Cochlear is expanding its global manufacturing capacity with a new $50 million facility in China.

Cochlear will build the plant in the western Chinese city of Chengdu and hopes to have the first units rolling off the assembly line in four years once it has gained the necessary regulatory approvals. At full production, the plant will boost Cochlear's implant production capacity by 50 per cent.

China is already among Cochlear’s top five international markets and is its fastest growing market by volume, with potential to deliver more strong growth over the next decade.

Cochlear has previously manufactured the implants only in Australia, although it has plants for other products in the United States, Sweden and Belgium it owns following acquisitions.

Cochlear is based in Sydney, on the Macquarie University campus, and has a manufacturing facility there, along with others in Lane Cove and Brisbane.