Gunnar Klansø
The
company originally founded in Odense by Poul Madsen had many different names over the 44-year span of
its existence as an independent audiologic equipment manufacturer and hearing aid distributor. Amplex,
Kamplex, Danplex, Rexton Danplex, among others.
It was also served by many talented individuals, both in Denmark and around the world, but Danplex will always be remembered for one distinguished personality who towered (literally as well as figuratively) above all others.
An
electronics engineer with a talent for business
Gunnar Klansø was born on April
6 1938 in Copenhagen, and took a degree in Electronic Engineering before starting his first job as a
project engineer at the well-known Danish company DISA Electronics.
While at the same time studying Business Management nights at Copenhagen Business School, the young Klansø traveled the world in his new job, controlling the performance of diesel engine turbochargers. In the capacity of a sales engineer, he got to know one particular part of the world very well, Eastern Europe.
The countries behind the Iron Curtain were difficult to penetrate, shrouded by secrecy and obstructive bureaucracy, but the lack of effective competition and widespread shortages meant that these markets were very profitable. A number of prominent Danish companies including DISA Electronics, Radiometer and Brüel & Kjær found that by working together, they could open the right doors. Klansø was one of the first members of this group of entrepreneurial sales reps.
And the many contacts he made in Eastern Europe right at the start of his career were to stand him in good stead later on.
Working
for Danavox
When Gunnar Klansø started working at Danavox in 1964, the company
was one of the more conservative hearing aid manufacturers, with a low profile and sluggish growth.
Gunnar succeeded in building up the electrical component department into a profitable division selling
components to customers all over the world (including many hearing aid manufacturers, large and small).
He also managed International Sales for hearing aids.
Again Eastern Europe was an area where Gunnar thrived and he continued to build relationships throughout the region.
Going
out on his own
In 1976, Gunnar left the company and established his own called
DanaMedica and headquartered in Copenhagen. As the name implied, the company specialized in distributing
Danish medical products, mainly in Eastern Europe. Among others, DanaMedica represented Danavox (which
was taken over by GN in 1978), Madsen Electronics, Interacoustics, Danplex and Peters. Most of the products
sold to hospitals throughout the region were hearing aids, audiometers, tympanometers and ALDs.
In 1979, after GN Danavox had taken over its own representation in Eastern Europe, Paul Bommer of Rexton Hörgeräte acquired Danplex. Within a year, Gunnar’s company was merged with Rexton’s to form Danplex DanaMedica A/S, with Gunnar at the helm.
Over the next 19 years, ownership of the company changed hands a number of times, but management remained in the capable hands of Gunnar Klansø until GN ReSound acquired Danplex in 1999.
Gunnar
joins Michael Brock
outside Taastrup HQ in 1999
Starting in 1980, Gunnar successfully built up the company into one of the industry’s largest manufacturers. Apart from dominating the central and Eastern European markets, Danplex distinguished itself by supplying countless audiometers, tympanometers and hearing aid fitting systems to Hortmann, Starkey and Siemens. At its peak, Danplex had a turnover exceeding DKK 90 million.
The main driving force behind this success was Gunnar Klansø – and his widespread network of friends and business associates throughout the industry and the audiological world.
Many of these friends came to say goodbye at a reception held at GN Otometrics new HQ in April 2003.
Günter
Hortmann was one of many guests
at Gunnar Klansø’s farewell reception.
Retirement
– what’s that?
Gunnar retired officially when he turned 65 in 2003. With
a number of homes, a large family, good health and his abiding passions for golf and boating, one might
have expected Gunnar to rest on his laurels and enjoy his retirement.
On the contrary, Gunnar’s entrepreneurial spirit hasn’t deserted him and he has recently partnered some former colleagues in two start-up ventures, importing and distributing audiologic equipment such as ALDs, baby hearing screeners, tinnitus maskers, etc., into Denmark and Sweden.