ITASCA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Knowles announced today it has reached another major milestone in the history of its MEMS technology with the shipment of its 2 Billionth SiSonic™ MEMS microphone. SiSonic^TM microphones are found in all Tier 1 mobile phones and in many other consumer electronic devices including notebooks, headsets, and digital still cameras.

Knowles shipped its first SiSonic^TM MEMS microphone in 2003 and, since then, the company's MEMS microphone shipments have translated into a commanding market share. Knowles ranked as the number three global MEMS supplier according to the Top10 MEMS suppliers in Consumer Electronics & Mobile Devices in 2010 report, (Source: IHS iSuppli Research, February 2011) and is the world leader in MEMS-based silicon microphone manufacturing.

Having celebrated the production of the first billionth MEMS Microphone in August 2009, Knowles continues to lead the mobile phone market in terms of innovation, design, and product breadth in the realm of acoustics. It took six years for Knowles to achieve the landmark of shipping one billion MEMS microphones to its customers, but only a little over eighteen months to reach the two billion figure.

“When we first launched the SiSonic^TM microphone to the market, we knew we had developed something special,” says Mike Adell, Vice President and General Manager of Knowles Acoustics. “Through the commitment of Knowles employees and our valued suppliers, we have grown this business by listening to the market needs of our customers and delivering innovative products that bring increased value to them. We look forward to continuing this legacy and reaching our next billionth milestone.”

Knowles’s continuing efforts to meet the demand of its customers led to the opening of an 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility dedicated solely to SiSonic™ production in Suzhou, China in 2004, which today is producing at a rate in excess of millions of units per day. They are also looking at additional locations to possibly expand its current production capabilities to sustain future growth.

About Knowles – Founded in 1946, Knowles is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, with offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide. Knowles is the leading designer and manufacturer of advanced acoustic components. Its microphones and receivers are the standard for the hearing health industry. Knowles is also the leading provider of MEMS microphones for major cell phone companies and consumer electronic devices. For more information visit the Knowles website at www.knowles.com. Knowles is owned by the Dover Corporation, a multi-billion dollar diversified producer of innovative equipment, specialty systems and value-added services. Visit www.dovercorporation.com for more information.

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