History of Dry & Store

These products are the direct result of company president Dr. Daniel R. Schumaier’s experience as a dispensing audiologist. Dry & Store came about as a remedy for hearing aid performance problems caused by moisture as well as the common complaint of itchy ears.

Dr. Schumaier has run a dispensing practice since the early 1970s, and was one of the first audiologists in the country to extend his practice beyond hearing diagnostics to the actual dispensing of products. In his practice, Dr. Schumaier saw first-hand how moisture was wreaking havoc with his patients’ hearing aids, causing performance issues and in some cases even causing them to fail altogether. His patients were frustrated by poor hearing aid performance, and Dr. Schumaier was just as frustrated by the lack of an effective remedy. So he took it upon himself to “do something about it.” The result was the creation of a new category of products to dry the hearing aids, provide sanitization, and a proper place to store them.

Over a period of several years he developed the technology, was awarded several patents, built and tested several prototypes, and finally, in 1997, began manufacturing and distributing the Dry & Store hearing aid conditioning system. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of hearing aid users have benefited from Dry & Store’s unique process, including fewer repairs, better sound quality, and relief from itchy, irritated ears.

Product improvements over the years have continued to keep Dry & Store products at the forefront of innovation, including the addition of digital circuitry for very precise cycle timing, more robust ignition of the germicidal lamp, and a more powerful Dry-Brik desiccant. In 2002 a portable version of Dry & Store, called “Dry & Store Global”, was introduced, and the original model of Dry & Store was renamed “Dry & Store Professional”. The Global accommodates body-worn processors; it’s ideal for travel and second homes, and it also serves international markets.

In 2007, the Dry-Brik II was introduced. In development for over two years, the new desiccant product contains a more aggressive sorbent with much greater moisture-adsorbing capacity, packaged in an attractive, molded, disposable container. Dry-Brik II works with all Dry & Store models.

In 2008 a new member of the Dry & Store family was introduced, called “Zephyr by Dry & Store”. While the Zephyr has the same renowned drying and deodorizing benefit, it does not include the germicidal cycle that its larger siblings share. So even though it’s a smaller package, it still packs a punch – clearly not just another box of hot air. In 2009, the Breeze joined it’s sibling Zephyr as a smaller format drying solution.

The Global II product was launched in 2011, bringing the original version up to date with electronic improvements and providing even better drying and reliability.

2015 brought the introduction of the DryDome, a new category of active convection drying for the Dry & Store family. The DryDome is a small solution that is ideal for travel, while still providing active drying.

DryMax joins it’s line-mates in 2018, providing active drying with heat and available germicidal function. It’s a noticeably smaller size than the Zephyr and Global II, which it will replace. Sharing its style cues with the DryDome, the DryMax provides unprecedented degrees of control and precision in a modest sized package.

The launch of the DryMax also brings with it the introduction of the next generation of the Dry-Brik family – the Dry-Brik Mini, a smaller format desiccant brick sized appropriately for the smaller footprint DryMax. All of the moisture-locking power, with half of the size.

With more than 25 years of innovation, Dry & Store products continues to build upon its position as the worldwide leader in hearing instrument care. Look no further for the best care available.

  • BA, Speech Pathology
  • US Army Medic
  • Masters, Audiology
  • PhD, Audiology
  • Started Audiology Program at ETSU
  • Begins private practice
  • Founding member of Audiological Resource Association (ARA)
  • Ear Technology Corporation founded
  • First Dry & Store® prototype
  • Dry & Store® Professional introduced
  • Dry & Store® Global introduced
  • Dry-Brik® II introduced
  • Zephyr introduced
  • Global II introduced
  • Breeze introduced
  • DryCaddy®
  • DryDome®
  • DryMax®
  • Dry-Brik® Mini