When it comes to manufacturing instruments at its Bensheim site, from research and development to the final steps of production, Dentsply Sirona relies on the typical German quality factors of thoroughness, reliability and a spirit of invention. These values form the basis for the instruments’ excellent quality, and follow a long tradition in the field of dental technology. It was back in 1887 that William Niendorff, with the help of a precision engineer, constructed the first electric dental drill in Erlangen, an invention that was soon produced on an industrial scale. “‘Made in Germany’ is a brand promise which we have internalized and put into practice every day,” explains Jan Siefert, Group Vice President for Instruments at Dentsply Sirona. Dentsply Sirona builds the basis for this promise at its own ultra-modern instruments hall in Bensheim: the largest production facility in the dental industry. This is where all the company’s instruments have been manufactured since 2013.
Spirit of invention focusing on innovation
Dentsply Sirona has a broad range of experience in this field: the merger between the world’s two leading companies in the dental industry united their combined passion for innovation. A combined 130 years of experience keeps the focus on developing finely nuanced, integrated solutions. Some 247 engineers and researchers are currently working at the Bensheim site’s Innovation Center, constantly coming up with new dental solutions and products to meet the requirements of customers in every field. For the Instruments business area alone, 113 patents have currently been filed (as of October 2015). In other words, for Dentsply Sirona, spirit of invention means thinking outside the company’s own limits and constantly staying one step ahead. One example of this combination of spirit of invention and total customer satisfaction is the turbines’ speed brake, which ensures that the system works smoothly and quietly, with no noticeable drop in performance.
A thorough approach to production
At Dentsply Sirona, the manufacturing process starts with careful planning. First, precise 3D data is compiled for the instruments, making sure that production runs smoothly throughout the manufacturing process. The CAD drawing of a product, for example, details every single, tiny component so that the design is ready for the teams of experts in the production department. Finally, instruments are subjected to 100% testing, with a worker carefully examining every product individually before package and delivery. To Dentsply Sirona, thoroughness means putting meticulous care into providing a service for customers. “I would never say that we have got there. You can always do things a little bit better,” recaps Roland Weber, Head of Production and Process Engineering for the Instruments SBU at Dentsply Sirona.
Dentsply Sirona, a reliable partner
To produce reliable instruments, the company makes sure to employ high-quality materials that meet the demands of everyday use. Another key factor in every single step is thoroughness: this forms the basis for the high quality of the instruments produced. As a guarantee of strength, speed and endurance, before the materials are approved for production,
qualified staff check whether the components indeed fit together and function following the precision engineering process. Instruments go through three stages during which these experts test them to their limits and check whether they stand up to legal and internal guidelines. “With the standards we set, we are well above regulatory requirements,” says Marc Semmler, Director of Quality Management in the field of Instruments. With 93% in-house manufacturing, Dentsply Sirona offers top-quality instruments “Made in Germany” and works as a reliable partner providing, among other things, the longest guarantees of any manufacturer in the sector. The products’ long lifetimes result from the precision of the company’s manufacturing process.
Dentsply Sirona also redefines the term “quality” when it comes to service. If anything does in fact go wrong, or does not fully fulfill the customer’s needs, this is checked and, if necessary, repaired just as conscientiously as instruments emerging fresh from the factory. Here, too, after all, the company’s combined expertise comes into play. The Instruments Service Center employs a team of experienced specialists, some of whom have been with the company for more than 25 years.
Focus on the customer and the patient
At Dentsply Sirona, German engineering means not only bolstering the R&D and manufacturing steps, but also making sure that innovations and product solutions are in line with, and even exceed, customers’ expectations and wishes day after day. This is why the company employs more than 600 engineers and researchers in all, provides constant funding for more than 50 clinical studies and develops more than 30 new products every year. Over the last six years, more than 600 million dollars have been invested in research and development. Every year, the
Dentsply Sirona training program, the biggest in the sector, trains more than 300,000 physicians, fostering patient care around the globe and promoting better, safer and faster dentistry.
About Dentsply Sirona
Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with a 130-year history of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world class brands. As The Dental Solutions Company, Dentsply Sirona’s products provide innovative, high-quality and effective solutions to advance patient care and deliver better, safer and faster dentistry. Dentsply Sirona’s global headquarters is located in York, Pennsylvania, and the international headquarters is based in Salzburg, Austria. The company’s shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY.
Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products.