DENTSPLY Friadent News

DENTSPLY Friadent redesigns production

12-02-2008 | Competence centers are being established in Mannheim and Hanau.

DENTSPLY Friadent, the dental implant manufacturer based in Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld, is positioning itself for continuing growth and is redesigning its production systems. The company, which belongs to DENTSPLY International, the leader in the world market for dentistry, manufactures implants in Mannheim and in Hanau. Both locations are being built up to become centers of competence. In spite of the current uncertain economic climate, DENTSPLY Friadent is proceeding on the basis that the implant market will continue to grow in coming years and is planning the required infrastructure now. This year alone more than 60 new jobs were created at the Mannheim plant alone.
The high-tech artificial tooth roots are made of titanium and require precise computer-controlled production with CNC machines. The first production stage will in future be entirely conducted at the Hanau plant. The CNC machines that are currently in Mannheim will be moved to Hanau, because the space required for the large CNC machines to expand production is only available in Hanau.
However, the company will continue to use the space in Mannheim to the same extent. The Mannheim plant is intended to become a center for surface treatment of implants. The CNC-manufactured titanium bodies will be microscopically roughened in a dual grit-blasting and etching process to ensure that they will become completely integrated into the patient's bone. A new etching plant is to be installed next year. In addition to the surface treatment, all dental implants produced under the new system will be finished in Mannheim and sent from there all over the world. This will require about 30 jobs to be moved from Hanau to Mannheim.
The reorganization will serve to optimize the material flow between the two plants. Production processes will be more efficient. The reorganization will also ensure a clear separation between the mechanical CNC manufacturing process in Hanau and the hygienic clean-room processing of the second stage of manufacture in Mannheim. By 2010 at the latest the clean-room facilities in Mannheim will be completely renewed, allowing all sterile products to be packed there.
The company will start moving the first CNC machines in the middle of next year and the move will be completed in stages, depending on the expansion of work in Mannheim. The company will be placing great emphasis on making it as easy as possible for the 46 employees of the Mannheim CNC production facilities to move to Hanau and in reverse to helping the 30 employees in Hanau to move to Mannheim. Company management and employee representatives are negotiating a compensation package for the expenses incurred by the transfers, such as reimbursement of moving expenses, subsidies for commuting expenses for the longer trip to the new workplace and training and education requirements.
The redesign of production facilities is expected to be complete by 2011.