HeyGears 3D printers simplify and speed up operations

Romain Lecoustre

Mon. 22. April 2024

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The Label Dent laboratory has a history of exploring new technologies in the pursuit of happy customers since its establishment in 2007, in Bordeaux in France, by François Tisserand and Simon Filaire. The laboratory initially specialised in fixed prostheses, utilising its expertise to create quality solutions for patients, but in 2010, owing to increasing demand from practitioners, expanded into removable restorations. This addition allowed the laboratory to better meet the diverse needs of dentists and solidify its reputation in the field. Recognising the advancements in technology and the impact of digitalisation on the dental industry, Label Dent opened a dedicated digital department in 2017. This digital transition gave the laboratory a new realm of possibilities in design and manufacture.

The core of our business lies in the satisfaction of all the practitioners we collaborate with. Our top priorities are to ensure consistent production and to scrupulously adhere to manufacturing deadlines, time management being critical in dental practices. We strive to deliver dental prostheses that meet internal specifications and, of course, the requirements of every practitioner. Our aim is to minimise the need for adjustments or modifications by the practitioner. Our team works methodically, optimising each step of our production process to guarantee that dental prostheses are delivered on time without compromising quality. We take pride in our ability to meet the needs of our clients and offer them the latest technological innovations.

“HeyGears’ 3D-printing solutions have truly revolutionised our approach to and production of models created from intra-oral scans.”

Collaboration with HeyGears

Label Dent has always been eager to connect and work with different stakeholders in the dental world because we believe that partnering with other professionals can offer numerous benefits, including exchanging ideas, sharing expertise and developing new solutions to enhance dental care. We are open to innovative digital solutions that companies like HeyGears offer. Our collaboration with HeyGears initially stemmed from our need for greater precision in dental models for the many implant cases we handle. When we initially tested a HeyGears 3D dental printer, the company came to us for installation and to assist us throughout the testing phases. Once the tests were completed, we realised that we could improve the level of precision for every implant case we handled and transition from plaster models to 3D-printed models. For us, 3D printing has become a key tool, just like digital prostheses have been.

HeyGears’ 3D-printing solutions have truly revolutionised our approach to and production of models created from intra-oral scans. At Label Dent, we have found the HeyGears UltraCraft A3D and UltraCraft A2D 4K to be the most suitable 3D printers for us. What truly impresses us about the A3D is its remarkable automation capabilities. By employing smart automated features such as innovative automatic part removal and automatic resin refill, the manual steps and associated disruptions throughout the printing process are reduced. This not only increases equipment uptime but also significantly enhances our production capacity within a given time frame. Moreover, its larger print area enables us to achieve greater production density and efficiency.

HeyGears UltraCraft A2D 4K with the HiVE module and HeyGears UltraCraft A2D.

HeyGears UltraCraft A3D.

The A2D 4K 3D printer, in combination with HeyGears’ HiVE (High Volume Enabler) module, has proved invaluable in reducing the number of manual steps while increasing production output of highly accurate models. Our team benefits from uninterrupted production throughout the day, ensuring non-stop creation of models crafted with high levels of precision.

Additionally, the HeyGears Cloud platform serves as a seamless connection hub, interconnecting devices with software to facilitate swift and intelligent preprocessing, real-time process monitoring and management of production queues. This empowers us to maintain around-the-clock operations, guaranteeing optimal efficiency at all times. With HeyGears, we have experienced enhanced productivity and streamlined processes, taking our digital dental manufacturing to new heights.

Through their advanced automation processes, HeyGears’ printers have significantly optimised our workflow, resulting in substantial time-savings while maintaining the accuracy we need for each of our prints, ensuring impeccable quality and swift delivery of every model we produce. Additionally, with the utilisation of HeyGears’ UltraPrint-Dental Model HP UV 2.0 resin for printing high-precision models specifically for implants and restorations, our implant cases have benefited from models that are more precise. The resin refill system and automatic part removal have greatly reduced the workload for our operators in the printing department. These integrated features have not only improved the efficiency of our operations but also freed up time.

Quality control

Checking and validating the quality and accuracy of the final results before sending dental prostheses to clients is a crucial step to ensure satisfaction and build trust. We have implemented a quality control process involving managers of various departments before proceeding with the shipment of our dental prostheses. This allows us to minimise the number of prostheses that do not meet our specifications or the requirements of the dentist.

Our work with HeyGears can be described in three words: responsiveness, trust and innovation. Whenever we have provided feedback or encountered an issue, our teams have received a swift response. It is also easy to modify design parameters with HeyGears to better adapt to our machines. The visits from HeyGears have allowed us to establish a privileged relationship. The company has visited us multiple times for printer installations and provided great support during the set-up process. We are very satisfied with our collaboration with HeyGears.

Post and core.

Post and core model.

Growth with advancements for clients, employees and the environment

Label Dent Group is pursuing a growth strategy by opening new laboratories and improving existing facilities. Our goal is to optimise both our equipment and processes by investing in new machines and automating certain tasks. We believe that artificial intelligence has a significant role to play in dental automation and development. On one hand, we must maintain our commitment to continuous improvement in printing quality, but on the other hand, we also recognise the importance of enhancing the daily routine of our employees. We are seeking solutions to further automate certain tasks and improve the overall efficiency of our production. Additionally, we plan to extend these improvements to other laboratories within the group, including smaller ones. We are considering implementing scaled-down machining and printing solutions to offer similar benefits of automation and production enhancement throughout our network. Our strategic vision encompasses improving both the quality and efficiency of production as well as the well-being of our employees.

“Our work with HeyGears can be described in three words: responsiveness, trust and innovation.”

For future innovations, we hope to see advancements in post-processing, which remains a manual and potentially hazardous step for operators. Automating this phase would be a significant step towards improving automated workflows while enhancing safety and production efficiency. We also face challenges related to waste management associated with post-processing in France. A production solution that minimises alcohol usage and vapour would undoubtedly be a considerable advantage. This would not only reduce health risks for operators but also contribute to reducing environmental impact.

HeyGears’ newly launched UltraCraft Wash Station is a step in the right direction in this regard, since it provides an automated process for the cleaning of printed dental appliances and minimises contact with the cleaning agents. We are looking forward to seeing future innovative products from HeyGears.

The Dream Factory project and the future

As part of our continued commitment to providing a diverse and cutting-edge service to our customers, we are working with HeyGears on the first Dream Factory project in Europe. By implementing a dedicated 3D-printing space to enhance our digital dental production process, particularly focusing on removable prostheses and aligners, the Dream Factory project can bring significant added value to our laboratory. This initiative aims to redesign our workspace in order to streamline workflows and increase our printing production capabilities. Our shared objective is to fully realise the potential of digitalisation through comprehensive and integrated solutions provided by the Dream Factory. We firmly believe that 3D printing will become a core technology used in dental laboratories in the coming years.

In summary, the journey of Label Dent since its establishment in 2007 reflects a constant and thoughtful evolution to meet the changing needs of the dental profession. The progressive specialisation in various areas of dental prosthetics, responsiveness to practitioners’ demands, and early adoption of digital technologies such as 3D printing and automation have enabled our laboratory to become a competitive participant and compelling partner in the evolving dental industry.