3Shape marks 10-Year Anniversary

This year marks a milestone for a company that has been called both “The Google of the Dental Industry” and “A modern technological phenomenon.” And these descriptions are well deserved.  After only 10 years of existence, 3Shape’s market impact, steady growth and global success has become the talk of the dental business arena. With plenty of reasons to celebrate, 3Shape is gathering its staff from all over the globe to join in festive events being held in both Copenhagen and Kiev.

An Ascendant Star of our Industry
The past 10 years bear witness to 3Shape’s unrelenting commitment to provide 3D techniques and digitalized workflows for mass customization production. 3Shape’s journey was initiated by two innovation pioneers in the year 2000 - Tais Clausen and Nikolaj Deichmann - who had developed breakthrough 3D technology and foresaw its potential. One year later, the company launched its first 3D scanner and software for the hearing aid industry, and the new system’s market-acclaimed success cemented the foundation of the company. 3Shape soon looked at other industries in need of its technologies and, in 2004, 3Shape shifted its primary focus onto the pressing and practical needs of the dental industry.
“Our entry into the Dental CAD/CAM market came naturally,” says Nikolaj Deichmann CFO and Co-Founder. “Our research and development produced highly accurate and efficient 3D scanning and CAD/CAM technologies that generated perfect solutions for dental restoration production.”
3Shape has been recognized three times as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in the Innovation category in Denmark. This prestigious award recognizes innovation, leadership, state-of-the art products, international network and clear strategy to pursue continuous growth.
“We have come far in 10 years,” points out Tais Clausen, CTO and 3Shape Co-Founder. “Perhaps the most important lesson we have learned is that successful innovation is only successful if it moves and is guided in directions that truly benefit professionals in their daily work.”
 
Looking ahead
But even with 10 years of outstanding history behind it, 3Shape never stops looking ahead. The company believes that the Age of fully digital dentistry is closer than most people realize, as technological advances and industry demands drive “Digitization” fast-forward.
 
 “3Shape is in the midst of a dynamic and evolving business environment, and the dental industry increasingly looks upon us as innovation trendsetters,” says Flemming Thorup CEO. “10 years of business success has put us in a perfect position to bring our state-of-the-art tools to the global market for digital dentistry and to enhance our standing as its leader.
 
Looking beyond
3Shape’s accomplishments in these short 10 years cannot be exclusively accredited to its cutting-edge technologies. The company possesses a rare visionary insight and understanding about where and how its 3D digital technologies can be applied. Already today, 3Shape is emerging as a powerful player in additional markets such as Quality Control and Orthodontics.
 
“Early in our history, we spoke of our intention to Digitally Rebuild the World,” says Nikolaj Deichmann CFO and Co-Founder. “Digitizing processes and mass customization represent an open expanse of opportunity for our core technologies and expertise. I am confident that the next 10 years will be just as exciting as the first ones.” 
 
 
About 3Shape
3Shape A/S is a Danish company specializing in the development and marketing of 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions designed for the creation, processing, analysis and management of high-quality 3D data for application in complex manufacturing processes.
 
3Shape envisions the age of the “full digital dental lab,” and its more than 85 developers provide superior innovation power toward reaching this goal. 3Shape’s flexible solutions empower dental technicians through automation of real workflows, and its systems are applied in thousands of labs in more than 60 countries worldwide, reaching the market’s #1 record for units produced per day by dental technicians.
 
3Shape is a privately-held company headquartered in Copenhagen, with the market’s largest team dedicated to scanner and software development for the dental segment based in Denmark and Ukraine, production facilities in Poland, and Sales and Support Offices in New Jersey, USA and Shanghai, China. For further information regarding 3shape, please refer to www.3Shape.com.