ST. PAUL, Minn. – (January 12, 2011) – 3M ESPE announces the addition of Argen®, manufacturer of CAD/CAM designed metal copings, to its Lava™ Network. This partnership gives labs with the 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Scan ST Design System the ability to export files for metal laser melted substructures. The move is part of 3M ESPE’s continuing effort to improve lab productivity, and will allow owners of the Lava Scan ST Scanner to reduce expenses incurred during the production of a traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restoration, including waxing, casting, investing, and metal inventory stocking.
"We are very pleased with the quality of the restorations coming from the Lava Design System," said Anton Woolf, CEO of Argen. "Argen is proud to be a leader in the digital space, and our connectivity with the Lava Network enables us to collaborate with a world leader in offering superior solutions to our customers.”
"The connection between Argen and 3M ESPE allows us to use our Lava Scan ST scanner to improve output of metal copings and frameworks," said Steve Proctor, owner of New Generation Laboratory. “This gives our laboratory the ability to produce more cases digitally and bill more product each day.”
This expansion of the Lava Network follows the recent addition of 3Shape and Dental Wings scanners to the network, which gave users of these systems the ability to offer clinically proven 3M materials to clients. The opening of the Lava Network to each of these systems is part of an ongoing effort by 3M ESPE to continue to broaden its associations with validated partners and systems. Labs can connect to the Lava Network with no additional capital investment, expanding their material options and workflows.
"This new collaboration between Argen and 3M ESPE provides laboratories with the ability to streamline production of PFM restorations, improving their profitability,” said Dan McMaster, Global Business Director, 3M ESPE. “As these recent developments demonstrate, the Lava Network is continually expanding to give labs more capabilities.”
Labs that currently own the Lava Scan ST Design System should contact your 3M ESPE specialist with requests to upgrade their export functionality to Argen.
For more information, visit www.3MESPE.com/Lava or call 1-800-634-2249.
3M ESPE manufactures and markets more than 2,000 products and services designed to help dental professionals improve their patients’ oral health care. 3M Health Care, one of 3M’s six major business segments, provides world-class innovative products and services to help health care professionals improve the practice and delivery of patient care in medical, oral care, drug delivery and health information markets. The recently created 3M Digital Oral Care Department, part of the 3M ESPE Division, aims to accelerate and strengthen 3M’s efforts to lead the digital transformation that is occurring in oral care. For more information on the complete 3M ESPE line of dental products visit the 3M ESPE Web site at www.3MESPE.com or call the 3M ESPE Technical Hotline at 1-800-634-2249. Products are available for purchase through authorized 3M ESPE distributors.
3M, ESPE, Impregum, Penta, Pentamix, Lava, RelyX, Ketac, Filtek, Adper, Sof-Lex and Imprint are trademarks of 3M ESPE or 3M ESPE AG.
About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $23 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3m.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
About Argen
The Argen Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of precious and non-precious dental alloys, distributing to over 100 countries worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Argen’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility produces over 600 alloy compositions, superior refining services, as well as digital precious and non-precious substructures, For more information visit www.argen.com.
