HP and Smile Direct Club Collaborate on Largest Multi Jet Fusion 3D Production Factory in the U.S.
May 21 2019 - 8:00AM
Today at Rapid 2019, North America’s largest 3D printing
conference, HP Inc. and SmileDirectClub, the pioneer of
teledentistry and market leader in doctor-directed, remote clear
aligner therapy, announced an expanded collaboration to
revolutionize the way that millions of people can achieve a
straighter smile. SmileDirectClub is powering its digital
differentiation and rapid manufacturing expansion of clear aligners
with HP’s Jet Fusion 3D printing solutions, making it the largest
producer of Multi Jet Fusion 3D printed parts in the country.
“SmileDirectClub is digitally transforming the traditional
orthodontics industry, making it more personal, affordable, and
convenient for millions of consumers to achieve a smile they’ll
love,” said Alex Fenkell, co-founder,
SmileDirectClub. “HP’s breakthrough 3D printing and data
intelligence platform makes this level of disruption possible for
us, pushing productivity, quality, and manufacturing predictability
to unprecedented levels, all with economics that allow us to pass
on savings to the consumers seeking treatment using our
teledentistry platform.”
Disrupting the 120-Year-Old Orthodontics
Industry SmileDirectClub co-founders Alex Fenkell and
Jordan Katzman first met as teens with metal braces at summer camp,
later deciding that innovations in technology and telehealth could
democratize access to safe, affordable, and convenient orthodontic
care. Founded in 2014, SmileDirectClub is the market leader
of the doctor-directed clear aligner industry, utilizing its
digital network of state licensed dentists and orthodontists who
prescribe teeth straightening treatment plans and manage all
aspects of clinical care from diagnosis through the completion of
treatment using its proprietary teledentistry platform.
SmileDirectClub is growing rapidly, having already served more than
half a million customers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, with
plans to expand to Australia and the UK in 2019.An estimated 80% of
Americans could benefit from orthodontic care, yet only 1% receive
it each year, with cost being the biggest prohibitive issue. In the
U.S., 60% of counties do not have access to an orthodontist. By
leveraging the benefits of teledentistry coupled with HP’s 3D
printing technology, SmileDirectClub is bridging these gaps,
offering people a chance to build confidence through a straighter,
brighter smile at a cost that is up to 60% less than traditional
options.
HP 3D Printing Accelerates SmileDirectClub’s
Manufacturing Growth HP 3D printing technology is powering
SmileDirectClub’s disruptive business model and rapid growth.
SmileDirectClub and its manufacturing partners rely on HP Jet
Fusion 3D printing solutions to produce all of the mouth molds for
each patient’s aligners and retainers, creating an average of more
than 50,000 personalized mouth molds each day. To keep up with
increased consumer demand, SmileDirectClub has more than doubled
its investment in HP 3D printing solutions to now include a fleet
of 49 HP Jet Fusion 4210 3D printers and anticipates printing
nearly 20 million mouth molds over the next 12 months alone.
“SmileDirectClub and HP are reinventing the future of
orthodontics, pushing the boundaries of customized 3D mass
production and democratizing access to affordable, high-quality
teeth straightening for millions of people,” said Christoph
Schell, President of 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing at HP
Inc. “Through this collaboration, HP is helping
SmileDirectClub accelerate its growth, enabling a new era of
personalized consumer experiences only made possible by industrial
3D printing and digital manufacturing.”
New Joint Recycling Program Enables a More Sustainable
Future3D printing is not only driving the next industrial
revolution, but can also help provide a sustainable one. Furthering
that effort, today HP and SmileDirectClub also announced a new
recycling program, in which excess 3D material and already
processed plastic mouth molds are recycled by HP and turned into
pellets for traditional injection molding, leading to more
sustainable production. The overall sustainability benefits of 3D
printing are vast, and include helping to reduce the amount of
materials used, shortening and simplifying traditional supply
chains, better matching of supply and demand, as well as improving
service options that can prolong the life of products. 3D printed
parts can also reduce the weight of vehicles and aircraft to
improve fuel efficiency, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and resource consumption.
About SmileDirectClub
SmileDirectClub was founded on a simple belief:
Everyone deserves a smile they love. Recognizing an opportunity to
increase access to affordable, convenient oral care, the company
pioneered teledentistry and became the market leader of
doctor-directed, remote clear aligner therapy. A digital network of
duly licensed dentists and orthodontists approve and oversee their
patients’ smile plans from start to finish.
SmileDirectClub was founded in 2014 by
Alex Fenkell and Jordan Katzman in partnership with
Camelot Venture Group, whose portfolio companies include 1-800
CONTACTS and Quicken Loans. Available across the United
States, Canada and Puerto Rico, SmileDirectClub is
headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. For more information,
visit SmileDirectClub.com. About HP HP
Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone,
everywhere. Through our portfolio of personal systems, printers,
and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More
information about HP Inc. is available
at http://www.hp.com/go/3Dprinting.
Noel Hartzell, HP inc.noel.hartzell@hp.comwww.hp.com/go/newsroom
Carrie Moore, SmileDirectClubCarrie.Moore@smiledirectclub.com
www.smiledirectclub.com/press |
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/856921f4-8b9c-40e3-93d7-48960d19cd33
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