Bertram Dental Lab launches LazerTEK Print Service with SLM solutions machines
May 13, 2022
Bertram Dental Lab (BDL), Menasha, Wisconsin, USA, has announced the launch of its LazerTEK Print Service, a metal Additive Manufacturing service offered to its US-based dental lab partners. The service utilises its five SLM®280 PS Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machines from SLM Solutions, Lübeck, Germany.
Founded in 1976, BDL was an early adopter of metal Additive Manufacturing, using it to produce cobalt-chrome removable partial dentures (RPDs) at scale. Through the exclusive use of SLM Solutions AM machines and LazerTEK partial alloy, BDL now provides a RPD Additive Manufacturing service to dental labs. Users can upload their completed RPD stl design files through the BDL LazerTEK Print Service portal, enabling access to direct Additive Manufacturing.
“The dental industry is arguably one of the oldest identifiers of using AM to enable their business,” stated Charlie Grace, Chief Sales Officer at SLM Solutions. “BDL has successfully displaced casting by leveraging AM to create world class partials with great efficiency and with the highest quality.”
Tim Bertram, Co-Owner of Bertram Dental Lab, commented, “The decision to partner with SLM Solutions was easy in 2016 – SLM Solutions was the only AM company solely focused on metal AM and they have continued to be a leader ever since. They pioneered bi-directional recoating, multi-laser systems and their current production series machines have been a game changer.”
“The production series machines provide everything we need,” he continued. “Automated and closed-loop powder handling reduce labour costs while ensuring safety and maintaining the highest possible alloy properties. The improved gas flow and permanent filter system ensure we can run 24/7 without any decrease in part quality. SLM Solutions’ partnerships with industry leading companies guarantees that BDL will benefit from continued research and development across all levels of metal AM, thus enabling our mission.”
BDL has a significant US national presence, and 98% of their products are RPDs, so the ability to scale is critical to its success. The LazerTEK Print Service is intended to reduce dependency on casting consumables while also improving product fit and quality. Bertram concluded, “The days of needing to cast RPDs in-house are over.”
