Dentures – Optimized manufacturing through automated polishing processes

AUTOMATION TO COMBAT SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGES

OTEC Präzisionsfinish GmbH is addressing the growing shortage of skilled workers in the dental industry with advanced solutions for the post-processing of additively manufactured complete dentures. Through close collaboration with leading manufacturers in the field of 3D printing, particularly in PolyJet and stereolithographic processes, the company is currently developing key processes to automate grinding and polishing tasks. The goal is to ease the workload of dental laboratories with efficient workflows and significantly enhance the cost-effectiveness of digital denture production.

The shift in dental technology towards digital manufacturing is impressively documented in reports such as the "Digital Denture Market Size, Share & Growth Report 2032." For instance, the market volume for digitally manufactured dental prosthetics was valued at USD 1.9 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 8.4% projected over the next five years. While the conventional manufacturing process for dentures is extremely labor-intensive, 3D printing offers a significant reduction in manual labor. However, the surface quality immediately after printing often presents a challenge, as the printing process can initially increase the need for manual post-processing. This is precisely where OTEC’s expertise comes into play, aiming to eliminate the bottleneck of manual polishing.

FLEXIBLE MACHINE SOLUTIONS FOR DENTAL LABS OF ALL SIZES

Depending on production volume, dental labs have access to various machine types. The Maxi-Dental is suitable for smaller batches of two to three parts, while the CF series systems can handle capacities of 15 to 20 parts. This technological flexibility allows labs of different sizes to optimize their process chains and counteract staffing shortages with machine support.

60% AUTOMATION FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY

Current developments and test series indicate a potential automation level of up to 60%. This already results in significant relief in daily work and, more importantly, achieves reproducible results that would be difficult to achieve economically with purely manual labor.

The high interest in these solutions is reflected in the steadily increasing number of inquiries at key trade fairs such as IDS. The industry is urgently seeking ways to bridge the gap between digital manufacturing and perfect surface finishing. OTEC positions itself as a strategic partner, not only supplying machines but also actively contributing to the further development of the process chain to sustainably ensure efficiency in dental labs.