Study names 3M ESPE "Most Innovative" for fourth straight year

ST. PAUL, Minnesota--For the fourth year in a row, 3M ESPE has ranked as the most innovative company in the worldwide dental industry, according to the 2008 Dental Industry Review conducted by the Anaheim Group, distributors of Dental Fax Weekly.

"As part of 3M, no one else in the dental industry has more direct access to more technologies than we do," said Dr. Al Viehbeck, global technical director, 3M ESPE. "In our dental division, we apply those technologies to help solve problems for our customers."

"Everything begins and ends with the customer," added Mark Farmer, global marketing and business director, 3M ESPE. "We get customer feedback throughout our entire product development process; without the appropriate amount of user input and involvement, a product won't make it out the door."

Data showing an average of 45 innovations per year for 3M ESPE, exceeding that of other manufacturers during the past five years.

"Our researchers, technical service and support employees, as well as our entire sales organization interact on a daily basis with dentists, consultants, dental labs, dental schools and opinion leaders," Viehbeck continued.

"We are always looking for external validation that the ideas in our new-product pipeline are relevant in the real world and that we are making good choices for today's and tomorrow's needs."

Added Farmer: "To create relevant products and services year after year and then add to them the education and support required to really make a difference in dentistry speaks volumes about the character and dedication of the 3M ESPE organization."

The Anaheim Group considers three components in its innovation index, including: FDA 510(k) new product clearances for the U.S. market; United States Patent Office dental industry patents; and dental patents from the European Patent Office and the World International Patent Office.

The Dental Industry Review summarizes the key business and technical events occurring in the worldwide dental industry.

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