The recent acquisition of Cubicure by American dental giant Align Technology sent a palpable shockwave through the industry, yet in many ways, it was a move that made perfect sense. Align Technology has been in a long-standing collaboration with 3D Systems, spanning over 25 years, focused on creating molds for its invisible aligners. While the numbers are subject to some variation, it’s estimated that Align Technologies produces about a million 3D printed aligners daily, a figure that nearly matches the combined output of its competitors. This speaks to the significant and enduring role that 3D printing has in the production of dental aligners, a role that is now causing a seismic shift in the industry.
What Happened?
Cubicure is a player in hot lithography, offering an all-encompassing solution that includes its own software, polymers, and vat polymerization machines. The…
