A-dec marks 60th anniversary

A-dec

Tue. 3. September 2024

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NEWBERG, Ore., US: A-dec, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of dental equipment, is celebrating its 60^th anniversary. The company, based in Newberg, was founded by engineer, inventor and innovator Ken Austin and his wife, Joan. He understood the importance of customers feeling valued and heard by suppliers, knowing that if this connection is achieved then repeat orders and the resultant growth of the business would be secured. He set out on a lifelong quest to design better equipment to improve the practice of dentistry, and with his wife’s business acumen, soon realised and expanded the opportunities for the business.

As a self-described imagineer, Austin was adamant that the equipment should solve a problem, be robust, simple and effective and be sold at a fair price. He also felt that not only should the equipment be durable, but it should also extend the working life of the operator. To this day, A-dec staff refer to six key questions which Austin frequently asked himself in developing new products:

Is there a need for the product?
Is this the simplest and best way to build it?
Am I using time and materials effectively?
Am I helping to make A-dec better for everyone?
Can I be proud of what we are doing?
Have I communicated the product’s significance?

Over the years, the business has grown, now selling a wide range of dental chair units, delivery systems and dental lighting too—though dental chair units remain the central focus. The company has expanded globally, having offices in the UK and Australia too, and supplies dental products to dental professionals in more than 100 countries through a network of distributors and retailers. Its roots remain in Newberg, and the present 50 acre campus incorporates offices, a factory and the A-dec education centre, a long way from the humble space occupied by the company when it was first established in 1965.

Despite the impressive growth of the company, the core ethos has remained the same: doing things better. This is an approach that Austin was passionate about, and it includes a focus on ergonomics, productivity and unbeatable reliability, which are hallmarks of the A-dec brand today.

A-dec—an acronym for the Austin Dental Equipment Company—has a philosophy and culture known as “The A-dec Way”, which outlines A-dec’s corporate values and mutual respect for employees, co-workers, suppliers and customers. These 15 guiding principles remain at the heart of the business today.

It is indeed a matter of immense pride for A-dec to mark this significant milestone for the company in reflecting on its history, culture and substantial achievements in its enduring pursuit of improving the practice of dentistry for its customers around the world.

What’s next for A-dec?

Although the company’s founder passed away in May 2019, he established a clear vision for the business’s future. Having witnessed many Oregon companies being acquired and moving out of the US, taking away many local jobs, Austin expressed his wish for the company’s headquarters to remain in Newberg by the time it celebrates its 100^th anniversary. A-dec is proud to remain loyal to the local community and play a part in the economic growth of the area. Secondly, he envisioned that any new A-dec employee hired in 2065 would still be immersed in the A-dec way and uphold the philosophy outlined in the 15 principles.

Finally, A-dec has always prioritised unity, and Austin would champion having the A-dec brand remain a family-run business for generations to come. Decades after the business started, the children and grandchildren of A-dec’s first employee are still employed at the business today!