A century full of innovation has come to an end, and a new era has begun. Founded in 1923 in Zurich in Switzerland, what was once a factory  that manufactured artificial teeth has now become a leading supplier of integrated system solutions for premium dental restorations. Since the start of the year, the company has been celebrating, together with its customers, its centennial year and its long corporate history at international trade shows and through continuing education opportunities.

In June, the official opening of the new building brought with it a highly emotional moment, particularly for the Zeller family of entrepreneurs, who have been a part of the company’s story since the very beginning. The ceremony was attended by over 200 special guests from across the globe, and it honoured a century of innovations that has revolutionised the dental industry and also made clear Ivoclar’s strong focus on the future. Christoph Zeller, chairman of the Ivoclar supervisory board, commented: “It is a great privilege on a very special occasion to be able to look back on 100 years of company history and on a century full of innovation. Very few companies ever reach their 100^th birthday. This makes this milestone an even greater pleasure.”

CEO Markus Heinz, who was also touched by the emotional milestone, commented: “A meaningful role with global importance in the health sector, Ivoclar’s exceptional power of innovation, the long-term perspective of a family business and the genuine interest that Ivoclar takes in people—particularly, of course, in its own employees and customers—have all contributed to our success over the course of 100 years of history.”

A new look for the company’s headquarters

This opening of the new head office building at Ivoclar’s headquarters was duly attended by the hereditary prince and princess of Liechtenstein and by national representatives and representatives of Schaan’s municipal council. Measuring 16,350 m², the state-of-the-art building, consisting of an administration hub, visitor centre and training campus, boasts the latest developments in professional working environments as well as a company restaurant.

In addition, as the home of the Ivoclar Academy, the cutting-edge facility will also welcome customers for educational purposes. In the building’s attractive seminar rooms, Ivoclar will present a selection of continuing education opportunities to cover a range of technical topics for dental professionals. In a replica clinical practice, speakers will demonstrate a variety of workflows, and the facilities will also allow techniques and treatment approaches to be performed on dental simulators.

The new “Ivoclar Experience” will also be part of the new head office building, offering visitors with or without a dental background the opportunity to explore an interactive dental experience and learn about certain special aspects of aesthetic dentistry—an impressive demonstration of how Ivoclar makes people smile. This experience will initially only be made available to course participants.

International Ivoclar Family Day

To show its appreciation for its greatest resource, Ivoclar thanked all of its 950 employees and their families on 17 June by providing a day of joyful activities. Christina Zeller, who is a member of the supervisory board, pointed out: “This anniversary would not have been possible without the thousands of employees who dedicate their time to our company today, and without those who have done so over the last 100 years.”

The International Ivoclar Family Day was just the beginning. This summer, some 3,700 employees at the group’s 56 subsidiaries and branch offices worldwide will be invited to celebrate local family days as a token of the company’s appreciation for their contribution to Ivoclar’s century of innovation.