Osstem's best selling unit chair celebrates 12 years

Osstem Implant

Mon. 30. September 2024

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SEOUL, South Korea: This year, Osstem Implant is celebrating the 12^th anniversary of introducing its flagship medical device, the K3 dental chair unit, to the dental market. Since its launch in 2013, the unit chair has attracted considerable attention, first by winning the Korean Intellectual Property Office Commissioner’s Award, then the highest honour possible in the South Korean government’s Good Design Korea contest, that year. K3 soon outperformed its main competitor, which had dominated 70% of the domestic dental chair unit market for decades, to become the top-selling model in the country in 2015 and remained so for nine years. Currently, the successor model, K5, holds the top spot in sales in South Korea. In the first quarter of this year, Osstem surpassed 50,000 units in global sales of its dental chair units.

Amid global economic trends of rising costs and reduced consumer spending, K3 is emerging as an appealing choice for European dental clinics, particularly in Spain, owing to its high performance and quality. This is noteworthy, as practitioners in these regions have traditionally favoured equipment from Germany, Switzerland and the US.

K3, equipped with high-performance components, including hydraulic and electric motors, delivers stable torque and robust power, facilitating precise cutting control and enabling clinicians to achieve accurate margins. The durability of these components contributes to reduced maintenance costs. Osstem has incorporated handpieces and scalers from leading Japanese and Swiss brands as standard specifications of K3. Despite the inclusion of surgical instruments from well-established international companies known for their long-standing quality, K3 is offered in Europe at a more competitive price than similar products from other manufacturers.

Osstem Implant’s new medical equipment manufacturing and production facility, scheduled for completion in 2025.

Osstem Implant’s medical equipment production headquarters in South Korea where its dental chair units, exported to 72 countries worldwide, are manufactured.

Researchers at the dental chair unit research division in Osstem Implant's central research centre in South Korea showcase the hardware they developed.

K3 offers a hygienic dental treatment environment for patients. The suction holder and the glass bowl of the cuspidor on the dental chair unit can be detached and cleaned separately using running water or a soft brush with a medical disinfectant. The built-in distilled water tank guarantees a supply of clean treatment water. Additionally, the seats and exterior of the chair are designed for durability and ease of maintenance.

Dr Ghassan Radi, a dental clinic director in the UK, said: “Any issue with a dental chair unit can significantly disrupt clinic operations, so I sought a product that is both sturdy and intuitive. The Osstem Implant K3 is not only easy to maintain but also enables complete control of all functions via the console and its attached monitor, which is highly convenient. Given the burden of maintenance costs on clinic directors, durability and product design are crucial.”

Osstem’s dental chair units are exclusively manufactured at its medical equipment production site near its main headquarters in Seoul. From 2021 to 2023, Osstem produced an annual average of around 8,000 dental chair units, 90% of which were the K3 model. In May, 78% of the K3 units produced were exported. Osstem anticipates that its annual production will reach 30,000 units in the next five years. Given the growing global demand for its medical equipment, including the dental chair units, the current facilities are approaching full capacity. Consequently, the company is in the process of establishing a new production facility and is intensifying its research and development efforts to introduce next-generation products featuring the latest technology.