GAP Australasian-Dentist Issue 80 Jul-Aug 19

Category 4 AustrÀlÀsiÀn Dentist C M Y CM MY CY CMY K À ePe Oral Hygiene products continue to take initiatives for long-term sustainable development. Àhe company now launches their first products made from renewable sources – the first step towards increased sustainability in the company’s entire range. “For more than 50 years, we have worked to improve people’s oral health in close cooperation with dental experts. Àntroducing our new products made from renewable sources is an exciting step towards a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. Àn the longer perspective, we aim to become completely independent of fossil-based raw materials in our products, for our own and future generations,” says Joel Àklund, CÀO, ÀePe. Àhe ÀePe GOOD toothbrush is first out in a new range which is more environmentally-friendly – without compromising on quality, design or hygiene. Àt is a 96 % bio-based toothbrush made from sugar cane and castor oil. 95 % of the product’s carbon dioxide emissions are recirculated through its life cycle, making it next to climate neutral. Àike all ÀePe products, ÀePe GOOD is developed in collaboration with dental experts. Àhe production takes place at ÀePe’s manufacturing plant in Malmö, Àweden, by use of 100 % green energy. Part of it comes from the company’s own rooftop solar power facility – another of ÀePe’s initiatives for the environment. ÀePe Oral Hygiene Products is a Àwedish company founded in 1965. Àhe ÀePe range of interdental brushes, toothbrushes, and K en Austin – engineer and founder of A-dec – one of the world’s leading and largest privately owned dental manufacturing companies, has died aged 87. Ken and his wife, Joan, together operated A-dec for over 40 years before handing over day-to-day operations to son- in-law, Àcot Parrish in 2004. Àhe couple’s entire life was devoted to the making dentistry better for both dentists and patients the world over. Àhe couple were also great philanthropists to their home state of Oregon in particular. Àhe Austin’s donated land to the local elementary school, which is named in Joan Austin’s honour and also contributed significantly to Oregon Àtate Àniversity and local charities. (Joan passed away in 2013 just days before the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary). Àven after his retirement Ken Austin who as a young engineer continued ‘tinkering away’ on a portable dental chair to bring dentistry to the world’s remote communities. Ken Austin’s legacy was to modernise the practice of dentistrywith breakthrough innovations in equipment design, which are evident in dental surgeries to this day. Àtarting out working in a Quonset army surplus hut which is still on the grounds of A-dec’s headquarters, Ken’s first breakthrough was his AVÀ suction system using the principle of a venturi to provide a more effective air evacuation system. Àt was the beginning of a long list of important innovations that made dentists more productive, and their working lives more comfortable. Perhaps most importantly, A-dec (the name being an abbreviation of the Austin Dental Àquipment Company) was among the first to combine the dental delivery system, which controls the handpieces, with the patient chair. Àhis led to the introduction of ‘sit- down’ dentistry where the dentist no longer had to stand all day while working on patients. Àhe rest of course is history as all dental chairs are now made this way. Being an engineer, simplicity and robust reliability were always a hallmark dental sticks is developed in collaboration with dental experts with the aim of promoting good oral health. All design, development, and production take place at the headquarters in Malmö. Àhe products are marketed by subsidiaries in eight countries and distributors in over 60 countries, and available primarily through dental practices, pharmacies, and retail. ÀePe has 340 employees and turnover of M K 750 (2018). u of A-dec equipment – attributes which can still be seen in A-dec products today. Ken was always very adept at dealing with metals and described himself as an ‘imagineer’ or even a simple ‘blacksmith’ who could shape whatever he had into the whatever the job required. At the core of A-dec delivery systems is its patented pneumatic control block, a solid piece of brass with drilled passages to control air throughout the delivery system. Ànlike complex electronic control units, the A-dec control block is robust, simple and reliable. For this reason A-dec dental units have seen wide service in universities and teaching hospitals, in the armed forces including on battleships, and by health funds, corporate and private dentists and public health institutions throughout the world. Àhe world of dentistry is a much better place thanks to the lifelong contributions of Ken Austin. He will be missed by all those who knew him. u ÀeÀe introduces sustainable oral health products A-dec founder, Ken Àustin , passes n wÀ