Nottingham-based Attenborough Dental is preparing for a 30% growth in business this year as the company leads the world in radical improvements for patients in the way dental care is delivered. Through its pioneering research and developments in digital dentistry, the company has just secured two major contracts with leading global players in the dental market – the first in the world to achieve this. The company will therefore be expanding its manufacturing and laboratory facilities in the heart of the East Midlands by attracting new investment. This will also enable dental technology students to develop the high-level skills to serve the industry of tomorrow. Crucial to the company’s development will be the continuing advice and support of the East Midlands Healthcare and Bioscience iNet.
Attenborough Dental’s technical innovations are already starting to revolutionise the visit to the dentist. From the rapid production of crowns to digital facial re-modelling and computer-aided design of bridge restorations, the patient is already starting to benefit from faster and more cost-effective dental treatment. Dentistry is set to go through further radical changes and the Nottingham team led by Edward Attenborough will be pivotal in this new evolutionary phase.
“We are about to enter one of the most exciting phases in the history of dentistry,” says Edward Attenborough, Managing Director of Attenborough Dental and President of the British Dental Trade Association. “We have developed digital technology to assess individual patients in comfort and to manufacture affordable, customised restorations on a mass scale within hours rather than the weeks it takes at present. Attenborough is delighted to be at the forefront of this revolution. My company plans to attract significant new investment to expand our manufacturing base in Nottingham and further develop our laboratory training facility for dental technology students.”
Attenborough Dental benefits from being part of the East Midlands ‘cluster’ of expertise in the dental research and development industry. Membership of Medilink East Midlands and access to advice and funding through the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet has allowed the company to raise its profile, increase its influence and attract the attention of major academic and industrial players. In 2010, iNet adviser Max Pulford will continue to help Attenborough Dental by introducing the company to further sources of finance to accelerate growth.
Dr Ian Barr, Director of the East Midlands Bioscience and Healthcare iNet, says: “It takes foresight and imagination as well as expert knowledge and technical skill to become a world-beater in complex industries. Ed and his team have come a long way in the time we have worked with them and the next few years -should see exponential growth for them. In turn, this will bring in new investment and create high skill level technical jobs. This is a great leap forward for Ed’s business, Nottingham and the East Midlands.”
Funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet has a number of roles, particularly in helping sme-sized companies innovate and generate profits and jobs. The iNet focuses on a number of key annual themes in delivering support to those businesses promoting, through targeted grants and in-depth, sector specific advice.
ENDS
Business enquiries: Edward Attenborough on 0115 947 3562 / 07785 317426
Website: www.attenborough.com
Media Contact:
Louise Third, Integra Communications Ltd, 0115 912 4350 / 07773 288342 louise@integracommunications.co.uk
Photo available of Edward Attenborough and Dr Ian Barr.
Notes to Editors:
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Attenborough Dental Laboratories Ltd
Formed in 1913, Attenborough Dental Laboratories are the longest established independent dental laboratory group in the UK. The company operates a high-technology facility using many innovative techniques, and includes a software development function. As one of the UK’s largest full-service labs the company offers a comprehensive range of dental device manufacturing, with all work carried out in accordance with ISO13485:2003, ISO9001:2008, DAMAS, and IIP accreditation, in addition to being a Department of Health vocational training facility. The company supplies laboratory services across the sector to individual dentists, most of the major bodies corporate, NHS trusts, PCTs, AHAs, and to individual technicians, individual labs and lab groups.
In addition to providing dental laboratory services, they are a vertically integrated group of companies with a manufacturing facility for products used in the dental laboratory, and a depot supplying dental laboratory equipment and sundries in the UK. ADL have been involved in the development of many innovative processes and techniques and have a history of specialist services.
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The Healthcare and Bioscience iNet helps people in the sector, particularly in East Midlands’ businesses and universities, to develop new technologies, processes, products and services in order to build a healthy economy
Innovation is a key strategic priority for East Midlands Development Agency (emda). Four sector specific Innovation Networks (iNets), including Healthcare and Bioscience, have been established to help turn innovative ideas in to business opportunities.
The iNet concept was developed by emda and East Midlands Innovation (the Regional Science and Industry Council) to bring together businesses, colleges, universities, public sector representatives and individuals with a shared interest in a market or the tecnology that underpins it.
A key aim of iNet is to provide a sector-specific focus that enables organisations to exchange knowledge and form collaborations to exploit new ideas.
The Healthcare and Bioscience iNet is based at BioCity in Nottingham, a renowned life science industry centre of excellence but it covers the whole region.
- Medilink EM was established by emda in 2000 and formed a limited by Guarantee Company in February 2004. Medilink EM is the networking organisation for the healthcare and bioscience sector in the East Midlands, encompassing medical technologies, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Membership benefits include specific healthcare support in marketing, regulatory affairs, clinical evaluation and procurement, access to training and networking events, international conference and exhibition support, and use of sophisticated research tools.
Medilink EM’s diverse membership base includes large healthcare companies such as AstraZeneca in Loughborough, medium size companies including Pennine Healthcare in Derby and smaller companies like Hospital Aids in Northampton. Membership is also drawn from the region’s broader healthcare community including service companies, the universities, and the NHS.
MedilinkEM is also part of a national network of similar organisations, Medilink UK, which is driving national healthcare strategy through its links with central government.
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About emda:
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
- Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
- Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
- Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
- Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
- A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.
Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for ‘a flourishing region’ can be achieved.
For more details visit www.emda.org.uk
- For information about the support available for innovation in East Midlands, visit www.eminnovation.org.uk