ClearCaps is one of Europe’s leading clear aligner brands, founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2016 by now-Chief Unbrace Officer, Jesse Bartels. When Jesse was looking to expand ClearCaps’ fleet of 3D printers, there were two criteria more important than any others: ease of maintenance, and the scalability of the technology. Today, Structo’s Mask Stereolithography (MSLA)-powered 3D printers form an integral part of the Berlin company’s cutting-edge manufacturing facilities.
“We always strive to be at the forefront of the latest technology to help us deliver superior treatment outcomes,“ explains Jesse. ClearCaps also uses state-of-the-art 3D software for treatment planning and tracking of its cases. “To meet our high quality, high volume manufacturing requirements, we look for a printer that can deliver the throughput we require over time as we rapidly increase our production volumes. When we came across Structo’s impressive MSLA technology more than 2 years ago, we decided to get on board.“
With a large build platform, Structo’s latest dental 3D printer, the DentaForm, is capable of printing up to 10 clear aligner molds in 30 minutes, a throughput rate that is ideal for large volume clear aligner manufacturing. “We are now printing around 250 models every 24-hour cycle. To know that the MSLA printers can handle that volume and still have room for more, that helps us scale our manufacturing and expand our market reach rapidly,“ adds Jesse.
“We want to make sure that we continue to help companies like ClearCaps deliver superior treatment outcomes by providing 3D printing solutions that are cost effective, easy to maintain, and able to deliver the production volumes needed,“ Dhruv Sahgal says. “Working with leading aligner brands helps us understand the growing needs of aligner manufacturers and helps Structo bring solutions to support those needs.”
The clear aligner market has been expanding at a rapid pace, seeing double digit growth annually, and ClearCaps is poised to make a significant mark with their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. “Looking at the way the industry is growing, we are projected for significant growth in the coming years. With the help of Structo, we will continue to deliver superior product offerings the market needs. We are barely scratching the surface at the moment,“ adds Jesse.
