Katikati’s dental company to move

Where Triodent began, 22 Main Road Katikati. Photo: Google Maps.

American owners of the former Triodent manufacturing plant in Katikati are proposing to close it down and move manufacturing to Sarasota in Florida, USA.

If the move does go ahead, it could mean the possible loss of 48 jobs.

Managing director of Dentsply Katikati Darren Jones says it's just a proposal at this stage.

'No decisions have been made we are just entering into that consultation period.”

He doesn't know if any staff will be offered jobs in the USA.

'Again no decision's been made. It won't be determined until we get through the consultation period after we speak to all the employees and really work through that process.”

Dentsply Sirona bought Triodent off its founder Katikati resident Simon McDonald in 2013.

With a five year plan to 'give up the day job”, the Katikati dentist focused on inventing a better dental mouse-trap and the Triodent business was born.

Triodent started with $250K of capital and has resulted in more than $90m in export earnings in its first ten years. At one stage it employed about 100 people.

Triodent's first product was the Tri-Clip. He followed this in 2005 with the V-Ring – the first retainer ring with V-shaped tines and the first made from nickel-titanium.

The V-Ring was named Top Matrix System by The Dental Advisor in 2008.

When speaking to SunLive following the announcement of the proposed move, Simon says he's shocked.

'I just heard of the plan to relocate the plant to the USA and am personally very disappointed,” says Simon.

'I feel for my friends who work there. When the company was sold it was agreed that they would stay in Katikati for at least 18 months and they have stayed three and a half years. If this goes ahead, it will be a very sad for Katikati and the people who work there.”

A statement from Dentsply Sirona states it's proposing to move the Triodent manufacturing facility from Katikati, New Zealand to an existing Dentsply Sirona location in Sarasota, Florida in the US.

It has started the required consultation process with its associates in New Zealand. The proposal is to transfer production processes to the Sarasota plant throughout 2017.

The move is intended to improve Dentsply Sirona's efficiency and achieve a global, integrated approach to manufacturing.

The move of the Triodent business would enable Dentsply Sirona to manufacture more efficiently and strengthen the company for long-term growth through a journey toward Operational Excellence for better, safer, faster solutions, says the statement which adds that Triodent and its people: 'Have been very successful since they became part of the Dentsply Sirona business in 2013. Dentsply Sirona fully recognizes the excellent job done by the team and their contribution to the success of the business and is very grateful for their efforts and innovation, says the company statement.

'Dentsply Sirona is aware of the responsibility as an employer and will work together with its employees to hear their ideas regarding the proposed project. It is Dentsply Sirona's aim to find the best solutions for its associates and the company.”

Triodent designs, manufactures and sells innovative products that promote better dentistry and make the dentist's job easier. The company was acquired in 2013 and has been very successful since then. Its products include the V3 Sectional Matrix System, Wave-Wedge, Wedgeguard – the interproximal protector, the Triotray line of impression trays and the SuperCurve non-stick matrix.

Dentsply Sirona is the world's largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with a 130-year history of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide.

Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world class brands.

As The Dental Solutions Company, Dentsply Sirona's products provide innovative, high-quality and effective solutions to advance patient care and deliver better, safer and faster dentistry.

Dentsply Sirona's global headquarters is located in York, Pennsylvania, and the international headquarters is based in Salzburg, Austria. The company's shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY.

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