3M buys German dental care company for undisclosed sum

12 June 2008

Diversified technolgy and office products maker 3M Co. yesterday said it is acquiring German orthodontics company TOP-Service fur Lingualtechnik GmbH to bolster its existing orthodontics portfolio, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of the current fiscal.

TOP will produce synergies with Lingualcare Inc., which was acquired by 3M Unitek in 2007 and sells lingual orthodontic solutions under the iBraces brand. Maplewood-based 3M said TOP's Incognito bracket system, in which braces are placed on the inside surfaces of teeth so they are invisible, is similar to 3M's iBraces product made by its Unitek division and will complement the product.

The acquisition reunites TOP founder Dr. Dirk Wiechmann with the co-founders of the iBraces system, Lea Nesbit and Ruedger Rubbert of Lingualcare.

''3M's expertise in marketing and global resources will help to grow our business and enhance our offering in computer-controlled, individually-formed lingual brackets and custom-bent arch wires,'' said Dr. Wiechmann, CEO, TOP-Service für Lingualtechnik GmbH.

The buy will expand 3M's orthodontic products offering into Europe and Asia. 3M added that it sees strong technical, sales, and manufacturing synergies with the company.

''TOP complements 3M's full-line of orthodontic solutions and further broadens our aesthetic and digital orthodontic platforms,'' said Paul Keel, president, 3M Unitek. ''The addition of TOP allows us to better serve customers in Europe and Asia, in addition to our customers in North America, South America, and Australia.''