Member Article

Sunderland's Ashford Orthodontics looks to grow with lab expansion

Sunderland-based Ashford Orthodontics has relocated into a larger laboratory, five times the size of its current Sunniside premises, to facilitate its 2016 expansion plans.

The firm, which recruited eight new members of staff last month, says the move was prompted by an increase in demand for its services. With the move now secured, the orthodontic manufacturer is aiming to employ a further ten members of staff.

The 6000 sq ft lab, based close to the New Wear Crossing bridge in Southwick Industrial Estate, offers orthodontic technologies and solutions, including the manufacture of appliances and 3D printing and scanning for orthodontic purposes.

The site also features a brand new training and learning facility where both internal and external courses for a variety of specialist services can be held.

Sean Thompson, director of Ashford Orthodontics, said: “Our new laboratory opens up the potential for further growth of Ashford Orthodontics. Having almost doubled in size since 2014, we aim to take on even more staff during 2016 and increase our production capability.”

Clinicians in The Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand now use Ashford Orthodontics’ digital capabilities to place orders for the company’s orthodontic appliances, with traditional geographical boundaries having now been removed through the development of its digital capabilities.

Sean added: “As we expand, the size and space of the new laboratory means we will be able to improve efficiency of our production techniques for manufacturing the latest orthodontic solutions and technologies – such as our state-of-the-art 3D scanning and digital printing facilities.”