- Published 2026.11.08 17:36
Signing ceremony held on Nov. 8 at FFO orthodontic congress in Paris
Collaboration to commercialize direct 3D printing clear aligners
Synergy expected with Smilers, Europe's largest clear aligner brand
Graphy, a Korean photopolymer 3D printing materials specialist, has signed a strategic partnership with Biotech Dental, a French dental company. The two companies plan to combine Graphy's direct 3D printing technology with Biotech Dental's distribution network to create commercialization synergies in the global clear aligner market.
According to Graphy's official social media account on Nov. 8, the two companies held a partnership signing ceremony at the French Orthodontic Society's annual congress (FFO) in Paris. FFO (Journées de l'Orthodontie) is a large annual academic event organized by the French Orthodontic Society, and this year it was held from Nov. 6 to 8.
Biotech Dental is a French dental medical device company founded in 1987. Through its own clear aligner brand Smilers, it operates the largest aligner manufacturing facility in Europe. As of 2022, it recorded revenue of about $100 million (about 133 billion won), and in 2023 global dental distributor Henry Schein invested $420 million (about 560 billion won) to acquire a 57% stake, drawing attention.
The core of this collaboration is Graphy's commercialized Shape Memory Aligner technology. Conventional clear aligners are mostly made by first 3D printing a patient's dental model and then vacuum-forming a thermoplastic sheet over it. In contrast, Graphy uses a special resin that responds to body temperature and returns to its original shape, adopting a direct printing method that prints the aligner directly with a 3D printer.
Graphy plans to accelerate commercialization of its technology by leveraging Biotech Dental's extensive market experience and distribution network. Graphy said, "Based on innovative dental technology and Biotech Dental's global business capabilities, we will materialize product verification and commercialization cooperation," and added, "We will continue to expand practical business cooperation possibilities in the global dental market based on each company's technological strength and market competitiveness."
※ This article is an AI translation of the Korean original published by Korea Credit News; it was checked by automated quality guards and published by the English edition desk.
