As a supplier of complete digital solutions to dental laboratories of all sizes, High Wycombe based Skillbond Direct Ltd is in the business of creating healthy, confident smiles through its restorative and prosthetic advancements. To help the company achieves its goals, continuous investment in the latest manufacturing technology is paramount, as evidenced by its recent acquisition of two TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 3D printers. Skillbond is so impressed with the TruPrint machines that the company has also become an official reseller of these advanced 3D printers to the UK dental lab market.

With around 70 employees in the UK, Skillbond is part of Argen Digital, a global leader in digital dentistry that has come a long way since its formation in Johannesburg over 60 years ago. Today headquartered in San Diego, the company has more than 500 employees worldwide and operates subsidiaries in Canada, China, Germany and the UK, from where it consistently sets dentistry manufacturing standards for aesthetics, quality and consistency. 

Khanjan Langalia, Technical Manager of the manufacturing facility in High Wycombe, explains the process: “Dental technicians create a digital dental restoration using CADCAM software. We subsequently use this CAD model to produce a physical dental restoration. Skillbond offers a fast turnaround, high-quality, high-precision dental restoration manufacturing service using the latest production technologies, including metal 3D printing.” 

SLM-based 3D printers have been operational at the company for the past 10 years. However, the desire to launch a new product service, namely cobalt-chrome removable partial dentures (RPDs), prompted Skillbond to seek out a metal 3D printer with the necessary size capacity, print speed and surface quality. As a strong metal that is resistant to gum and mouth irritation, cobalt chrome makes for a durable material that is also lightweight, ensuring thinner and less bulky designs than acrylic counterparts. 

“We looked at various metal 3D printers from a number of manufacturers, but the TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 stood out for its ability to meet our checklist of requirements,” says Mr Langalia. “We duly invested in our first TruPrint 1000 around 12 months ago.” 

An exposure speed up to 2 m/s and build rates of 10-50 cm³/h ensures the TruPrint 1000 offers short turnaround times, helping Skillbond to produce several RPDs every day. Describing part quality as “exceptional” and surface quality as “amazing”, this progressive digital manufacturing business has now added a second TruPrint 1000 to its workshop. The compact machine fits through a standard door.

With its two 200 W TRUMPF fibre lasers (1,070 nm wavelength) and automatic substrate plate change capabilities, users of the TruPrint 1000 can maximise productivity. Two lasers simultaneously scan the entire build volume with complete overlap, generating up to 80% more parts with excellent component and surface quality through optimal gas flow and stable laser focus.

Skillbond has an interesting business model whereby its manufacturing technologies – such as scanners, CNC milling machines, grinding machines and 3D printers – are also available for sale via its capacity as a reseller. 

“We’ve been using this business formula for over 50 years and it’s proved very successful,” says Mr Langalia. “Customers can come here and see the machines operating in real-world applications, backed by our support team of highly experienced dental technicians and engineering specialists.”

He adds: “Many dental laboratory start-ups use Skillbond in their formative years. But as they grow, some labs want to bring manufacturing in-house, which is where we can also act as a partner. They can buy a new machine and consumables from us – and tap into our know-how. We’re excited to become a reseller of TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 3D printers to the UK dental lab market, and we’re already in discussions with potential customers.”

To be clear, this new reseller arrangement only applies to the UK dental sector. All other enquiries for TruPrint machines should go via TRUMPF as usual.

“TRUMPF is the industry leader, offering the market’s most capable 3D printing technology, as we know from our recent assessments in specifying the TruPrint 1000,” says Mr Langalia. “They also have a great support team in the UK for both machines and materials.” 

Skillbond will be promoting the virtues of TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 3D printers at the Dental Technology Show  (DTS25), which takes place on 16-17 May 2025 at the Birmingham NEC.

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