Finnish dental equipment manufacturer Planmeca said it has inked a key agreement for delivery of fully-digital teaching environments to King Saud University College of Dentistry and the National Guard of Saudi Arabia Health Affairs.

A market leader in the US dental imaging sector and one of the world’s leading manufacturers in dental technology, Planmeca said this ncludes a turnkey solution with over 1 000 dental units, simulation units, 2D and 3D X-ray systems combined with an innovative software platform, which seamlessly incorporates the devices and partner solutions into a high-tech, attractive learning concept.

A similar solution with 127 dental units and a complete imaging and teaching system will also be delivered to the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, said the top European firm in a statement.

The strategic Saudi agreement was part of an extensive local health care development and investment to education, it added.
 
Planmeca’s unique solution for dental universities has been adopted by numerous leading dental universities around the world, said a top official.

Planmeca’s sales growth in 2012 is more than 30 per cent, excluding these university agreements. Our success proves that universities appreciate Planmeca’s technology leadership and customer-focused product design,' remarked Heikki Kyöstilä, the president of Planmeca Oy.

'Planmeca’s competitive advantage has been achieved by considerable investments in in-house R&D, cooperation with leading academic research groups and strong commercial partners,' he added.

According to Kyöstilä, the Saudi government has given high priority to health care services development.

'With these projects, the Saudi ministry of higher education is investing in the new facilities of the Female dental college and builds a new dental hospital on the male college campus,' he pointed out.

At the same time, the National Guard of Saudi Arabia invests in top level teaching environment for the educational and research purposes of the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences College of Dentistry, he added.

In co-operation with its local distributor Care, Planmeca will deliver the complete digital university installations by the end of this year, said the top official.

These include 990 Planmeca Compact i and Planmeca Sovereign dental units and 100 simulation units as well as a complete imaging system consisting of 19 Planmeca ProMax 3D dental X-ray units, 345 Planmeca ProX digital intraoral imaging systems, he added.-TradeArabia News Service