Big News in Dental 3D Printing Just Dropped
Well. I have to say, I didn't see this one coming.
Just when we thought the EnvisionTEC story was over, with thousands of customers left stranded after Desktop Health's spectacular mismanagement, SprintRay swooped in with what might be one of the most significant acquisitions in dental 3D printing to date.
I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Amir Mansouri, CEO and co-founder of SprintRay, to discuss this decision. And this doesn't just seem like another corporate acquisition, but a rescue mission that may reshape our entire industry.
My Personal EnvisionTEC Experience (Yes, I Was Burned Too)
Before we dive into the details, let me share something personal. I was one of those EnvisionTEC customers who got caught up in the hype. Thanks to some vocal American KOLs, I bought into the promise of EnvisionTEC's technology.
And you know what? The printer was mostly good. Not amazing, but good for its time. Flexera was nice (though I think there are better denture resins like Lucitone). But after Desktop Metal acquired them? Complete disaster. We could no longer get resins and trays in NZ, which means my printer is now a paperweight in my storage somewhere.
The worst part? Some customers were still paying installments on printers they bought two years ago – and suddenly couldn't get supplies for them. As I told Amir during our conversation, "I really don't get how they effed it up so bad. I mean, to drive such a good company down to the ground like that."
Sound familiar? I know I'm not alone in this frustration.
The Acquisition Details: What Actually Happened
So, how exactly did SprintRay pull this off? Let's break down what Amir shared with me.
First, this is an asset purchase, not a full company acquisition. As Amir explained: "We essentially purchased their exclusive rights to their products, to their patents, to their IP, to their trademarks, customers list... not to their liabilities 'cause they owed a lot of money to a lot of people."
The price? While Amir kept the exact figure confidential, he did note that "last time this company was sold for $300 million."
Make no mistake – this wasn't cheap. But considering EnvisionTEC holds over 200 patents and essentially invented DLP 3D printing, the value proposition is clear. As Amir explained, Al Siblani and his team were doing things in 2006-2008 that were "really ahead of anyone else, ahead of their time." The technologies they developed back then weren't adopted by others for another decade.
What This Means for Stranded EnvisionTEC Customers
Here's where things get interesting – and where SprintRay really shows its commitment to the dental community.
Amir made it crystal clear: "The message to the EnvisionTEC Desktop Health customers: We got your back. Continue printing."
Specifically, SprintRay is promising four key things:
1. Continuity of Service
You'll be able to continue printing on your EnvisionTEC platform. SprintRay will supply resins, tanks, and maintain software downloads. No more unusable printers.
2. Cross-Platform Compatibility
This could be big. SprintRay resins (including Apex and Onyx) will work on EnvisionTEC printers. And vice versa – Flexera, guides, guards, and model resins from EnvisionTEC will work on SprintRay printers.
SprintRay believes in what Amir calls "controlled openness" – not just opening up for "99 manufacturers out there," but carefully validating and certifying specific resins. They've already done this with Ivoclar resins on the SprintRay platform.
3. Commitment to Dental Labs
This acquisition marks SprintRay's official entry into the dental lab space. For years, they have arguably dominated chairside printing. Now they're going after the lab market with the same intensity.
4. Continued Innovation
They're not just maintaining the status quo. Amir hinted at potential next-generation products, mentioning a possible "Einstein 2" printer. Plus, they're working to retain some EnvisionTEC staff where possible – saving jobs that would have been lost in the bankruptcy.
The Bigger Picture: Industry Consolidation Is Here
I've been saying this for years: digital dentistry has too many players. We don't need 35 different intraoral scanners, and we certainly don't need dozens of 3D printer manufacturers all doing essentially the same thing. This acquisition proves that consolidation is not just coming – it's here.
What's particularly interesting is how SprintRay approached this. As Amir noted, "It would've been easy to start essentially aggressive upgrades, trade-ins to essentially convert customers. But when you talk to their users, they really love that brand."
Instead of forcing conversions, they're preserving what works while adding their own innovations. That's smart business.
SprintRay's Lab Market Strategy: A Game Changer?
Now, having extensively tested SprintRay's chairside solutions, I can tell you they've mastered the "click and print" simplicity that dentists need. But labs? That's a different beast entirely. And Amir knows it – he even mentioned his personal goal of becoming a CDT (Certified Dental Technician) to better understand this market.
As Amir explained, "Dental lab is about efficiency. How much time can we save them, how much of the work can we automate, how much of their staff time can we save, how much we can add to their top line, how much we can add to their EBITDA?"
The lab market already has established players like Asiga and Carbon. Amir specifically noted that "Carbon has done a great job to focus on those efficiencies." But SprintRay isn't coming to play – they say they are coming to win.
Their strategy seems clear:
- Bring cloud connectivity to labs (despite traditional resistance)
- Focus on automation and efficiency
- Leverage EnvisionTEC's engineering-focused approach
- Maintain separate brands for different market segments
My Take: Why This Actually Matters
Let me be frank about why this acquisition is so significant. First, it saves thousands of customers who were essentially abandoned. That alone earns SprintRay massive respect in my book.
Second, it positions SprintRay as the only major player truly addressing both chairside and lab markets with distinct, appropriate solutions. That's powerful.
Third, the technology synergies are real. EnvisionTEC's patents and innovations from 2006-2008 were "ahead of their time," as Amir noted. Combine that with SprintRay's modern approach to user experience and cloud connectivity? We're looking at some exciting possibilities.
What Happens to the EnvisionTEC Brand?
This was one of my burning questions. After Desktop Health's mismanagement, the EnvisionTEC brand is, let's be honest, a bit tarnished.
When I asked Amir how he felt about the acquisition, his honesty was refreshing: "It's mixed definitely... from a financial responsibility aspect of it is nerve breaking... but I'm also excited because I believe SprintRay is the only dental 3D printing that focuses on clinicians' focus on the labs now."
When I suggested "SprintRay Lab" might be cleaner, Amir's response was measured: "At this point, that I'm talking with you, our mindset is we keep it as a lab-focused brand... When you talk to the customers, they like the products they're using, the brand they're using."
Time will tell if they can rehabilitate the brand. But given SprintRay's track record, what Amir describes as "10 years of compounding many different things we did right", they could pull it off.
The Bottom Line: A New Era for Dental 3D Printing
In my experience reviewing and testing dental technology, I've seen numerous acquisitions. Most are purely financial plays that benefit shareholders, not users. This feels different. SprintRay could have let EnvisionTEC customers twist in the wind while aggressively pushing conversions to their platform. Instead, they're investing in continuity, cross-compatibility, and innovation.
As someone who's been burned by EnvisionTEC's collapse, I have to say, I may try their products again. Maybe.
For those of us in digital dentistry, whether we're clinicians or lab technicians, this acquisition signals that consolidation doesn't have to mean fewer options or abandoned customers. Done right, it can mean better support, more innovation, and a stronger industry overall.
Will SprintRay successfully manage two distinct brands serving different markets? Can they repair EnvisionTEC's damaged reputation? Will cross-platform compatibility actually work as promised? Time will tell. But based on my conversation with Amir and SprintRay's track record, I'm cautiously optimistic.
One thing's for sure: big moves are happening in our industry. And this? This is one of the biggest in 3D printing to date.
What Should You Do Now?
If you're an EnvisionTEC customer: Breathe easy. Your printer isn't going to be discontinued. Watch for communications from SprintRay about resin and tank availability.
If you're a dental lab, keep an eye on what SprintRay does with the EnvisionTEC portfolio. Their focus on efficiency and automation could be exactly what you need.
And for everyone in digital dentistry: This is just the beginning. Consolidation is coming, and it's going to reshape our industry. Stay informed, stay adaptable, and most importantly, choose vendors who put customers first.
Because at the end of the day, that's what this acquisition proves: even in bankruptcy and chaos, the right company can step in and make things right. That's something worth celebrating.
