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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - Mayku introduce the Multiplier
dental-technicians.com is thrilled to speak exclusively with the “new kids on the block” Mayku about their incredible journey and how the brand new Multiplier machine provides the ultimate pressure-forming performance for dental technicians and laboratories.
Now we are not scared. We know we can sort it out… you don’t need 3 technicians and you have a happy technician on the other side. You save 5 hours per day. When you spread that over a year you have 1200+ working hours which you win
George Szekely Dental Lab
What makes the Multiplier stand out from other pressure formers on the market, and why should dental technicians be paying attention?
As you and your readers will probably know, the pressure formers that exist today for dental applications are typically made for forming one appliance at a time. The Multiplier is still a benchtop machine but because of its larger forming area, we’ve found that it can form up to 19 appliances in a single pull-down when used with 428mm blanks. It also has an accessory that allows it to take seven 120mm or 125mm round blanks in one go so it can work with most standard materials designed for the smaller pressure formers available on the market. The Multiplier enables labs to produce aligners, retainers, whitening trays, mouthguards and night guards in a quarter of the time.
What are the Multiplier's key features that contribute to the machine being a step forward from what is out there today?
Firstly, an auto-levelling system prevents the material from drooping before forming and ensures that the forms it achieves are consistent. Secondly, an easy-to-use software interface which allows you to create, save and playback material profiles. This means that once a dental technician tunes the machine to the settings that give the required fit and finish, these can be saved on the machine and replayed infinitely. Regardless of the conditions, the same profile when played back will achieve the same outcome as when it was made - this allows multiple users to use the machine and achieve consistent results and also limits variation when it’s used over a long period of forming. When combined with the auto-levelling system, the Multiplier enables dental techs to consistently make appliances in a fraction of the time. Giving them greater freedom and control over their process. In addition to these key features, the Multiplier is an all-in-one machine with an in-built compressor which means that labs do not require external air to use it. This makes it convenient for any lab wanting to be more productive without having to invest in other supporting infrastructure.
Could you tell us what is the typical reaction from dental techs when they first see your machine in action?
Honestly, they’re a little bit sceptical at first. There have been a lot of attempts by existing dental pressure former manufacturers to create larger machines that can help labs be more productive, but they have typically been either overpriced, poor in quality or not compatible with the materials that labs already have available to them. When we show them the machine in action their jaws drop. “How have you done this?” is something we hear a lot when we bring machines around to labs to show them. The answer is that because the Multiplier has been designed for highly demanding industrial applications, we had to build in features such as automatic sheet levelling and custom mode for creating and saving custom material profiles. These turned out to be really useful for dental labs too. When dental techs discover that the machine is not only more productive but also provides more consistent forming results they are blown away.
Can you walk us through how your machine is used to create dental appliances like aligners, whitening trays, mouth guards, and night guards?
Sure thing. So, the process is as follows.
First - Select your material.
There are two options available. The first option is to use our seven-shooter reducing plate which takes up to 7 regular 125mm or 120mm round blanks, allowing you to form 7 appliances in one go. This is compatible with materials up to 4mm thick and can be used with most standard types of dental blanks.
Second - Choose a profile and insert your material into the machine
The second option is to use one of WHW’s 428mm round blanks which are currently available in a range of thicknesses of their cache product range for producing aligners and retainers. With these blanks, you can produce up to 19 appliances in a single pull down. The second step is to insert your material and select your material profile. This can be one of our standard profiles or a custom one created by the user.
Third - Form your appliances
Insert your models, wait until the machine tells you the material has reached the correct temperature, pull the top down, lock it and release the pressure into the machine. This then holds and cools in there for the time set on the material profile. The user can then open up the machine and remove their formed appliances and repeat.
How do the precision and quality of the appliances made with Mayku machines compare to those made by traditional methods or other machines?
The Multiplier can replicate details smaller than 1 micron. It also has a feature which allows the user to precisely control the fit of a dental appliance. With it - dental techs can dial up or down the pressure to produce a tighter or looser fit depending on the desired outcome. These can be saved as profiles on the machine allowing labs to provide different levels of fit tailored to the preferences of their various customers. In addition to this, because of the auto-levelling system, materials in the multiplier do not droop which can provide for a more consistent outcome in the final appliance.
What are the main benefits for dental labs using Mayku’s pressure-forming machines compared to other methods?
Fundamentally, it’s about getting time back. The time saved can be used on other things. Some labs use this time to increase capacity and produce more, others use it to create space to focus on other jobs that they are struggling to keep up with. We’ve met labs who’ve said that they now feel able to take on more work and grow their range of services without having to hire new staff because the machine has saved them so much time.
The other main benefit is the consistency the Multiplier offers. This is enabled by two features working in tandem. First, the auto-levelling system. The sensors in the machine enable the Multiplier to keep the material perfectly flat whilst heating so the material doesn’t droop down when it gets soft. The machine then informs the user when the material has reached the optimal forming temperature. This reduces the potential for error and enables consistency across forming cycles.
Secondly, the machine can create, save and playback profiles. This means that no matter who is using the machine as long as the right profile has been selected the results will be the same. Together these two features give dental labs the ability to deliver reliably consistent quality to their customers.
Thirdly, the machine is an all-in-one unit with an in-built compressor and easy-to-use interface. This means that the barrier to entry to using it is low. Both in terms of the required infrastructure required to operate it (you don’t need to have an air supply) and the speed at which technicians can get comfortable using it and get to the point where they’re achieving consistent results.
How do your machines boost efficiency and productivity in a dental lab setting?
Because the Multiplier can make so many appliances, so consistently in one cycle - dental techs are getting through the same amount of forming in a fraction of the time. This increase in productivity gives them time back that they can use for other things such as taking on more work or focusing on other tasks that they have not had the time to get to.
It would be good to know if there are any cost savings or ROI benefits that dental labs can expect from using your machines?
One lab we met recently, George Szekely in London, was spending 8 hours forming per day before the Multiplier. They can now get their whole day forming done in 3 hours. This gives them back 5 hours per day which over a year is 1200 hours back to their business that they are able to use for other things. With that time savings, they can grow their revenue, go out to their customers to win more work, grow the range of services they provide and reduce the need to hire more staff.
Are there any specific tweaks have you made to your pressure-forming machines to suit dental labs better?
Yes, the first thing we realised when we started speaking to labs was how important it was that the machine work with commonly available standard sizes of material. So we developed the 7-shot adaptor plate specifically to work with dental materials. In addition to this, we developed an entirely new operating system for the machine tailored to dental applications. The machines are WIFI connected so we’re constantly adding features to this as we receive feedback from dental customers. One of the features we have in there now that has been well received is an interface where the user is shown a graphic of a set of teeth and they can visually adjust the tightness and looseness of the appliance fit on the fly. The machine then automatically changes the temperature and pressure to make it happen.
What are the steps for a dental lab to get one of your machines, and are there financing options?
This is a new device so the first step is to have a look at one. We are happy to come and visit any lab in the country with our partner WHW to show them the machine with a hands-on demo. When labs are ready to purchase our machines are available from WHW - if you want to book a demo or look into financing just ring them on their freephone number 0800 0092 4444.
How quickly can a dental lab start producing dental appliances after getting your machine?
Assuming they have material to use with it - Immediately!
Last but certainly not least, What advice would you give to dental technicians thinking about adding the Multiplier to their labs?
This is a completely new product and I would suggest – why not have a look at it! As I mentioned, we’re very happy to come in and visit any lab in the country to show them the machine IRL. Then dental techs can make their own minds up on whether it can help their lab!
Ok just one more! How do you think that the Multiplier machine can potentially “change the game” in the world of technical dentistry?
Our mission at Mayku is to put the power of mass production in the hands of individuals. The Multiplier gives dental technicians control over their production and the capacity increases. This can allow them to compete with some of the larger labs here and overseas. We believe that this can be a game changer because of the power it puts back in the hands of the UK’s community of labs.
WHW Plastics is offering £200 of free forming materials with any Mayku purchase, exclusively to dental-technicians.com members and readers. Quote the code LetsGetMultiplying when purchasing.
Call their excellent sales team on: +44 800 0092 444
Visit : https://whwplastics.com/shop/mayku-multiplier-pressure-former/
