50 years in business for dental equipment manufacturer

In 1964, Ken and the late Joan Austin produced and patented dentistry’s first vacuum saliva ejector, which paved the way for the advent of sit-down dentistry.

Fast-forward 50 years and the company’s 50-acre Newberg headquarters is home to more than 1,000 employees who manufacture and market equipment to dental professionals worldwide. A-dec also has facilities in the United Kingdom, Australia, and China, which support an extensive network of authorised dealers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

“Although the world has changed over the last five decades, our values have never wavered,” says A-dec president and CEO Scott Parrish.

“Quality through caring impacts how we think as a company and also serves as a cornerstone in our pursuit to make the best better.”

Parrish also explained that the company views the anniversary as an opportunity for employees to inspire one another, and to ensure its reputation for quality continues to flourish.

As well as their initial invention, the company pioneered many of the innovations used in dental treatment rooms today, which include the evolution of patient chairs, delivery systems, and dental lights.

A-dec also introduced the first compact delivery system, revolutionising how doctors are able to treat patients more efficiently and ergonomically.

“A-dec began with a simple idea,” says co-founder Ken Austin, who continues to be involved with portable equipment designed for mobilising treatment to under-served populations.

“Our approach then and today is to create a better solution that’s simple and easy to use, and to treat every customer as if he or she were our last.”