Viewpoint: Carbon Aims for Innovation with AO Suite

In February at Lab Day Chicago, Carbon unveiled its Automatic Operation (AO) Suite

In February at Lab Day Chicago, Carbon unveiled its Automatic Operation (AO) Suite, a big leap forward for dental laboratory technology. This suite consists of two key families, AO software featuring Automatic Print Preparation, and AO hardware featuring the AO Backpack. These new products aim to transform how dental laboratories prepare prints and handle the printing process. In a detailed chat with Inside Dental Technology, five key members of Carbon’s team—Brice Harkey, Michael Murillo, Kelli Carlson, Greg Dachs, and Nick DeNardo—shared insights into how the AO Suite came to be. They discussed the challenges they faced, how they focused on what customers needed, and the innovative approaches they took to make this advanced suite.

Market Demands and the Genesis of Innovation

The conception of the AO Suite was rooted in a clear and growing demand for automation solutions within the dental industry, a sector already familiar with the benefits and challenges of technological integration. Exacerbated by existing labor shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, this demand transformed from a preference to a necessity. Harkey, Carbon’s product manager for oral health, emphasizes the importance of reliability and differentiation. “Automation is not necessarily new to the dental industry,” she says. “We spent a lot of time understanding how to differentiate ourselves within the market and remain cutting-edge while also keeping reliability at the top of mind for our customers.” This insight underscores Carbon’s commitment to not only meeting but exceeding industry standards and expectations.

DeNardo, Carbon's strategy and growth manager, highlighted the urgency of these needs. “Even before COVID, laboratories talked about labor shortages, and after COVID, those challenges accelerated as the labor shortages became more significant.” The pandemic highlighted the critical role of automation in maintaining, if not enhancing, operational efficiencies in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Navigating the Technical Landscape

The development of the AO Suite was a technical odyssey, marked by the challenge of creating a system that was both innovative and reliable. Murillo, Carbon’s mechanical engineering director, illuminates the intricacies of this process: “When you go into the automation space, if you break the automation workflow, the whole thing falls apart quickly,” he says. Achieving a balance between technological advancement and operational reliability was paramount, demanding a meticulous approach to design and implementation. “Reliability is something dental laboratory professionals really value about Carbon,” Harkey says, “and something Carbon really prides ourselves on as we help customers be successful.”

Dachs, Carbon’s senior vice president of engineering, delves deeper into the ecosystem of printing, revealing the integrated strategy behind Carbon’s approach: “We make the printers, we make the resins, and we make the software that controls it all,” he says. “With that software piece included, you can have an automation system that is high-throughput, works, and makes the parts without anyone attending to it.”

A Customer-Centric Development Process

At the heart of the AO Suite’s development process lies a deeply customer-centric philosophy, underscored by a commitment to understanding and meeting the specific needs of dental laboratories. Carlson, an engineering program manager, highlights the essence of collaboration that was vital to the project: “Approximately 50 people have been pushing on this,” she says. “This group has done a really good job of making that happen quickly.” This focus on teamwork and a unified vision was indispensable in tackling the complexities inherent in developing a new product.

Murillo emphasizes the significance of engaging with customers from the early stages of development. “Often,” he says, “we try to come up with a concept fast to get early feedback, and it becomes a matter of just executing on that plan.” Such an iterative approach ensured the final product not only was technologically advanced but also resonated with the practical needs and challenges of dental laboratories. “The other part of it was our core philosophies around what we thought mattered: It had to have a small footprint and it had to take advantage of the interior of the printer,” Murillo says. “When we develop hardware, we want it to be integrated with the software and the materials; we never look at it as something we will replace in 3 or 4 years. We are in it for the long haul.” The design team ensured a minimal footprint and enhanced utility without compromising existing setups, underscoring the importance of understanding each customer’s unique requirements.

Murillo’s vision of “future proofing” the technology adds another layer to this customer-centric approach. “Carbon places an extra burden on itself: We do so many things that it is important to pick the right things in which to invest,” Murillo says. “Every technology we provide is also a foundation for the future. We don’t think of one-offs.” This philosophy not only guides the development of current technologies but also secures a pathway for future innovations, ensuring that every product is a stepping stone toward more advanced, customer-focused solutions.

The AO Suite stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, deep customer engagement, and a forward-thinking approach to product development. By marrying technological innovation with a keen understanding of customer needs, the team behind the AO Suite has set a new standard in the field, demonstrating that true advancement is achieved not just through technical prowess but through a genuine commitment to enhancing the user experience in meaningful ways.

Choosing the Moment for Launch

The strategic timing of the AO Suite’s launch by Carbon was a calculated move, designed to capitalize on the industry’s readiness for a transformative leap into automation. This period, marked by labor shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, presented an opportune moment to introduce a solution poised to significantly boost efficiency and productivity. The suite’s modular design, coupled with its seamless integration into Carbon’s existing ecosystem, presents a scalable solution tailored to meet the diverse requirements of dental laboratories, regardless of their size and capacity.

“We have been hearing about automation and the need for automation for a while,” Harkey says. “However, understanding what our customers needed was important versus rushing to bring something to the market just to say we had it. We wanted to be thoughtful, diligent, and really lean into and ensure reliability—something for which our customers already know and love us. This is an automated solution, so it needs to work well; we do not want downtime. This solution may not be the first to market, but we are working to ensure it is the best.” This sentiment underscores that the focus was on delivering a reliable, high-quality solution. Carbon aimed to meet and exceed dental laboratories’ expectations by providing a product that would seamlessly integrate into their operations, reflecting a deep understanding of their needs and challenges.

In essence, the launch of the AO Suite was more than just a timely response to a market demand; it was a demonstration of Carbon’s commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. By prioritizing the delivery of a solution that laboratories could depend on from day one, Carbon reinforced its dedication to not just leading but shaping the future of dental laboratory technology with thoughtful innovation.
 

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