Zahntechnik plus Becomes a Lighthouse for the Industry

"Zahntechnik plus has shown excellent growth and become an industry get-together for dental technicians, just as we envisioned it," says Dominik Kruchen, President of the Association of German Dental Technologists (VDZI). "The thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm of the participants were clearly palpable at the presentations and in conversations with exhibitors. The perfect partnership with the Association of Dental Technology (FZT) in combination with our spotlight topics provides dental technicians with comprehensive advanced training that unites the highest levels of dental technology expertise with clear, solution-oriented perspectives on the business aspects of the industry."

The expert congress of the Association of Dental Technology (FZT) offered two full days of specific technical information on the current state of implant prosthetics. "A superb team of national and international speakers shared technical information in an attractive way, illustrating it with practical examples," reports Hubert Schenk, President of the Fachgesellschaft für Zahntechnik (FZT). "I am fully satisfied with the overall Zahntechnik plus concept and confident we can look forward to another high-profile congress in Leipzig in 2026."

"We are very pleased with the success of Zahntechnik plus 2024", says Martin Buhl-Wagner, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe. "The significant increase in exhibitors and visitors and the high level of positive exhibitor feedback are a powerful testimony to the importance of this congress as a platform for the industry. This further strengthens our resolve to continue working with our partners to expand Zahntechnik plus, making it even more attractive."

Full Congress Halls, a Varied Programme and Pure Expertise

With over 60 lectures, workshops and discussion panels, the congress programme covered an extensive range of topics and proved extremely popular. Feedback on the high practical relevance of the conference programme was particularly positive. Current professional and economic challenges were not only discussed but also addressed with specific recommendations for improvements and solutions.

The three featured topics, "Modern Technologies between Fascination and Reality", "Personnel – the New Gold: Tools for Qualification and Motivation", and "Safe and Sustainable – Economic Risk and Quality Culture in the Dental Laboratory", focused on central business and economic issues and were designed primarily for owners and managers of dental laboratories. The aim was to demonstrate practical solutions for various business scenarios in a way that each participating laboratory manager could take home ideas for specific solutions to their own daily challenges in the laboratory.

Alongside the conference programme, participants also made excellent use of the opportunity to learn about products, techniques and current developments in the dental industry at a variety of exhibitor presentations and workshops.

Industry Platform With Added Value: Intensive Exchange and Positive Feedback

At the industry exhibition, bustling aisles and focused discussions at the stands created a euphoric atmosphere. The exhibitors at Zahntechnik plus 2024 gave overwhelmingly positive reviews.

"We were very much looking forward to the second edition of Zahntechnik plus and we experienced a great event with very good traffic at our stand. For our industry, it was the biggest event of the year and a successful demonstration of the high-performance standards of dental technology made in Germany. The focus on digital innovation and digital workflow, the outstanding design of the event with fascinating lectures and workshops and the industry exhibition provided an ideal environment for networking, maintaining existing customer relationships and acquiring new customers. The move from the city centre to the Congress Center Leipzig was an excellent idea – a pleasant atmosphere, short distances to travel, simply the perfect location. We are all looking forward to 2026 already and will certainly be back," concludes Michael Stock, Sales Director for Western Germany at Schütz Dental GmbH.

Amann Girrbach GmbH echoes the reports of a successful trade fair. "The exhibition was fully booked in all areas and was very impressive. More exhibitors, prominent competitors, very high-quality stand presentations and the latest devices on display – this was an environment we felt very comfortable in. We are also very pleased that the new 'Education Day for Trainees" offers young professionals in the industry an opportunity to engage in the event. Our industry is by no means exempt from labour shortages, and we were very glad to have the chance to show our innovations to tomorrow's professionals and get them interested in our company. We already have the next event in two years firmly marked in our diary," says Christian Kirsche, Sales Director for Eastern Germany.

The high levels of satisfaction are also reflected in the results of the survey conducted by the independent market research firm Gelsus Messe-Marktforschung (GMM) showing that 87 per cent of exhibitors plan to return to the next Zahntechnik plus and 94 per cent would recommend the event.

Participants at Zahntechnik plus 2024 travelled from all over Germany, with over a third coming from more than 300 kilometres away. As a comprehensive event with an industry exhibition and conference, Zahntechnik plus resonated well with attendees and received excellent scores in the participant survey. 91 per cent of respondents said they hope to visit Zahntechnik plus again in 2026, and 94 per cent stated they would be willing to recommend Zahntechnik plus to their colleagues.

"Education Day for Trainees" Generates Great Enthusiasm

With all 120 tickets selling out to enthusiastic participants, the "Education Day for Trainees" on 3 May was a complete success. Trainees from all over Germany came together at Zahntechnik plus to attend presentations and workshops on topics relevant to their education such as the new training regulations and preparing for the journeyman's exam. They were also given practical tips and tools for use in their future daily work. This included information on how to use intra-oral scanners and the possibilities and limits of digital production. A tour of the exhibition rounded off the programme and gave participants the opportunity to discover the wide variety of products and innovations on display.

The trainees were impressed with the wide range of exhibits and grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded peers. The "Education Day for Trainees" thus proved to be a valuable addition to the overall programme and will be held again in two years.

Expertise in Dental Technology: Presentation of the Klaus-Kanter Award

A highlight of the first day of the congress was the presentation of the 30th Klaus-Kanter Award for outstanding achievement in the exam to become a master dental technician. Three exceptional master craftspeople were honoured with winner's certificates and received cash awards. The first prize was awarded to Juliane Albrecht. The second and third places went to Jan-Niklas Koch and Maike Usinger. The Klaus-Kanter Award, also known as the "Oscars of dental technology", has been awarded to the most outstanding masters of the dental technology trade since 1994.

The next Zahntechnik plus will take place from 6 to 7 March 2026 at the Congress Center Leipzig.