Avinent: 65 years of manufacturing and innovation

Dental and craniomaxillofacial implants, podiatric insoles, and precision industrial machined material. This is the product portfolio manufactured by the Avinent group, a company with 65 years of experience and based in Santpedor (Barcelona). The history of the company, originally founded under the name Vilardell Purtí, remains linked to the manufacturing of components for the automotive and aeronautical industries for over six decades. However, fierce competition in the sector pushed Avinent to diversify its business during the first decade of the 2000s.

It was in 2006 when the company also ventured into the medical industry, with the creation of its dental implantology division. Over the years, the group has opened more business lines and, currently, in its role as a manufacturer for professionals, it produces and markets dental implants and prostheses, craniomaxillofacial solutions, and invisible orthodontics. Its latest business venture, entering the segment of podiatric clinics and personalized 3D insoles, is an initiative that has been recognized by ACCIÓ, the agency for business competitiveness of the Generalitat de Catalunya, through the Catalonia Exponential Leaders distinction.

"Our goal is to bring to podiatry the digital tools that we already know work in the field of dental implants and prostheses. Furthermore, in this case, we want to bring solutions directly to the patient, and for this reason, we are creating our own network of clinics and already have centers in Cardona, Berga, Manresa, and in the Sant Martí neighborhood of Barcelona," says Albert Giralt, CEO of Avinent.

The main technique that has been extrapolated from the dental to the podiatric field is additive manufacturing or 3D printing. "Through this technology, a sector that was very artisanal, like dental implantology, could be industrialized. This experience has allowed us to evolve and now bring this knowledge to the podiatric field," explains Avinent's CEO. Giralt also highlights the great progress of additive manufacturing in recent years. "Now, the materials that can be used are much more numerous, and the design software has also improved a lot," he assesses.

Also through 3D printing, Avinent entered the booming market of dental aligners. "The aesthetics sector is growing and, in particular, everything related to the dental field. In this sense, the demand for dental implants continues to grow, but also for dental aligners for invisible orthodontics," says the businessman. Avinent began to exploit the aligner business in 2022, through the Recode Aligners brand.

The pandemic, a turning point

Like so many other companies, the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted Avinent's plans. The generalized reduction in activity was joined by the fact that the group was carrying out its largest investment to date. Giralt acknowledges that they were months of great uncertainty, but that they faced the period as a preparation to emerge stronger when the epidemic passed and the situation normalized. Finally, the investment went ahead and, in 2022, Avinent inaugurated its innovation and production center ---of more than 8,000 square meters--- in Santpedor after allocating 10 million euros to the project.

Currently, the Avinent group, family-owned, bills 35 million annually and employs around 300 people. The conglomerate concentrates various corporate services ---such as human resources, IT and financial department, among others---, while each division also has its own specific teams.

Disruptive innovation with positive impact

Avinent was recognized by ACCIÓ with the Catalonia Exponential Leaders distinction for its condition as a company that is committed to digitalization with a production method in the field of personalized medical solutions. Specifically, ACCIÓ highlighted Avinent's new commitment to podiatry ---with foot scan technology and the design of personalized insoles with 3D printing--- through the Inmoovs brand.

ACCIÓ has also awarded the distinction to other startups and consolidated companies specialized in sectors and fields such as health and life sciences; mobility, energy or sustainable chemistry. These companies were valued for applying innovation in their business models and introducing disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data management, 3D manufacturing or advanced biotechnology, among others. AldoraTech, BUSUP, Roka Furadada or Sener are other companies that were also selected.