Introduction | 1954 | 1960 | 1974 | 1980 | 1990 | 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | tout
The history of the Straumann Group has three distinct eras and spans more than half a century. It began in the Swiss village of Waldenburg in 1954 with the foundation of a research institute bearing the name of its founder, Dr Ing. Reinhard Straumann.
Between 1954 and 1970, the company specialized in alloys used in timing instruments and in materials testing. Among Straumann’s renowned inventions in this period were special alloys that are still used in watch springs today. A breakthrough in the use of non-corroding alloys for treating bone fractures prompted Dr Fritz Straumann, the founder’s son, to enter the fields of orthopedics and dental implantology, which began the second phase of the company’s history.
Between 1970 and 1990, Straumann became a leading manufacturer of osteosynthesis implants.
Another major milestone in the company’s history was in 1980 when Straumann established a partnership with the International Team for Implantology forming a symbiosis of research expertise and industrial know-how. The 1980’s also marked the company’s geographic expansion, with subsidiaries in Germany (1980) and the US (1989).
A management buy-out of the osteosynthesis division in 1990 led to the creation of Stratec (subsequently Synthes) as a separate company. 1990 thus marked the beginning of the Straumann Group as it is known today. Thomas Straumann, grandson of the founder, headed the remaining part of the firm, which employed just 25 people focused exclusively on dental implants.
In 1998, Straumann Holding AG became a publicly traded company on the SIX Swiss exchange. Through the acquisition of Kuros Therapeutics (2002) and Biora (2003), Straumann entered the promising field of oral tissue regeneration. This, together with the acquisition in 2007 of etkon, an emerging leader in CAD/CAM tooth restoration, positions Straumann as a unique partner in the dental sector offering surgical, restorative and regenerative solutions from bone augmentation through implants to individualized crowns and bridges.
The following are examples of the groundbreaking achievements that have established Straumann as a leading innovator in implant dentistry:
- 1974 The one-stage surgical procedure, the rough implant surface, and an implant design that respects biologic width.
- 1986 The Morse taper connection, still widely used today.
- 1997 SLA®, the first macro- and microtextured rough surface, which reduced implant osseointegration time by half.
- 2005 SLActive, the first hydrophilic surface, which cuts healing times by half again
