SciCan forms merger with SycoTec, MICRO-MEGA to create dental equipment companies group

• New group of companies: SciCan (Canada) SycoTec (Germany), and MICRO-MEGA (France) will merge
• Dr. Martin Rickert will be Executive Chairman of the group  
• Group will form one of the ten largest dental equipment manufacturers worldwide

SciCan, a Toronto based manufacturer of infection control products and solutions with subsidiaries in Canonsburg PA, Augsburg Germany and Zug Switzerland has merged with dental manufacturer SycoTec (previously, EWL, a subsidiary of the KAVO Group located in Leutkirch Germany) and French endodontic specialist MICRO-MEGA (Besancon). SciCan, the worlds largest producer of table top autoclaves will be part of this strong company alliance under the leadership of SycoTec's  Managing Partner Dr. Martin Rickert. Together the group will be one of the ten largest dental equipment manufacturers in the world of innovative products for the dental and medical markets. "We can now offer clinical instruments, drives and infection control solutions, all from one source," Dr. Martin Rickert is pleased to announce. The three companies are being integrated under one common umbrella, but will remain independent. It is not a buy-out; hence no purchasing price was paid. Merger related downsizing is not intended.

Good news for the employees of SciCan: The specialist in infection control, established in 1957, will, in the near future, be part of a strong dental, medical and technology group, owned by Arthur Zwingenberger, Chairman of SciCan and Dr. Martin Rickert, Managing Partner of SycoTec. The group will be managed by Dr. Martin Rickert as Executive Chairman who will follow a management model that maintains independence within the individual companies under the groups administrative and strategic umbrella. The main principle behind the new structure is to make decisions where they actually occur, a concept which will be applied to SciCan as well. Although the family-owned enterprise with its headquarters in Toronto (Ontario) is being merged with the two European companies, SciCan and its brands will remain in their present form. SciCan's Chairman Arthur Zwingenberger will serve as Chairman of the new group.

"The name of the group is being discussed in-house for now," said Dr. Martin Rickert who points out, that most of the positions within the organization will be filled with existing personnel, to avoid creating unnecessary costs. "Much more important for us than finding a name was being able to handle the operational synergies so that we could focus on our shared opportunities as quickly as possible."  

While SycoTec concentrates mainly on drives, and specialized motors, MICRO-MEGA manufactures top quality root canal instruments and hand pieces which are commonly used in every dental office. SciCan complements this range of products with critical procedures before and after treatment: namely infection control practices which include washing, disinfection and sterilization. "It becomes more and more important," says Rickert, "bacteria has to be removed from all the instruments that were used, for the doctor to safely work with them again. The legal guidelines in this regard are getting more stringent." SciCan comes at the right time: The Canadians produce a full range of infection control products – on the one hand autoclaves (sterilizing units), and on the other, state of the art cleaning and disinfection technologies which are sold in both dental and medical markets. The consumable products for infection control complete the range.

Executive Chairman Dr. Martin Rickert and Chairman Arthur Zwingenberger describe the opportunities resulting from the merger as follows:

• Market access: The distribution networks of all three companies will be selling the products of the entire group. Further opportunities for SycoTec and MICRO-MEGA will result in North America based on SciCan's market presence and SciCan will be able to establish itself even better in Europe based on the strengths of Syco-Tec and Micro Mega. Together it will also be possible to strengthen the group's presence in Asia.
• Complete Provider: SycoTec, MICRO-MEGA and SciCan will provide full-spectrum solutions - offering dentists and doctors a 'one stop shop', from instruments to motors to the entire reprocessing system.  
• Synergies: Synergies are being created in administration, at trade shows, in the IT and in research and development. No job cuts are planned due to the new structure. "We want to do more business – not less", says Dr. Martin Rickert.
• Market relevance: The merger will lead to a group of approx. 800 employees and will be one of the world's ten largest suppliers of dental equipment.
Initial reactions from the industry are positive according to Dr. Martin Rickert. The head of the company, who is also the Chairman of the Association of the German Dental Industry is looking forward to the future. "We are now on all accounts well established for the future and are standing on solid ground."

The merger will become legally effective within the next few months.