Room for Innovations – the production hall in Bensheim

"The air is so clean in the hall, you could celebrate a wedding here." Roland Weber, Head of Production and Process Engineering, SBU Instruments at Dentsply Sirona, is proud of his new production hall and for good reason. Indeed, he even celebrated his 25th anniversary at the company here. "The atmosphere was really special."

The new production hall is much more than just a place where experts produce high-quality instruments. It is home to a wealth of ingenious and practical technologies which improve the working conditions for staff and also save on resources. For example, the oil vapors which are released when cutting materials are suctioned out of the air, the oil is condensed and then returned to the machines. The design of the hall has been deliberately kept very bright so that any soiling can be detected and removed immediately. The thermal energy isolated in the room is used to heat fresh air for the hall.

The entire hall is air-conditioned, precisely as is required at each location. "We save a lot of energy by using covers which only cool the machines which require a specific low temperature, e.g., for testing procedures. The temperature in the rest of the hall is between 22 and 28°C, a range which is perceived as most pleasant by workers. Any more air-conditioning would just be a waste."

Dentsply Sirona has always set great store by saving resources and setting a good example in terms of sustainability. Even 20 years ago, the company joined the EMAS (= Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) voluntarily. The EMAS is an instrument employed by the European Union which helps companies and organizations of all sizes and in all sectors to continuously improve their environmental record. "We allow our performance to be measured regularly. And each time we improve," says Weber. "We use the world's resources responsibly."

An important part of Roland Weber's job is to think about the future. The new production hall is a great help here. "In our view, a pioneering spirit is not just a matter of ideas and innovations. Rather, all the factors for staff, technology and the environment must be right and optimally aligned for the future. To this end, our production hall is undoubtedly an important building block."