Oliver Hill establishes new X-Depot and X-Werk

Without doubt, he is one of the pioneers of digital dental technology: CDT Oliver Hill. About 15 years ago, he made his mark in the industry as the co-founder of Zfx and the owner and CEO of the Zfx Munich milling center. Even then, the forming of networks and joining of forces was one of his greatest strengths. Together with partners from the industry, he established a digital process chain by combining the best available computer-aided manufacturing technologies, which enabled smooth processes leading to high-quality milling results.

A lot has happened since then: Zfx established an international network of milling centers and joined Zimmer Biomet. At the same time, the team at the manufacturing center Zfx Munich continuously expanded their skills and services to become the expert in all things digital dentistry. Now, new plans are being implemented, as Oliver Hill tells us.

Oliver Hill, what’s the news?

On December 1, 2020, I have launched X-Depot, an online depot for digital dentistry. In January 2021, Zfx Munich will be continued under the name X-Werk. As the manager of these two companies, I pursue the goal of fulfilling the needs of all dental technicians with a passion for digital dentistry. X-Depot offers them everything needed for their individual CAD/CAM workflow at favorable cost: they will find the desired hardware and software, processing tools, resins for 3D printing and CAD/CAM blanks, and even components for the production of custom implant prosthetics. X-Werk offers them everything they prefer not to produce in-house, but would like to purchase from an external partner.

What added value does the new online shop for digital dentistry offer your customers?

Digital dentistry has changed dramatically in recent years: The range of available manufacturing options and materials is huge, and operating the CAD/CAM systems is no longer rocket science. The most challenging part for users is keeping track of new developments and selecting those products that meet their individual needs. This is exactly where the X-Depot makes life much easier for its customers: They can choose from a great variety of products from different manufacturers, and may even compare them.

How is it possible to compare the different products?

Let us assume that a user is in need of a titanium base for a Straumann Bone Level Implant. The shop will offer various suitable bases from Straumann and also from Dental Direkt, Medentika, and Zfx. Customers can compare the design, additional features, material and price for the available options and choose the one they like best. CAD/CAM blanks, scanners, 3D printers, resins and the like, are selected and compared in the same manner. So far, a person planning to purchase equipment or consumables for digital dentistry needed to spend a lot of time for product research and comparison due to a lack of a single source of supply, and the price level for all goods was usually higher compared to the extraordinarily low X-Depot prices. For those customers who would like to compare and test the products offered in our online shop in real life, we are planning to organize annual events with product challenges. In these battles, various products or systems from the same category perform a specific task – e.g. the scanning of a model or production of a restoration – and participants are invited to evaluate their performance. This idea was already implemented successfully in 2020 at the Open Wiesn Day in cooperation with 20 industry partners.

How is it possible to offer products at a consistently low price level?

This is mainly due to the streamlined procedures of a shop that is purely run online and does not have any stationary branches or showrooms. We anticipate that our customers do not need intensive on-site support, however, they can always count on professional first-level support via telephone. It is this specific structure in combination with volume discounts granted by numerous manufacturers from my network that allows for cost savings we are happy to pass on to the end user. In December, we even offer a 15 percent discount on all available products!

Which manufacturers‘ products will be available in the X-Depot?

We are already negotiating with a large number of dental industry partners. Our declared goal is to rapidly expand the digital dentistry online shop and to offer as many products as possible from a single source. This will allow us to continuously expand our customer base and to maintain the low price level in the long run – much to the benefit of everyone involved. As we deem it advisable to know everything about the products we are selling, every single device or material is tested in the production center before it is added to the shop.

Is there any news regarding the X-Werk?

From January 2021, we will simply offer the usual production services under a new name matching the name X-Depot. Our portfolio ranges from milled crowns, bridges and dentures to drill guides for guided implant surgery, OEM abutments and bite splints to 3D-printed models and laser-sintered bars and telescopic dentures. However, we are already planning to expand the X-Werk portfolio as well as a new headquarter building with a transparent factory …

Thank you very much for the conversation, Mr. Hill!

Oliver Hill