Kemdent is proud to satisfy the demands of dentistry’s competitive and ever-changing market. It is dedicated to quality, durability and reliability – our products are designed to deliver optimal results, quickly and conveniently.
This year heralds the 100th anniversary of Kemdent. Since 1922, it has evolved to be a global leader in the manufacturing of dental materials.
It all began in West Ealing, London.
Humble beginnings
Mr Harold Osborn is recognised as the force behind the conception of Kemdent. He began his career with a three-year apprenticeship in mechanical dentistry. But later decided to discontinue training and concentrate on manufacturing.
After a career in the Western Dental Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Harold saw an opportunity in the market and decided to branch out on his own.
Backed financially by two dentists, he leased premises from the Western Dental Manufacturing Company in Ealing. His mission was to concentrate on making a range of dental products to sell directly to dental distributors.
On the 31st July 1922, Kemdent (Associated Products Limited) was established with its registered offices at Kemdent Works, 31a Denmark Road, West Ealing, London. The ‘Kemdent’ trademark was registered that same year.
Relocation
In 1924 Harold, a prominent figure in the field, wrote ‘The Golden Rules of Dental Mechanics’. This is still in print today. With this book, Harold sought to enhance and raise the standards of dental products through research and experimentation.
In 1928, Mr Amos Cakebread joined the company and a new variety of dental wax products joined Kemdent’s repertoire. These included Astynax Modelling Wax, Tenatex Modelling Wax and Tenacetin Modelling Wax.
During World War II, the Kemdent factory was severely damaged due to bombing. As a result, the company relocated to the Wiltshire village of Purton.
Mr and Mrs Osborn, as well as Mr Amos Cakebread, the works manager and his family, made the move with the business and ‘Kemdent Works’ opened in April 1941.
On 6 March 1942, there was a change of name with company house to Associated Dental Products Limited. This removed the brackets around ‘dental’.
The birth of the NHS and free dental care
In 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) was established, meaning that dental care was free at the point of use. It was said at this time more than three quarters of the population over the age of 18 had complete dentures.
Unsurprisingly, Kemdent experienced a surge in product demand. In 1951, the NHS began charging for dentures, this caused the demand to subside and levelled off.
The 1956 Suez Crisis threw the world into panic and created an economic crisis in Britain. It was feared that the loss of oil supplies and price increases would cause supply problems for the dental wax industry. However, a year’s worth of orders were taken in just four months.
In 1961, Mr Amos Cakebread became director of Associated Dental Products.
In 1966, the same year England won the Football World Cup, his son Donald, became Works Manager when Mr Amos Cakebread retired.
Fast forward
In 1991, Kemdent expanded further, taking over a range of surgery and laboratory products bought from the Austenal range from Noblepharms UK Ltd, including denture acrylic brands, Acron and Simplex. In 1997, Kemdent’s commitment to high standards of quality was established, after gaining full accreditation to ISO 9001 certification.
Over the years the ‘Kemdent Works’ site expanded, the original structures had been rebuilt with 18,000 square feet of new, purpose-built office and also manufacturing space.
In 1999, Mr Graham Mayoh joined Kemdent and, with Mr Gary Squires, purchased the company in 2003. Mr Mayoh’s immediate family members joined gradually over the years too; including his wife, two sons and daughter.
Mr Graham Mayoh bought and took over as Managing Director in 2012. During this time, Graham made it his mission to develop the Kemdent brand and reintroduce their products into the international market.
The Kemdent brand has a strong reputation and is well-known around the world. Incentivised with the benefits of seeing potential customers when visiting IDS Cologne, Mr Graham Mayoh and Mrs Belinda Mayoh spent the next few years after purchasing the company visiting companies around the world, educating customers how to use the goods.
They obtained insight into what clients required in different areas of the world. So this successful approach resulted in a strong customer relationship.
So, what’s next?
Today, Kemdent is an award-winning company, which has gained recognition through our work with Export via the FMC Dental Industry Awards for UK Exporter of the Year.
Kemdent’s operations director, Craig Mayoh and production manager, Bharath Karumuri has appeared in the 2020 Manufacturer Top 100. This recognises the most dynamic leaders and innovators in the UK manufacturing industry.
With nearly 100 years of experience in making modelling wax, Kemdent provides an unparalleled range of other essential dental laboratory and surgery products as well. For example, wax-based products, denture base acrylics, cements and filling materials.
The company also take steps to reduce its impact on the environment. Through co-operation with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and the Improve Your Resource Efficiency Service (IYRE), Kemdent developed a cost effective and environmentally-friendly method of producing modelling wax. This resulted in two new wax production processes, helping to boost productivity.
Kemdent now exports to more than 70 countries and has a global customer base of long-term customers
One final word
As dentistry moves steadily into the future, Kemdent’s passion for quality and reliability moves with it. Here’s to another 100 years! #Kemdent100
For more information, please visit www.kemdent.co.uk or call 01793 770 256
