Hirsch Dynamics
Setting a New Standard in Contract Manufacturing

Many falter at the sight of an obstacle but not Markus Hirsch. As the founder and CEO of Hirsch Dynamics, a global medical device manufacturing company, he finds his way around the barriers and turns those into business opportunities. It was, in fact, one such instance that led Markus to conceptualize the idea for Hirsch Dynamics.

During his previous venture, Markus witnessed the orthodontic aligner market growing at an accelerated rate. “There was a rising need from patients for better teeth aligners, and the market was experiencing almost 30 percent growth per year,” says Markus, who was fascinated by the immense potential the dental sector held. On the flip side, he also saw the industry turning digital rapidly—new technologies were being introduced, processes and operations were being automated and computerized—which led to several challenges for dentists and OEMs. “For one, doctors were not used to working with computer-based devices and lacked the skills needed to run them. On the other hand, the OEMs entering the industry were too inflexible to adjust to the needs of the market,” informs Markus. This prompted Markus to establish Hirsch Dynamics as a global contract manufacturing company specializing in fixed and removable orthodontic solutions. “We realized there was a necessity to be agile in the digital world and decided to incorporate the idea into our offerings. We turned from a component product supplier for the orthodontic industry to a full system supplier to serve the OEMs,” he explains. Today, the firm does everything from product designing to R&D to manufacturing products with core competence in ceramic and micro-ceramic CNC, micro-ceramic CIM, micro-ceramic 3D printing, software development and software engineering with cutting-edge technology and product fulfillment and logistics. More recently, the firm has also embraced the clear aligner trend.

An aspect that truly differentiates Hirsch Dynamics from its peers is that the company focuses on constant growth and being flexible rather than sales. Consequently, they are one of the few contract manufacturers able to address the needs of big OEMs, the direct-to-customer market (DTC), and dental support organizations (DSOs). Besides, the firm has created a 510k process for its American clients as well as an MDR process for European clients; all facilities work in accordance to the highest standards (ISO13485). Hirsch Dynamics has been in the dental field for over 30 years now and is recognized as a leading OEM supplier of orthodontic brackets by some of the industry’s key suppliers. From conception to commercialization, as a sophisticated partner, Hirsch Dynamics works with clients through every phase of development and commercialization all the way to packaging (assembly like a fulfillment center from Amazon) and software requirements and professional service level support.

Personalization at the Core

Hirsch Dynamics offers its range of solutions and services to clients through four different subsidiaries: Health Intelligence Technologies (HIT) based in Zürich, Switzerland; Ceramic Dental Brackets (CDB) in North Carolina, U.S.; Masterpieces (MAPS) based in Shenzhen, China; and Ceramedical–Micro Injection Moulding based in Seibersdorf, Austria.

Through these companies, Hirsch Dynamics combines technologies and industry know-how to bring ideas to life.

Ceramic Dental Brackets (CDB) is Hirsch Dynamics’s aesthetic orthodontic bracket manufacturing division. The state-of-the-art manufacturing and packaging facility provides customers with an unprecedented array of personalized product and packaging solutions. “Our goal is to address the individual needs of our clients to maximize the potential of their design and commercialize a product that surpasses the highest-industry quality control standards,” states Markus. CDB is compliant with ISO 13485, FDA (USA), PAL (Japan), and CE (Europe); the firm also holds several patents for bracket designs, features, and production methods.

There are numerous individuals that want to straighten their teeth to enhance their appearance. But 90 percent of them are clueless as to what treatment plan their dentists would suggest. Will they receive an aligner or get fixed braces in ceramic or metal? In the end there will be a fixed retainer needed and this is also part of the HDH solution that is personalized and manufactured for each patient in ceramic and not in metal. Hirsch Dynamics offers a fully integrated aesthetic aligner system to correct minor teeth miss-alignments. Through an intra-oral scan or impression kits, a virtual 3D model of the patient’s teeth is generated. Hirsch Dynamics’s experts then create a digital treatment plan that simulates the alignment progress of the teeth in multiple steps—from start to finish. The firm has also developed a robust application that shows the progress of treatment in a fully animated 3D model that can be viewed on a smartphone, computer, or tablet.

We are committed to preserving our long-term commitment to keep people smiling. We aim to support the business with our in-house expertise, advanced technology, and years of experience delivering quality aesthetic appliances

More recently, the company came out with an AI-based digital plug-in solution that supports treatment planning. Once the software scans the jaws and teeth of a patient and presents those in STL format (stereolithography), the AI solution develops an orthodontic or dental treatment that is best suited for the patient. Doctors can either utilize it to select the right retainer or bracket or customize one according to the needs of the patient. The idea is to support doctors’ work and speed up the process chair time. “Normally, after visiting the dentist, the patient receives a treatment plan after five or seven days. This creates cognitive dissonance and impacts a patient’s decision-making. But with our software, patients receive the treatment plan immediately at the doctors chair,” affirms Markus.

Furthermore, through CDB, Hirsch Dynamics also offers personalized ceramic brackets or Polyforce brackets. With their striking aesthetic appearance and ultimate invisibility, the Polyforce brackets serve as an ideal alternative to ceramic brackets, or an ideal bracket set up for a dual bracket and aligner treatment for difficult cases.

Developed with the highest quality resins, both the tooth-colored and the clear Polyforce brackets feature a natural appearance combined with a smooth surface for unparalleled comfort and stain resistance. What’s more? The advanced mushroom-style base delivers superior mechanical bonding and requires no special adhesives. “We are committed to preserving our long-term commitment to keep people smiling. We aim to support the business with our in-house expertise, advanced technology, and years of experience delivering quality aesthetic appliances,” remarks Markus.

Fostering an Open-Minded Culture

Another notable aspect of Hirsch Dynamics is its dynamic culture. Working with Hirsch Dynamics means businesses have a partner who will provide everything needed—every step of the way. In fact, Markus attributes the continued success of the firm to his family of talented employees. “We have the best team. They are ‘young guns’ that are super flexible and motivated to bring innovation and motivation to our company. We are set up like a satellite company and are located in Switzerland, Austria, United States, Hong Kong, and China,” adds Markus. The core team, which Markus refers to as his “Praetorian team” is from Austria and brings in the perfect mixture of knowledge and experience that plays a crucial role in the firm’s success. In addition, Hirsch Dynamics’s business model focuses on forging profitable and long-lasting relationships. The company maintains absolute proprietary discretion with its business alliances and client partnerships. Markus also makes it a point to encourage a culture of open-mindedness, innovation, and teamwork through hands-on mentorship. “It’s the hunger to come forward. We are passionate and committed to creating effective solutions for our clients,” he asserts.

The Way Forward

The team at Hirsch Dynamics has multiple success stories to its name and is optimistic about the road ahead. “We will continue to develop brand new solutions for dealers and distribution companies. Our Swiss subsidiary is in the process of developing and launching a new high-end product for the orthodontic market,” reveals Markus. In fact, the company has already started working together with U.S. and China-based dealers to bring the product to market in Q2 2021.

Hirsch Dynamics’s aim is to be the partner of choice for orthodontic manufacturers worldwide. To that end, the firm is keen on maintaining its position in the marketplace by delivering outstanding value through advanced design expertise, proficient materials engineering, expeditious commercialization, customized packaging solutions, unprecedented quality control, and unrivaled client service. “We are always learning, evolving, and developing,” concludes Markus.