Market growth allowing IMTEC to expand
Company that makes, sells dental speciality products now has offices in Germany, Canada
Thursday, February 13, 2003

Staff Photo/Don Alquist   System programmer Marvin Saucer works with a smartscope vision system Wednesday at IMTEC.

Continued growth in markets and expansion of branch operations into foreign countries is causing IMTEC Corporation of Ardmore to expand its operations.

The company, founded by Drs. Ron Bulard and E.S. "Eddie" Gillespie, began operations in 1990 and has recorded phenomenal growth. IMTEC recently opened a branch office in Frankfurt, Germany, to serve the European markets, and in Toronto to serve Canadian doctors.

Sales of the company's high-tech dental specialty products have continued to skyrocket, causing the need for additional space, according to Bulard, IMTEC board chairman.

"We moved into our new facility on North Commerce Street in April of 2001, but our growth in sales and in employment has increased at a far greater pace than we imagined," he said.

The Ardmore Development Authority owns the IMTEC facility that was financed by a county general obligation bond issue in 1999. ADA President Wes Stucky thanked Carter County commissioners for their foresight in approving the issue.

"IMTEC had opportunities to sell their operations or move to another community, but with the approval of the G.O. bond issued by Commissioners (Dale) Ott, (Kevin) Robinson and (Joe) McReynolds, we were able to construct a modern facility to house production, research and corporate headquarters for the company," Stucky said.

The ADA and the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence are again working with IMTEC to design the expansion of the company's existing facility with preliminary plans to begin construction later this year. Approximately 10,000 square feet will be added to allow for additional machinery, inventory space and production equipment required to meet market demand.

Since moving into the new facility, IMTEC's sales have increased 82 percent, according to Bulard. "The number of employees has grown from less than 20 to 65 in the last two years," Bulard said.

The company's sales are expected to continue growing, and employment at the local facility should reach 100 within a year. Like most high-tech companies, IMTEC is headquartered where the entrepreneurs live and began their operations. Dr. Bulard began as a one-man dental practice.

In 1986, he designed and created a dental implant system that revolutionized the industry. In 1990, he and Dr. Gillispie founded IMTEC. In 1996, Bulard opened the Dental Implant Center in New York while continuing the Ardmore practice. Today, IMTEC provides more than 600 dental products, including the signature product, the Sendax Mini Dental Implant (MDI) system.

Eight years ago, a Florida company wanted to buy IMTEC, according to IMTEC President James Clark. "They wanted our product, business line and intellectual properties, but not the Ardmore location or our employees," he said.

While the offer was tempting, local owners were concerned about the 15 Ardmore employees who would have lost their jobs. The company realized through that process that the lack of any building ownership in Ardmore meant there were no local roots.

The Ardmore Development Authority created the opportunity for developing local roots according to Bulard. "Without the ADA, we might not be here today," he said.

Stucky said IMTEC is a high-tech success story that is difficult to obtain as most are locally grown. "If you want high-tech industries, you have to create an environment for them."

Stucky said the keys to high-tech growth are a strong education system and a technology initiative that includes such things as a technology incubator facility for new industries and access to venture capital. "Education, technology and infrastructure are the cornerstones to further high-tech development and all must be improved if we want more success stories like IMTEC."

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Courtsey of the Oklahoma Ardmoreite