News Feature Press release: Kuraray Noritake Dental concludes patent license agreement with 3M Kuraray Noritake Dental concludes a patent license agreement with 3M In March 2018, Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. (President: Kiyoyuki Arikawa), with its Head Office in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, concluded a license agreement with the 3M Company, whose Head Office is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. The agreement concerns a patented method for producing multilayered ceramics, European patent No. 2024300, held by Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. Summary of Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. ceramic business Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. launched the zirconia disc that has been commercialized through the use of our layered ceramic production method in 2012. The product has multi-layered structure with four different colored zirconia powders that feature a smooth transition of color gradation between layers. We took advantage of the dental ceramic coloring technology we had accumulated through the development of porcelains. Success was achieved in controlling the shrinkage of the layers by optimizing the amounts of pigments added, thereby achieving great accuracy in terms of adaptation. In 2015, we also launched a new series zirconia which has the high degree of translucency of natural tooth enamel and is suitable for the esthetic restorations of anterior teeth. In January 2018, zirconia block joined the zirconia family as our new solution for the fabrication of zirconia restorations. This new product achieves a well-balanced combination of appropriate mechanical properties and good esthetics with a short baking time. Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. is committed to developing new dental materials that contribute to the dental industry. Our products have become even more competitive on the global market because of our intense pursuit of technological innovation. Read the official statement here 15 mai 2018