Planmeca’s Mobile Scanning Station Wins Red Dot Award

When the Planmeca Imprex™ was first introduced at IDS 2023, Planmeca described it as a sleek and slim mobile scanning station designed to fit any clinical environment, with a tripod construction said to make it easy to use in any clinical setup, as the station can be moved around and rotated freely.

The product’s design has now won a Red Dot in this year’s Red Dot Award: Product Design competition, meaning the jury of renowned Red Dot officials seem to agree it’s a well-designed system. The medical-grade device is optimally suited for treatment rooms and can be disinfected with wipes.

Planmeca Imprex is a mobile medical-grade computer system which allows dental professionals to capture digital impressions with a Planmeca Emerald® S intraoral scanner and easily communicate treatment data to patients using a touch screen. The screen is mounted on a 50 cm monitor arm, which can be adjusted to an optimal angle to suit ergonomic working positions, regardless of whether the user is sitting or standing or right- or left-handed.

The system’s scanning station comprises an integrated high-performance PC, which resides within a rounded cover designed to ensure an optimal flow of air for efficient cooling of the system and a compact appearance. The computer is designed with plenty of calculation power for carrying out digital workflows. According to Planmeca, this eliminates the need for a separate laptop, which streamlines intraoral scanning and allows dentists to engage patients by visualizing clinical data on the touch screen.

“Planmeca Imprex has been crafted in line with Planmeca’s design philosophy to create products that are functional, durable and beautifully designed. In addition to having the same recognizable and timeless esthetics as other Planmeca products, Planmeca Imprex fits seamlessly into any clinical environment thanks to its unique tripod construction,” says Pontus Degerlund, CAD/CAM director at Planmeca, in the press release announcing the design award. “I am extremely delighted by the acknowledgment from Red Dot, as it confirms that our focus on innovative design aimed at enhancing the daily work of dental professionals is indeed the right approach.”

The system comes with a pre-installed Planmeca Romexis® software suite and is ready for immediate use after unboxing. The tripod construction and wheels allows Planmeca Imprex to adapt to various clinical environments—it can be moved and rotated freely close to any dental unit. The scanning station can also be easily shared between treatment rooms.

Since each dental professional using an intraoral scanner is different, the Planmeca Imprex design enables it to cater to an even wider range of user needs. Some clinicians prefer using a laptop or desktop computer in the treatment room, while some want to use the scanner plugged into a Planmeca dental unit, or even a cart. This solution provides the versatility to address each need.

Planmeca Oy is one of the world's leading dental equipment manufacturers, with a product range covering digital dental units, CAD/CAM solutions, world-class 2D and 3D imaging devices, and comprehensive software solutions. Privately owned and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, the company offers a portfolio of products distributed in over 120 countries worldwide. Planmeca USA Inc. has a facility in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.