IDS Press Conference

The Dental Care Company GC:

Figures, facts and achievements

The company GC, with it’s Head Office in Tokyo, is one of the biggest suppliers world-wide of dental products with about 1.200 employees in 5 continents and 3 production branches in Japan, the USA and Europe. The family owned company achieves 30 % of it’s turnover outside Japan, of which 13 % comes to the European market – with a growing tendency.

With more than 600 different products, the Head Office GC Corporation supplies an entire range of consumer materials, equipment and facilities for dental offices and dental laboratories. For more than 30 years, dentists and dental technicians in Europe manipulate with success f.e. glass ionomer cements, impression and filling materials, high-quality modelling gypsum and investments as well as the current light-curing composite filling materials and ceramic materials of GC.

GC-History:

1921: GC Chemicals Research Laboratory established in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

1946: Company renamed GC Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. with Kiyoshi Nakao as president.

1969: Hongo Annex built in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

1971: GC International Corporation established.

1972: European branch opened in Belgium.

1976: GC Fujirock superhard stone developed.

1981: The president, Toshio Nakao, announces the concept of „General Quality Control“ (GQC).

U.S. branch opened in Scottsdale, Arizona.

1983: Makoto Nakao appointed president.

1992: The world’s first light-cured glass ionomer filling material, GC Fuji Ionomer Type II LC, released.

1994: Dental industry’s first company to acquire ISO9001 certification. GC EUROPE acquires ISO9002.

1995: Makoto Nakao awarded the insignia of Commander of the Crown of Belgium.

Shift from GQC to GQM (GC Quality Management) activities.

1998: ISO14001 certification acquired.

2000: GC Corporation awarded the „Deming Award for Business Practice Excellence“.

The micro ceramic composite GC Gradia is launched.

2003: GC introduces with success the modular structured GC Initial ceramic line and the direct composite filling material GC Gradia Direct at IDS 2003.

2004: GC Corporation awarded the „Japan Quality Medal“.

2005: At IDS 2005, GC introduces the future-oriented „Minimal Intervention“ Program – f.e. with GC Tooth Mousse and GC Saliva-Check Buffer.