The Tooth of Time
Interview with Christoph Stark, Founder and Managing Director of imes-icore GmbH
High-tech for dental laboratories around the world is being developed in Eiterfeld. Over 23 years, imes-icore GmbH has become the technological world leader in digital dental manufacturing systems. Around 18,000 machines worldwide mill dental replacements. Founder and Managing Director Christoph Stark is banking on a revolutionary hybrid technology, set to hit the market in 2026.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Stark, what steps have made imes-icore what it is today?
Christoph Stark: There is not one single step, but rather the journey was crucial. The most important step was the founding 23 years ago. I had already developed two dental systems on a private basis and saw that there were no complete CAD/CAM systems in the market for laboratory use that produced dental restorations. So we developed such a complete system. What is decisive is our innovative power. Over these 23 years, we have set many standards that are now used worldwide. These constant innovations have allowed us to keep growing.
Wirtschaftsforum: How is imes-icore positioned today?
Christoph Stark: The main site is here in Eiterfeld with about 270 employees. We have two subsidiaries in Germany: one in Hanau for complex milling services and one in Leinfelden for the production of ceramic materials. Additionally, we have daughters in Las Vegas and Singapore for service and support. We are represented in about 100 countries and sell to around 120 specialized dealers. The complete development of mechanics, electronics, and software, with the optimal workflow, occurs in-house.
Wirtschaftsforum: How has the development been in recent years?
Christoph Stark: Until 2023, we were always growing. 2024 and 2025 were more challenging. Growth is currently suspended, the whole world is in a crisis mode. However, we are using this time to implement new developments and plan to grow again in 2026 with a large innovation surge. The Chinese will always be able to assemble components more cheaply than we can. But innovative strength is what made us grow in the past and should give us an edge today. Something special can always be sold, but being one of many is a problem in tough times.
Wirtschaftsforum: You speak of revolutionary developments. What's coming to the market?
Christoph Stark: We have developed a new hybrid technology that does not yet exist on the market. It combines additive and subtractive manufacturing processes in one system. The big advantage is that we can utilize the strengths of both technologies and compensate for the weaknesses of each other. We are largely independent of material, can process ceramics and plastics, mill the framework from titanium for example in the same machine system, and apply the complete ceramic veneering of the teeth additively. We aim not only to produce the world's most beautiful dental prostheses but also the functionally best.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does artificial intelligence play at imes-icore?
Christoph Stark: We started digitalization six or seven years ago. All our machines from the past few years are connected to the internet and registered. We have developed the 'DentalSmartMarket' for this purpose – a comprehensive and award-winning platform that connects end customers, dealers, us, the webshop, and all IoT data from the machines. When the machine issues a message, the user immediately receives a digital support message on their machine: 'Attention, perform the following steps.' The system also keeps track of when materials and tools are almost used up and automatically asks whether they should be reordered. Now we are integrating various AI components with special functions. For example, dental prostheses no longer need to be intricately designed by a dental technician. The software makes an almost perfect suggestion within seconds through AI-supported functions, which only needs to be minimally modified.
Wirtschaftsforum: From your perspective, what are the reasons for the success of imes-icore?
Christoph Stark: Our strength is clearly having our own mechanics, electronics, and software development completely in-house. In the first 15 years, we not only built dental machines but also special machines in the industry sector - machines that no one wanted to build because they were very specific applications. This DNA - that a challenge comes and we immediately think about a solution and implement it quickly - that is our strength. But this can only be done if you have access to your own complete development team and are independent of buying in know-how. Here, however, I also see a structural problem: it's a shame that there are fewer and fewer good technicians or those who want to learn interesting technology. Nowadays, young people unfortunately no longer sit in the basement assembling or soldering things together, thus creating something new. Because of this, we are losing innovative power for new developments in Germany.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is your vision for imes-icore?
Christoph Stark: Naturally, to continue developing and remain the technical leader worldwide with the best dental systems. Along with that, we want to grow and would like to reach the 100-million-EUR revenue mark. We hope to achieve this in the coming years with new, innovative products and digital automation. You don't have to be the biggest with the highest revenue. But we want to offer the best products in this industry, which can create the best dental prostheses worldwide.