Be a Digital Design Center

Industry veteran Mike Girard, owner of Diadem Digital Solutions in Troy, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, is aware that many lab owners feel overwhelmed and are "frozen" as to how to proceed in this new digital age. There are many who want to sell their lab but may not be able to attract a buyer in this climate. "If they keep going, it's not just their age and keeping up with new materials, but the new equipment and its associated costs combined with the state of our economy that makes this a very scary time," he says. "But with collaboration, you don't have to do it alone or go deep into debt to do it."

Any lab owner willing to reinvent his business can recognize the value of becoming a "digital design center," says Girard. "At a minimum all they need is 3Shape's CAD design software at a cost of $6,500. The cost of the full system, software and scanner is about $25,000-$30,000 depending on which software options are selected."

Because Diadem...