Melbourne-based SDI Limited stands as a global leader in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of cutting-edge dental materials. Specializing in dental restoratives (tooth fillings) and tooth whitening, SDI is committed to addressing the most prevalent health condition worldwide: tooth cavities.
SDI is at the forefront of pioneering ‘Minimal Intervention Dentistry,’ a paradigm shift in dental care that prioritizes prevention and patient comfort. This innovative approach aims to eliminate drills, reduce treatment time, and empower dentists to deliver easier, faster, and longer-lasting smiles to their patients.
With a reach extending to over 100 countries, SDI’s products are sold to dentists globally, with a remarkable 90% of sales directed to overseas markets. The company’s fully owned subsidiaries in the USA, Germany, and Brazil, coupled with sales teams in key regions like the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Czechia, Poland, Peru, and Canada, underscore its commitment to global dental health.
All of SDI’s products are manufactured in Victoria, a state in the south east region of Australia. Australian Export Awards 2023 International Health winner SDI is helping address this with its specialist dental materials, tooth fillings and tooth whitening products.
Headquartered in Melbourne, SDI Limited’s influence spans the globe. Its unwavering dedication to advancing dental materials and techniques underscores its pivotal role in transforming the landscape of oral health. SDI also has fully owned subsidiaries in the USA, Germany and Brazil with sales teams in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Czechia, Poland, Peru and Canada.
SDI was founded in 1972 by Jeffery James Cheetham – now the company chair – with pretty much the same remit of developing and manufacturing specialist dental materials. The company listed on the ASX in 1985.
SDI posted record sales of $50.5m for the December 2022 (first) half year, up nine percent year-on-year. However, stubbornly high costs limited the net profit increase to $2.7m, up 0.9%. The increased sales were spurred by both the new-world aesthetic and old-school amalgam products: the former gained eight percent to $47.4m, while the latter increased 17.8% to $17.4m.
The amalgam performance was helped by two dental giants exiting this market segment. Whitening products declined 18.7% to $28.9m, largely because of sales in inflation-ravaged France being not so magnifique.
UK demand was especially strong – which goes to show that Brits value pearly whites as well as stiff upper lips, in tough times. Europe accounted for 34% of revenue and North America 23%, with South America – mainly the beauty conscious Brazilians – contributing six percent.