Align Technology Inc.

Align Technology is a global manufacturer of 3D digital scanners and clear aligners for Orthodontics. This American company was founded in 1997 and as of 2020 was headquartered in San Jose, California. However its scanners are manufactured in Israel and China, and its aligners in Juarez, Mexico. The company has two primary patent products under its name - Invisalign and iTero. Invisalign is the world’s best clear aligner system that is engineered and developed with 20 years of innovation. The three noteworthy elements of this system are SmartTrack Material, SmartForce Features and SmartStaging Technology. On the other hand, iTero is an intraoral scanner that has been used in over 6 million restorative crowns, custom implants abutment and bridges. Align’s aim behind designing this scanner was to provide speed and reliability to general practitioners and professional orthodontists. This company in Redwood City, California, is a brainchild of five employees, who came up with an idea of leveraging technology to straighten teeth. Within 2 years, it invented Invisalign and pioneered the Invisible Orthodontics market. As of 2020, the company has over 17,200 employees working towards newer breakthroughs in the dental industry. It also rewards orthodontics programs that have brought significant changes in this field. In March 2011, Align acquired Cadent, an Israeli company that manufactures intraoral scanners including 3D imaging and software to display acquired images and plan treatment, for $190 million. Almost 8% of 3 million new orthodontic patients in North America used Invisalign products in 2016, and the same year its sales reached $1 billion for the first time. As of 2020, the company has catered to more than 9 million patients with its products. It has acquired a spot in both the S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ 100 as of 2020. Align shares are listed under the symbol ALGN, and it reached $491.91, its highest ever on November 5th 2020.