W&H has been recognised as one of Austria’s 250 most innovative companies and has received the 2025 Innovation Award from the ÖGVS. The recognition was based on the company’s patent activity between May 2024 and Jun 2025. With 194 patents filed and granted worldwide, W&H remains committed to advancing medical technology.
Thomas Lang, chief technology officer at the W&H Group, stated that the company’s development and engineering capabilities are key contributors to its progress. “Around 100 R&D employees work on innovations that aim to support healthcare professionals in providing high-quality care to their patients,” he said.
Innovation in medical technology
W&H’s patented developments are designed to enhance clinical performance across international markets. Among its innovations is a sterilisable five-times ring LED, designed to provide shadow-free illumination directly at the treatment site. This feature aims to assist dentists in achieving precision and visibility, particularly in areas that are difficult to access. Looking ahead, Thomas Lang noted that digitisation and artificial intelligence are expected to play an increasingly significant role in dentistry. “In X-ray technology, for instance, we have recently filed two new patents covering both software and hardware aspects,” he said.
Research and development for over 130 years
Innovation has been part of W&H’s operations for over 130 years. The company, originally founded as Weber & Hampel, filed its first patent in 1893. Today, approximately 194 patents across 70 patent families protect its technologies in regions including Europe and the US. According to Ralf Benda from W&H’s intellectual property team, patents remain integral to the company’s strategy. “They help protect our technologies, maintain our competitive position, and differentiate our products in the market,” he stated.
All images courtesy of W&H.
