Day one kicked off with early flights from the UK to Italy, as we began our visit to the iDENT custom manufacturing facility in Bologna ahead of our launch of this exciting new custom product range.

After touching down, we headed straight in for a warm welcome lunch — the perfect setting to ease into what would become a seriously impressive (and seriously enjoyable) few days.

The afternoon began with presentations from the iDENT global leadership team, including the Head of Product Development. Rather than just skimming the surface, they took us deep into the full iDENT portfolio — custom restorative solutions, manufacturing capabilities, workflows, materials and the philosophy behind how everything is built.

It wasn’t just “this is what we make.”
It was why it’s made that way, and how it supports clinicians and laboratories to deliver fully customised, full-arch and complex restorations with confidence.

Then came the part everyone had been waiting for — the full factory tour.

The group moved through every stage of the iDENT custom manufacturing process, seeing first-hand how their digital designs are transformed into precise, beautiful restorations:

• Digital workflows and production management
• Quality control and validation processes
• High-precision milling
• Metal processing and laser sintering
• 3D printing
• Final packaging and dispatch

There’s something powerful about seeing it all in action. Screens turn into machines. Designs turn into frameworks. And theory turns into tangible, engineered reality.

The transparency was refreshing. No smoke and mirrors. Just precision, systems and people who genuinely care about quality.

Attendees were also treated to a sneak peek of ScanLogiQ — a solution built specifically for full-arch scanning, and one that works with any intraoral scanner.

No restrictions. No closed ecosystems. Just smart workflow.

ScanLogiQ has been designed to remove the guesswork from complex implant cases. And when it’s combined with iDENT milling, it allows us to offer something that no-one else can in full-arch dentistry:

GUARANTEED PASSIVE FIT!

Not “we hope it fits.”
Not “it should be fine.”

Guaranteed.

For clinicians and technicians working on full-arch implant restorations, that level of predictability is a serious step forward — fewer surprises, fewer remakes, and far more confidence from scan to final delivery.

It’s one of those moments where you can feel the room shift slightly — because everyone knows what that means in the real world.

Evening — Bologna

After a full day inside the iDENT facility, we wanted to experience Bologna properly.

We headed to the historic piazza in the centre of the city and arrived at 051 Osteria for an authentic tasting menu of traditional Italian cuisine — and it didn’t disappoint. Course after course of regional dishes, great wine, and a table full of awesome people!

If you’re ever in Bologna, I highly recommended a visit!

What made the evening valuable, though, wasn’t just the food. It was the atmosphere. With clinicians, technicians, and senior management from both IPD and iDENT all seated together, the conversation flowed naturally.

There was no agenda. No slides. No time pressure.

Just technician-to-technician discussions about workflows, case challenges, materials, tolerances and how to improve predictability. Questions were asked openly and answered honestly. Ideas were exchanged without formality.

It was a reminder that while digital systems and manufacturing precision matter hugely, strong partnerships are built in moments like these — around a table, with time to talk properly.

A fitting end to a very full first day.

Day two began early, with the group heading back to the airport for the short flight from Bologna to Barcelona. After a busy first day, there was a quiet sense of anticipation — Italy had set the tone, and now it was time to see the bigger picture.

On arrival in Barcelona, we were transferred to the impressive IPD facility, where the entire team was waiting to welcome us.

Lunch came first — a generous spread of traditional Spanish tapas that set the mood perfectly. Informal, relaxed, and a great way to reconnect before diving back into the technical detail.

The afternoon began with a series of presentations exploring the IPD portfolio, highlighting the unique intricacies, advantages and innovations behind its restorative systems. The focus wasn’t just on products, but on the thinking behind them — how design, compatibility and manufacturing discipline combine to deliver consistent clinical outcomes.

Then came the full facility tour.

Seeing the scale of the operation first-hand brought everything into perspective:

• Over 50 milling machines running simultaneously
• Strict adherence to OEM manufacturers’ tolerances
• Rigorous, systemised quality assurance procedures
• Structured packaging, stock management and global dispatch

The emphasis throughout was consistency. Processes built to remove variability. Manufacturing designed around repeatability and control.

The tour also took us briefly back in time, tracing IPD’s growth from humble beginnings to becoming a recognised global leader in digital restorative dentistry. It was a reminder that what we see today has been built steadily — through investment, refinement and a clear long-term vision.

After the factory tour, the focus shifted back to practical workflows — this time diving deeper into full-arch protocols with ScanLogiQ and Exocad.

The group were taken through the complete process, from scan validation right through to manufacturing. It wasn’t just a surface-level overview; it was a detailed look at how each stage connects, and where predictability is either built in… or lost.

Seeing the workflow mapped out end-to-end helped bring everything together, and really demonstrated the power of the complete IPD restorative ecosystem. Planning, validation and production weren’t separate conversations anymore — they were clearly part of the same chain.

Delegates then rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on split-bar / iBar-style design session in EXOCAD, led by Anselmo, our very own Level 3 Ultimate EXOCAD trainer.

This was practical, real-world training — not theory.

Clinicians and technicians worked through design strategies that directly influence manufacturing accuracy and, ultimately, passive fit. Small decisions in EXOCAD were shown to have measurable consequences downstream. It reinforced a simple but powerful idea:

What you design is what gets manufactured.

By the end of the session, the connection between digital planning and physical outcome felt far clearer — and far more controllable.

A few beers on La Rambla, followed by dinner at El Nacional delivered exactly what was needed — a feast of shared tapas, great wine, and a relaxed atmosphere where the day’s technical conversations gradually gave way to laughter and stories. It was the perfect setting to unwind after a packed schedule of manufacturing tours and hands-on workflow training.

From there, the evening gathered momentum.

Drinks led to a karaoke bar (with varying levels of talent on display), and eventually to a late visit to Pacha. By that point, the formalities of the day were well and truly behind us.

It was a full day — serious education by daylight, and proper socialising by night — rounded off in a way that nobody will forget any time soon.

The final day was set aside for something a little slower.

With the formal programme complete, the group enjoyed a walking tour of Barcelona, taking in the city’s architecture, waterfront and atmosphere — with plenty of stops along the way for food, drinks and the odd coffee to restore balance after the night before.

It was a welcome change of pace.

After two intense days of manufacturing insight, workflow deep-dives and hands-on training, the opportunity to step back and reflect felt valuable. Conversations shifted from “how does that tolerance work?” to “how can we apply this when we’re back home?”

As everyone prepared to head back to the UK, there was a shared sense that the trip had delivered exactly what it set out to do — not just education, but clarity, alignment and stronger working relationships.

A relaxed end to a packed few days — and plenty to take back into daily practice and laboratory workflows.

Seeing the entire digital ecosystem that we offer at Online-Dental.uk — from planning and scanning through to manufacturing and quality control — changes perspective.

When clinicians and laboratories understand how each stage connects to the next, confidence grows. Decisions feel more informed. Outcomes feel more predictable.

By aligning EXOCAD planning, ScanLogiQ validation, iDENT custom milling, and IPD restorative solutions, the workflow becomes powerful and cohesive. A more comprehensive solution to restoring dental implants you will struggle to find.

The result isn’t just efficiency — it’s control.

Control over tolerances.
Control over fit.
Control over outcomes.

And in complex full-arch cases, that level of alignment is what makes truly passive-fit restorations not just possible — but predictable.