Align Technology completes integration with Invisalign Australia

Align Technology, Inc. has completed the transition of its Asia Pacific region from a distributor model back to a direct sales model as of May 1, 2013. Sales, marketing and support for Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore will now be provided directly by Align Technology following acquisition of the distributor for these regions. In 2012, the Asia Pacific distributor accounted for approximately 3% of revenue worldwide.

"The Asia Pacific region represents one of the key growth opportunities for Align over the next three to five years and we are excited to be directly involved and engaged in customer relationships and opportunities in this region," said Julie Tay, Align vice president Asia Pacific.

There are already nearly 80,000 Invisalign trained doctors worldwide who have treated more than 2.2 million patients with Invisalign. More than 2,000 of these doctors practice in the markets of Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore; Align's goal is to engage more directly with these customers as part of the Company's commitment to improving the customer and patient experience and to invest in clinical research regionally.

Align remains the leader in clear aligner therapy, continually introducing new developments for the Invisalign system. Recent innovations include the launch of Invisalign SmartTrack™ aligner material, a highly elastic material which delivers a gentle, more constant force to improve the control of tooth movement and finishing; SmartForce features for more predictable tooth movements; Precision Cuts designed for easier treatment of Class II and III patients with Invisalign; new ClinCheck software designed to reduce ClinCheck treatment plan revisions, and the integration of iTero scanning procedures for the enhancement of record accuracy, treatment efficiency, and overall patient experience.

While research and development and product innovation are key priorities for Align, Invisalign Australia has been working hard to increase demand for orthodontics amongst a whole new market of image conscious professionals. Research shows that more than twice as many Australian adults would consider straightening their teeth with Invisalign vs. traditional braces,¹ with teeth topping the list of facial features most women would like to improve.¹ In the last two years alone, Invisalign has seen traffic to its Australian website triple.

Align Technology's commitment to clinical development, coupled with an unmatched understanding of the market potential, ensures Invisalign Australia is well placed to continue pushing the boundaries of opportunity for doctors, solidifying Invisalign's place as the market leader in clear aligner therapy.

1. Research conducted by Galaxy on behalf of Invisalign Australia in June 2011. The sample was 1,007 respondents aged 18-39 years from across Australia.