Planmeca makes a comfortable attempt for record

Henry Schein Halas has made an attempt to enter the record books with a unique promotion it staged during the recent ADX. From the time the show opened at 12 noon on Friday May 26 until closing at 2pm on Sunday May 28 - a total of 50 hours - budding record setter Hugh McGinlay ate, drank, slept and entertained from a Planmeca chair on the company's stand.

"The idea of the promotion was to show just how comfortable Planmeca's dental chairs are," said Geoff Parkes, equipment manager at Henry Schein Halas. "It was a bit of fun and attracted the attention of many passers by who stopped and asked Hugh lots of questions over the three days. Anyone who was there at the end of the show could see how relaxed and comfortable he looked after 50 hours in the chair."

As part of the criteria set by the Guinness Book of World Records, Mr McGinlay was allowed a 5-minute break off the chair every two hours to go to the bathroom. For the rest of the time, he lived slightly above the ground in the purple Planmeca chair. Special permission was granted from the event organisers, the Australian Dental Industry Association, as well as the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre to allow overnight access. Mr Parkes said that subsequent to the show, they had completed all the necessary documentation and that the validity of the new world record was now being assessed.

"It's a very comfortable chair," Mr McGinlay said, "and I had no problem lasting for the 50 hours. I guess most people wouldn't dream of staying in a dentist's chair for this long but I had a great time. Lots of people asked questions and after hours, I could play DVDs on the unit's flat screen monitor. I could easily have lasted another 50 hours."

Mr McGinlay, a budding rock star with his own band, was working in the Henry Schein Halas warehouse in Melbourne at the time but was so impressed by the customers he spoke to at the show, he now works in customer service for the company.