Hygiene Matters

At IDS 2025, we had the chance to talk with Alberto Borghi, W&H product manager, about hygiene and reprocessing. With five new product launches in the hygiene sector alone, the medical technology company made a strong statement at this year’s IDS. We asked Alberto Borghi seven insightful questions – here’s his answers.

---

We are excited to hear about W&H's latest innovations in hygiene. Five new products at once – that's incredible! Can you give us an overview?

Sure! We're excited to showcase new products that truly reflect our commitment to innovation in hygiene and reprocessing. First, we have Lara XXL, our largest sterilizer to date, designed to meet high-capacity requirements. Then there's Lisa Mini, a small but incredibly flexible sterilizer. We're also introducing Thed and Thed+, our new thermal washer disinfectors that offer powerful cleaning, disinfection, and faster reprocessing times. Last but not least, we have U-Son, our new ultrasonic bath, designed to improve the cleaning process for dental instruments. These products all share our goal of providing our customers with advanced hygiene solutions.

The Lara XXL and Lisa Mini sterilizers are developed for different needs. What inspired the design of these two models?

Every market has its own needs, so having flexible sterilization solutions is key. Lisa Mini is designed to efficiently handle peak workloads, making it ideal for super quick reprocessing of specific items such as handpieces. Lara XXL, on the other hand, can process as much as two 17-litre sterilizers while taking up the same space, making it a real performance package in terms of efficiency and speed. Depending on what a clinic needs, these two can work perfectly together.

The genie campaign for the new washer disinfector, Thed, has certainly attracted attention. What was the reason for choosing a genie as the central theme for the product?

We picked the genie theme for Thed because, just like a genie, it grants every clinic's wishes. It’s the perfect symbol for what we want to express: Make a wish – Thed will make it happen. Thed and Thed+ provide powerful cleaning and disinfection, great flexibility with loads, and faster reprocessing times. With features like two washing levels and active air-drying with a HEPA filter, these units truly stand out in their class.

AIMS seems like a key initiative for W&H. What drove the creation of this step-by-step guide?

Our W&H AIMS Workflow was designed to make infection prevention simpler and thereby more effective. It guides users through the key steps of reprocessing, providing clear, practical tips and best practice examples along the way. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, it’s a useful tool to address important concerns such as safety, protective measures, and traceability. And, of course, it helps push hygiene standards forward in the healthcare industry, something we really care about, ensuring better safety for both practitioners and patients – 24/7.

How does W&H ensure that its solutions meet the evolving needs of dental professionals, especially when it comes to hygiene and reprocessing?

Hygiene and reprocessing are critical aspects in healthcare. At W&H, we are committed to becoming a global leader in reprocessing and infection control by tailoring our solutions to meet the unique needs of each market. To stay at the forefront, we’re constantly innovating – whether it’s with new devices, chemical products, or digital solutions like ioDent^® – to ensure that dental professionals have access to advanced technology for thorough reprocessing.

What sets your products apart from others on the market? What makes them the best choice for your customers?

What makes our products stand out is the way we combine digital innovation with added value for users. Digitization and connectivity are more than just buzzwords for us – we ensure our innovations deliver real benefits for our customers and enhance their daily work. Our customers want products that are innovative and help make their daily work easier. When sterilization equipment goes down, clinics can’t operate, so reliability is key. That’s where we come in – our proactive service approach lets dental teams focus on patient care rather than equipment management. With ioDent®, technical support is easier than ever. Technicians can access cycle reports, receive alarms and consumable notifications remotely, and even adjust sterilizer parameters without the need for an on-site visit. Plus, ioDent^® simplifies data storage and logbook creation for daily routine tests. In short, it's all about providing peace of mind for our customers.

W&H is known for its comprehensive hygiene portfolio.
What can we expect in terms of future developments?

Thankfully, the future’s full of surprises (Alberto smiles) – and while we can’t share everything just yet, our goal is clear. We aim to provide a comprehensive workflow, from handling used items to proper storage, designed to speed up and optimise the daily tasks of clinics.

Thank you for your time and insights!