Arfona
Arfona operates a 3D printing and digital design service center for Valplast flexible partials, providing dental laboratories with digitally fabricated flexible partial dentures and restorations.
- CEO / Founder
- Justin Marks
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $15K
- Latest Round
- Seed
Technology & Products
Key Products
Valplast® Partial Denture (3D printed); Valplast® Nesbit Denture; Try-In Custom Impression Tray; Digital design services for removable prosthodontics
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: 'First dental printer powered by FFF technology' (VERIFIED in news: Inside Dental Technology, Dental Product Report). Proprietary thermoplastic PMMA filament formulation (FILAdent™). Exclusive partnership with Valplast Corporation provides material and market access. No identified patents published, but likely protected through trade secrets and Valplast partnership exclusivity.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides dental laboratories with 3D printed Valplast partial dentures and restorations with superior fit and aesthetics, reducing adjustment time and streamlining the digital workflow from scan to delivery.
How They Differentiate
Only manufacturer of FFF printer specifically optimized for Valplast flexible partial dentures. Competitors focus on rigid prosthetics (crowns, bridges) or clear aligners; Arfona owns the flexible denture digital fabrication niche. Direct-to-lab service model with proprietary design software creates switching costs and brand loyalty.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Dental laboratories; dental clinics; prosthodontists
Industry Verticals
Dental laboratory services; Dental clinics and practices; Prosthodontics
Competitors
Formlabs (ceramic/rigid dental SLA printers; focus on clear aligners and crowns); 3D Systems (dental division; multi-material printers for prosthodontics); Stratasys (dental FDM printers; primarily for prototyping, not flexible dentures)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
10–19 employees; $500K–$1M annual revenue (as of latest ZoomInfo update, date uncertain). Pre-order phase for r.Pod achieved 'exclusive pre-order' availability via Valplast distribution (announced Nov 2016). Award: Propelify Startup Competition winner (2016/2017 era).
Major Milestones
March 1, 2016 – Founded by Justin Marks; September 2016 – Announced joint distribution agreement with Valplast Corporation; r.Pod printer available for pre-order; December 2016 – First r.Pod printers delivered to beta customers; 2017 (approx.) – Won Propelify Startup Competition; 2018 – Announced r.Pod 3D Printer expansion into additional dental markets; 2019 – Launched FILAdent™ thermoplastic PMMA filament for multimaterial printing; April 2021 – Formed partnerships with Dentulu and Impress3D for patient access expansion; 2024+ – Ongoing market expansion and new product development
Notable Customers
Dental laboratories across North America (specific names not disclosed in public sources); Partnership distribution via Valplast Corporation network