Align Technology to acquire digital scanning firm Cadent

Align Technology has agreed a deal to acquire Cadent Holdings as it seeks to expand its presence in the growing intra-oral scanning market.

The company has agreed a $190 million (118.59 million pounds) deal to purchase the New Jersey-based Cadent, which develops 3D digital scanning solutions for orthodontics and dentistry.

Products developed by Cadent include the iTero and iOC scanning devices, as well as other restorative dentistry and orthodontics offerings such as OrthoCAD iQ, OrthoCAD iCast and OrthoCAD iRecord.

The agreement comes after Align signed a deal in January 2011 to jointly develop new software for use with its Invisalign tooth alignment appliances that will be compatible with Cadent scanners.

Thomas Prescott, Align Technology's president and chief executive officer, said: "Cadent has a strong team of very talented people and a culture similar to ours with the drive, agility and speed necessary to continue delivering innovative solutions for our customers."

According to the firm's most recent fiscal report, Align saw a year-on-year revenue growth of 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.