For almost a decade, Smile Design Dental Laboratory has been creating a comfortable family atmosphere as well as beautiful restorations. It wasn't until last fall, though, that Owners Lenny Bushkanets, Albert Yudkovich and Alex Tsinberg were able to create a laboratory that reflected their aspirations and met their need for more space and a cleaner work environment for their 24 employees.
Their new home in Port Washington, NY, is 4,500 square feet, almost double the square footage of their old location in Great Neck, NY. Large windows spanning the length of the lab offer plenty of natural light as well as beautiful views of the Long Island Sound.
When Bushkanets, Yudkovich and Tsinberg decided to move to a new location, they contacted Handler Manufacturing, who had helped them design their first laboratory. Working with the blueprints of the empty space, Handler created a CAD-generated floor plan tailored to Smile Design's specifications. To save money, the owners refurbished about half of their original Handler benches that were still in good shape and added new ones, customizing the color as well as the layout of each bench.
Cleanliness was a priority in the new facility. For instance, the casting and model pouring departments are separated from the rest of the laboratory; frosted glass walls help maintain the feeling of openness. In addition, the entire lab is connected to the FZ-10 and FZ-5 Zubler Central Suction System from Microstar. Fully computerized, the system automatically adjusts its suction to match usage levels and separates out the scrap for refining. "It was a $100,000 investment, the biggest part of the renovation, but it's clean, quiet and totally worth the money," says Bushkanets.
