gb Implantat-Technologie GmbH

Krupp sets up a military hospital.

Krupp obtains a concession to operate the hospital as a general hospital.

The 'Krupp dental clinic' for employees is opened.

Krupp develops stainless steel and markets it under the designation V2A.

Krupp receives the patent for 'artificial replacement parts for internal application in the human or animal body, especially replacement masticatory parts'. At the Krupp dental clinic the first fully functioning stainless steel dentures are produced.

Sections of the dental clinic's laboratory are combined to become the Krupp steel denture fabrication unit.

Krupp stainless steel for dental applications is given the trade name WIPLA.

The metallurgical research department works in co-operation with the Krupp steel denture fabrication unit on the development of a nearly iron-free alloy.

Krupp introduces a cobalt-chromium alloy to the market whose main advantages are still reflected today in BIOSIL and BIOCAST.

Krupp introduces a nickel-free CoCrMo casting alloy to the market.

Krupp melts titanium.

The first orthopaedic implants are cast and implanted.

The first tests on the MEMORY alloy (NiTi) for aerospace and medical applications are carried out at the Krupp research institute.

Specially for surgical and orthopaedic implants, ENDOCAST® - a nickel-free casting alloy, which is outstanding for its particularly high elongation at fracture, high strength and corrosion-resistance - is developed.

Using a special technique, the nickel-free CoCrMo-alloy ENDOCAST® is rendered malleable, and the mechanical properties are improved; the forge alloy is called ENDOCAST® SL.
The new material for thermally activated implants and components - MEMORY (NiTi) with its shape-memory capability – opens up new methods in medical engineering.

The first permanent implants made from MEMORY (NiTi) are used.

A process for manufacturing hollow prostheses is developed.

Laser surface-structuring for implant components is introduced.

The division 'implants' of Krupp Medizintechnik is taken over by Dr. Günter Bensmann in the course of a management buy-out. The gb Implantat-Technologie GmbH is founded by him and his wife Birgit Bensmann.

ENDOCAST® SL is also introduced as an alloy for fixed dentures.

ENDOCAST® SL is used to manufacture wires with a maximum diameter of 0.25 mm as laser welding wire.

An ENDOCAST® SL-type with high carbon content is developed and produced.