48 hours in China: my trip to the Eighteeth factory, and why I think they'll shape the next decade of dentistry

From 18 to 21 October 2026, I was in China as Eighteeth's guest, visiting their factory in Changzhou, about 165 km by rail from Shanghai. I spent roughly 36 hours in the air and about 48 hours on the ground in China, and I came home more convinced than ever that Eighteeth's products, and the speed at which they respond, will shape the dental market over the next decade.

Getting there: Abu Dhabi, then the fast train

I flew in via Abu Dhabi, which made for a long flight. Eighteeth had sent me clear directions: take the train into Shanghai's main station, then on across to the factory. All in, that took a couple of hours.

The trains were incredible. I'd seen Chinese trains on travel shows and was ready to be impressed, and as anyone who's bought a train ticket in the UK will know, rail travel at home isn't cheap. Business class was only around $40, so I felt like splurging to experience the super efficient, super smooth service for myself. A journey of a similar length in the UK would easily have cost me £150–£250. Business class is a small cabin at the front of the train, a step above first and second class, and it felt more like an airline's front cabin than a train. The line between Shanghai and Changzhou is built for up to 350 km/h, and the quickest services do the journey in well under an hour. It certainly felt fast.

I was met by Devin, who looks after 360 Visualise's account in Europe. He took me out for a proper local dinner. Anyone who knows me knows I'm famously cautious about trying new food, so Devin nudged me well outside my comfort zone. I'm glad he did: our hosts were generous, the food was a world away from my usual, and it was great fun.

The factory tour

The next day a bus took us out to the factory for a tour. Eighteeth is only around ten years old, yet the site is huge. There were robots and production lines everywhere, making everything from endo motors and surgical motors to CBCT machines and intraoral scanners. It was truly impressive.

It was great to see my friend Byron Tsivos, who holds an MSc in Endodontics from the Eastman Dental Institute, on Eighteeth's wall of key opinion leaders (KOLs) from around the world. We've worked together since Byron bought his CBCT from 360V in 2018, and it was Byron who introduced Devin and me in late 2025.

Back at the hotel: thank you, and the next ten years

The conference itself was held back at our hotel, Le Méridien Changzhou. Many hundreds of distributors from all over the world were there. The point of the event was to thank existing dealers for their support over the past ten years and to set out the plan for the next ten. The theme was "Designed for the Next Decade". 360 Visualise has been working with Eighteeth for less than a year, so it was a real privilege to be in the room, and the whole event was managed fantastically.

At the awards ceremony that evening, I'm proud to say Simon Tao, Eighteeth's CEO, presented me with Eighteeth's Strategic Partnership Award on behalf of 360 Visualise, at the 2026 Sifary Global Partner Conference and New Product Launch. I also met Ivy Tan, who leads Eighteeth's marketing, and I want to thank Simon and Ivy for their hospitality. The day finished with a lovely banquet.

The product I was most excited about: the SideLab P1

Of everything I saw, the product that excited me most was Eighteeth's new chairside printer, the SideLab P1. Combined with the Helios intraoral scanner and Eighteeth's AI-enabled design software, it makes it simple for any dentist to scan, design and print a chairside crown in around 20 minutes. That means faster treatment and less chair time for the patient, and lower costs and more profit for the practice. I've written more about chairside 3D printing of permanent crowns and bridges.

Shanghai, and Molly Zhao

The next morning I took the train back to Shanghai and went suit shopping. There I met Molly Zhao, who runs a suits and tailoring business in Shanghai. Molly measured me for suits, I had some shirts made, and I bought my wife some trousers, made to match a pair of hers that I'd brought with me. They're all arriving by post next week. If you're heading to Shanghai, message me for Molly's details.

Then it was off to the airport, and I made it home in time for my daughter's 11th birthday, which was the whole mission.

All photos: Pete Donnelly, October 2026.

What struck me about China

I was so impressed with China. People were friendly, and when you smiled at them, they smiled back. I had imagined it might feel oppressive, but it really wasn't at all. I've been to Hong Kong before, and mainland China is a very different place.

It was easy to get around, and people were eager to talk and to try their English with me. Shanghai, a city of nearly 25 million people, was genuinely impressive: modern, clean and full of energy.

I enjoyed it so much that I'm now thinking about going back on holiday with my family. We'd been planning a trip to Tokyo, but Shanghai might just give it a run for its money.

Why I think Eighteeth will shape the next decade

Eighteeth is the dental brand of Changzhou Sifary Medical Technology Co., Ltd, founded in 2016 in Changzhou. According to the company's own profile, its products reach 154 countries and regions and it has a team of more than 700 people. In 2023 Eighteeth announced the acquisition of ZHEAN Healthcare, the developer of the Helios intraoral scanners.

Seeing it in person, I believe their products and their response times will shape the dental market for the next ten years. In my experience, what dentists remember about a supplier isn't the day the kit arrives. It's what happens when they need help, a fix or an update. A manufacturer that builds this much in-house and moves this quickly puts pressure on the whole market to do the same.

What it means for 360V and 360D customers

I'm very excited about what the partnership between 360 Visualise, 360 Dental and Eighteeth means for the future. At 360 Visualise we supply the Helios 700 and Helios 500 intraoral scanners and the SideLab P1, installed, trained and supported by our UK team. Pairing a manufacturer that responds quickly with proper UK support is exactly what our customers should expect. If you place implants, the surgical motors I saw on the production line are well worth a look alongside the OXY implants from 360 Dental.

See the SideLab P1 →Which CBCT?

FAQ

Where is Eighteeth based?

Eighteeth is the brand of Changzhou Sifary Medical Technology Co., Ltd, founded in 2016 in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China, about 165 km by rail from Shanghai.

How long is the train from Shanghai to Changzhou?

The fastest high-speed services take well under an hour on a line built for up to 350 km/h; most take around an hour.

Who developed the Helios intraoral scanners?

ZHEAN Healthcare, which Eighteeth announced it had acquired in 2023.

What award did 360 Visualise receive?

Eighteeth's Strategic Partnership Award, presented at its 2026 partner conference in Changzhou.

Where can I get Eighteeth products in the UK?

360 Visualise supplies, installs and supports Eighteeth Helios scanners and the SideLab P1.