What Pelton & Crane does

Pelton & Crane is a US-based dental operatory equipment manufacturer founded in 1900 by Dr. Richard Pelton and Earnest Crane, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company designs and sells a comprehensive portfolio of physical dental practice equipment, including Spirit-series dental chairs (1700, 1800, 3300, 3000), Helios LED operatory lights (Helios 1800 and Helios 3000) with patented reflective optics and a no-cure setting, multi-configuration delivery units (1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 3800 series), and cabinetry across Renaissance, Centennial, Classic, Caseworx, and Millennium lines. Add-on offerings include the Solaris 2 sterilization center, Flex Arm monitor mount, RM30 assistant's unit, Spirit stools, and waterline treatment solutions; an Interactive Design Center configurator supports online operatory specification across Premier, Advantage, and Essential packages.

The company is a privately held subsidiary of KaVo Kerr, a global dental conglomerate whose portfolio reaches an estimated 99% of dental offices worldwide. Distribution is executed through KaVo Kerr's enterprise channel plus direct customer and technical support (phone, email, fax) operating from the Charlotte facility. Revenue is generated primarily through B2B hardware sales of operatory equipment and replacement parts/accessories on a quote-based pricing model, with no public price list and pricing determined by configuration and customer requirements; the company also maintains an extensive US patent portfolio covering lights, chairs, units, monitors, and sterilization cabinetry.

Pelton & Crane's go-to-market is enterprise field sales into dental practices, supported by a website resource center containing Use and Care manuals, installation documentation, product videos, and technical support content. The company's value proposition rests on a 125-year brand legacy (including the 1932 invention of the first dental operatory light), ergonomic and patient-comfort design, configurable product lines, and embedded access to KaVo Kerr's installed base and global distribution network.

Name

Pelton & Crane

Legal name

Pelton & Crane

Website

https://peltonandcrane.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pelton & Crane, founded in 1900 and headquartered in Charlotte, NC, manufactures dental operatory equipment—chairs, LED lights, delivery systems, and cabinetry—sold to dental practices worldwide through the KaVo Kerr distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (339114)

SIC

Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843)

akta.pro primary industry

Dental & Oral Care Devices (Dental Units, Handpieces, Imaging) (HLAMAFAD)

Keywords

• Dental equipment manufacturing
• Dental operatory equipment
• Dental cabinetry systems
• Dental chair systems
• Sterilization equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dental Equipment Sales: Pelton & Crane generates revenue through the sale of dental operatory equipment including chairs, lights, delivery systems, and cabinets to dental practices worldwide.
2. Parts and Accessories: Sale of replacement parts, service manuals, and technical documentation for Pelton & Crane dental equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Pelton & Crane manufactures and sells dental operatory equipment, including dental chairs (Spirit line), LED operatory lights (Helios line), cabinetry (Renaissance, Centennial, Classic), delivery systems, sterilization centers, stools, and waterline treatment systems. The company serves dental practices, dental service organizations, and dental education facilities with integrated physical equipment for clinical operatories.

Product overview

Pelton & Crane is a dental equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of operatory products. The company provides dental chairs under the Spirit line (1700, 1800, 3300, 3000 series), LED dental lights under the Helios line (1800, 3000) featuring reflective technology and no-cure settings, delivery systems in multiple configurations (1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 3800 series), and cabinetry under Renaissance, Centennial, Classic, Caseworx, and Millennium lines. Additional offerings include the Solaris 2 sterilization center, Alliance delivery system, Flex Arm Monitor Mount, RM30 assistant's units, Spirit stools, and waterline treatment solutions. The company also provides an Interactive Design Center tool for operatory customization. Pelton & Crane is part of KaVo Kerr, a global leader in dental diagnostic and treatment solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spirit: Spirit dental chairs offering a wide variety of options and features for practitioners of any stature, designed with thoughtful features to improve workflow and ensure patient comfort.
• Helios
• Renaissance
• Centennial
• Classic
• Solaris
• Alliance

Products and services

• Spirit Dental Chairs Patient dental chairs designed for use in dental operatories; intended for dental practices and DSOs outfitting or refreshing clinical operatories with ergonomic, durable seating for patients during procedures.
• Helios LED Dental Operatory Lights LED dental operatory lights providing illumination for dental procedures; intended for dental practices and DSOs equipping operatories with energy-efficient task lighting.
• Renaissance Operatory Cabinetry Modular cabinetry system designed for dental operatories, providing storage and workspace integration; intended for dental practices and DSOs building out or refreshing operatories with coordinated casework.
• Centennial Operatory Cabinetry Operatory cabinetry line providing storage and workspace for dental practices; intended for dental practices and DSOs outfitting operatories.
• Classic Operatory Cabinetry Standard operatory cabinetry line for dental practices; intended for dental practices seeking base-level storage and workspace configurations for operatories.
• Dental Delivery Systems Delivery systems that integrate handpieces, air/water utilities, and controls at the dental chair; intended for dental practices equipping operatories with functional instrumentation delivery.
• Sterilization Centers Dedicated sterilization centers for processing contaminated dental instruments; intended for dental practices and DSOs requiring compliant instrument reprocessing workflows.
• Dental Stools Ergonomic seating for dentists and dental assistants at the chair; intended for dental practices equipping operatories with practitioner seating.
• Waterline Treatment Systems Treatment systems for dental unit waterlines to control biofilm and maintain water quality; intended for dental practices seeking compliance with dental unit water quality standards.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KaVo KerrflagshipOthersPelton & Crane is part of KaVo Kerr, a global leader in innovative products servicing 99% of dental offices worldwide. The KaVo Kerr portfolio of brands and products enable dental diagnosis and treatment solutions spanning restoratives, digital imaging solutions, treatment units, rotary instruments, laboratory equipment, infection prevention and practice education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midmark: Midmark manufactures dental chairs, delivery systems, lighting, and cabinetry for dental practices. Direct competitor to Pelton & Crane in operatory equipment, targeting the same dental office customer with comparable ergonomic and workflow-focused designs.
• Belmont Equipment: Belmont Equipment (Takara Belmont) manufactures dental chairs, delivery units, lights, and cabinetry for dental practices. Direct peer to Pelton & Crane, with strong US presence in mid-tier dental operatories.
• Planmeca: Planmeca is a Finnish dental equipment manufacturer producing dental chairs, delivery units, lights, and imaging systems. Comparable to Pelton & Crane in operatory equipment focus, with similarly strong international distribution and a strong engineering-led brand positioning.
• A-dec: A-dec is a leading dental operatory equipment manufacturer producing chairs, delivery systems, lights, and cabinetry. It is the most direct competitor to Pelton & Crane, selling into the same US/global dental practice customer base with overlapping product lines.
• DentalEZ (StarDental): DentalEZ manufactures dental equipment including chairs, delivery systems, and cabinetry under brands like Star and Forest. Direct competitor to Pelton & Crane, serving the US dental practice market with a comparable product portfolio.

Regional players

• Anthos (Cefla Dental): Anthos, part of Cefla Dental, is an Italian dental equipment manufacturer producing chairs, units, and lights. Comparable to Pelton & Crane in operatory equipment but with stronger European vs. North American distribution focus.
• Heka Dental: Heka Dental is a European dental unit and chair manufacturer with comparable operatory equipment offering to Pelton & Crane, primarily serving the European and Scandinavian dental practice markets.

Broad incumbents

• Dentsply Sirona: Dentsply Sirona is the largest global dental equipment and consumables conglomerate, offering dental chairs, imaging (Cerec), and CAD/CAM systems. Overlaps with Pelton & Crane in dental operatory equipment but operates much broader in consumables, imaging, and digital workflows.
• KaVo (sister brand under Envista): KaVo is the sister dental equipment brand under the same Envista/KaVo Kerr parent as Pelton & Crane, offering competing chairs, units, and instruments. While corporate siblings, KaVo directly competes with Pelton & Crane in dental operatory equipment globally.

Emerging players

• XO Care: XO Care is a Danish dental equipment manufacturer producing premium dental chairs and units. Comparable to Pelton & Crane in dental operatory focus, though smaller scale and more niche/premium positioning, particularly in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pelton & Crane