Santa Maria Sun / News

It's official: DenMat is moving to Lompoc

The long-anticipated move by one of Santa Maria’s largest employers became official when DenMat leaders on May 16 confirmed the company’s relocation to Lompoc.

“Our current and future space needs dictate a move to a facility where we can consolidate operations under one roof, as well as provide room for expansion,” DenMat CEO Steve Semmelmayer said in a press release. “Many of our employees have been with DenMat for quite a few years, so finding a location that was as close as possible to Santa Maria was very important to us.”

Founded by Santa Maria dentist Robert Ibsen in 1974, DenMat put down roots in Santa Maria and grew to international prominence. At one time, the company manufactured Ibsen’s Rembrandt teeth-whitening toothpaste, and later moved on to porcelain veneer technology with products such as Lumineers, Snap-On Smile, and LumiTray. Ibsen sold the company to New York-based DLJ in 2007. Today, DenMat distributes its products to dentists in more than 68 countries.

 DenMat’s management said they expect to relocate the company’s more than 350 employees to the new facility at 1017 W. Central Ave. over the next six months, beginning in June. The building currently houses Central Plastics.

“We thank the Santa Maria Economic Development Commission and others who tirelessly helped us in our search for an appropriate building in Santa Maria,” the company’s chief administrative officer, Todd Tiberi, said in a statement. “After an extensive search of the Central Coast, with a focus on Santa Maria, only one building met our needs—the building in Lompoc.

“We also appreciate the responsiveness and important support of Lompoc’s mayor and his Economic Development office,” he added.

Lompoc Mayor John Linn was excited about the move, telling the Sun it would bring the city its third largest private employer.

“Life is good,” Linn said. “We’re certainly happy to have them in our valley. They’ll be a great addition. We’re fortunate we had a building for them and brought them our way.”