Dental EZ creating new jobs in Bay Minette, Ala.

The Dental EZ Group will move part of a South Dakota subsidiary to Bay Minette, creating more than 20 new jobs at its factory there.

Ed Holland, the vice president of operations, said the company has asked employees of its RAMVAC division, who assemble vacuum pumps and air compressors for dental uses at a plant in Spearfish, S.D., to move to Baldwin County.

The Bay Minette plant, which now has about 80 employees, makes chairs, stools, lights, cabinets and other furniture for dental offices.

Holland said the company, based in Malvern, Pa., hopes the move will cut costs. DentalEZ has empty space in its 100,000-square-foot building on Alabama 59 in southern Bay Minette, while it is renting space in South Dakota.

"Everybody has been extended an invitation to relocate," he said. "We've offered to pay a relocation stipend. Our desire would be that they all come."

For now at least, the company will leave six customer service and technical support employees in South Dakota, Holland said. That's meant to prevent customers from feeling any disruptions.

"It's a very competitive market we're in," he said. "Our customers who buy from us want a combination of equipment and people they're dealing with."

DentalEZ bought RAMVAC earlier this decade.

Holland said that the company will have to pay to finish out space for the workers, but doesn't plan any major capital spending. He said the company might ask Alabama Industrial Development Training to train new workers if some people don't move, but doesn't anticipate seeking any other government assistance or incentives.

"That's a great company, and we'd love to have them here," said Bob Higgins of Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. He said the business recruiting group has been talking to DentalEZ about the possible relocation for several years.

Holland said the company also has manufacturing facilities in Chicago, New York and Lancaster, Pa., but said no further moves are currently planned. Privately owned DentalEZ does not release annual revenue figures. Credit information provider Dun & Bradstreet earlier this year estimated annual revenues at $22.7 million.