Graham BlackbeardManaging Director, Southern Implants
Graham Blackbeard, has an MSc in Engineering. In 1983 and 1984 he was a Rotary Foundation Scholar at the Division of Artificial Organs at the University of Utah. He has developed and manufactured heart valves, artificial hearts, various dental implant products and orthopaedic arthroplasties.

In 1987 he established Southern Implants (Pty) Ltd. This is one of a very few multi-national companies, head quartered in South Africa. After 33 years, this South African manufacturer of Dental Implants has become a significant force in the international market by way of credible clinical data supporting an extensive and innovative product range. He has given presentations at the Academy of Osseointegration and the World Congress of Oral Implantology and the American Academy of Prosthodontics. He has co-authored a number of International Dental Implant Publications.

Approximately 80% of Southern Implants production is exported. It has established subsidiaries in the UK, USA, Australia, Spain and Swede. It has distributors in Russia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Chile, France, Benelux, Greece, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Portugal and New Zealand.

Southern Implants also design and manufactures a leading product range for the largest dental implant company in the world, based in Switzerland.

Southern Implants is one of the first companies to receive MDSAP certification and to take on the new European MDR Certification.

Graham has been a key player in the establishment of related Medical Device firms where he is a Shareholder or Director. These include Southern Medical (Pty) Ltd, Southern ENT (Pty) Ltd and Southern CMF (Pty) Ltd.