PROFESSIONAL
OpticalLabProducts.com
O P T I C A L
L A B
2019
& IDEAS
FOR THE LABORATORY
MAY
PRODUCTS
P R O D U C T S One-to-One • PG 4
FOR YOUR LAB ONLY:
2019
A SYSTEM CUSTOMIZED FOR YOU PG 6
Business • PG 10
New for the Lab• PG 13
GIVE YOUR LAB THE
ULTRA ADVANTAGE • • •
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MAY 2019
1
In The Lab
CONTENTS
MAY 2019
OPINIONS
OPINIONS 01 02
In the Lab
04
One-to-One with Robb Kohn
Rollins on Marketing
FEATURES 03
Advisory Board Member Profile: Don Kirman
06
For Your Lab Only: A System Customized For You
08
Problem Solver
10
The Path To Automation
RUNDOWN 13 15
New for the Lab Lab News
EDITORIAL STAFF VP, EDITORIAL | John Sailer • JSailer@FVMG.com EDITOR | Cara Aidone Huzinec • CHuzinec@FVMG.com ART DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION & WEB MANAGER | Megan LaSalla • MLaSalla@FVMG.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | Eric Rollins • EricRollins@Comcast.net ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS | Ronald Cooke, Jr. • William Heffner, IV Don Kirman • Kenneth Lin • Tom Schroeder • Neil Torgersen
BUSINESS STAFF PUBLISHER | Terry Tanker • TTanker@FVMG.com VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING | Debby Corriveau • DCorriveau@FVMG.com REGIONAL SALES MANAGER | Eric Hagerman • EHagerman@FVMG.com
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Automation CONTEMPLATION
H
opefully those of you who attended Vision Expo East in March were able to take advantage of all its offerings, special deals, fun events, giveaways and the chance to take a look at new products for your lab. It was another successful show and a perfect chance to gear up for the May issue, which you’ll notice focuses on today’s buzzword in the lab industry—automation. When, why and how much to automate? Andy George, the owner of LBC Optics in New Berlin, WI, shed some light on this: Despite being a relatively smaller lab (LBC does about 450 jobs per day), George needed to be financially responsible (see page 10). He also knew he needed sophisticated equipment to keep up with demand. What did he do? He created a realistic plan that pretty much automated this lab in 10 years. OLP also spoke with FEA Industries owner William Heffner, III. He recently purchased RAX, an automated stock-handling system that has now provided FEA with complete, automated, accurate inventory management that has streamlined that side of his business (see page 8).
Getting back to LBC Optics, George said something that helped focus this broad topic of automation: that conveyor systems in optical labs are really what made true automation in the lab possible. With a conveyor, for the most part, gone are the days of having to walk jobs to different areas of the lab. On page 6, three manufacturers discuss what goes into the design of these systems and how they’ve evolved to improve efficiency. And Robb Kohn of A&R, featured in this month’s One to One section (page 4), did a great job of outlining the company’s products and how the company can work with any lab to design an automated system suited to its specific needs. And of course, I hope you enjoy learning about K Optical and its owner Don Kirman, another OLP Advisory Board member (page 3) and how his lab created its own technology to provide its customers with the services they also need to succeed.
Cara Huzinec is Editor of OLP. CHuzinec@FVMG.com.
MAY 2019
1
OPINIONS
Rollins on Marketing
SPRING Cleaning products and processes, and just get rid of dated materials. Here are some ideas to get you started.
By Eric Rollins
A
s we finally leave winter and head into spring, it’s time to get out the rakes and paint brushes at home and plan to do those home projects that were waiting for the freeze to be over. Maybe we need to also plan to do a spring cleaning in the lab to get better organized, make more room for new
Point of Purchase (POP) materials from vendors: These get dated pretty quickly and can be a huge clutter issue. If you have POP materials in your marketing department, do a quick check on them to decide which to send out to your customers and which are not current or not necessarily effective. When in doubt, throw it out! Product demonstrators from vendors: A lot of these are very effective at showing the performance of differing lens options, such as polarized lenses, anti-glare treatments, and blue light blockers. The problem is they don’t do any good sitting in your marketing department!
So get your sales force and customer service team involved in finding your customers who can use these great demonstrators to build sales volume for you and for your clients. Maybe turn this into a marketing promotion: When a customer buys/adopts a demonstrator, give them a spif for the next two months that is commensurate with the profitability of the product. For example, if they put in a polarized demonstrator, for the next two months give them a $10.00 per pair reward for each pair sold. The best result will be not only your sales and your clients’ sales increase, but also that your client may adopt a new “habit” of presenting polarized lenses to every patient.
a lot of dated stock. There are two good ways to reduce dated products. First, do the same thing you recommend to your customers — have a big sale on the products. The second great way to get them out the door is to have a “friends and family” sale for employees and family members of the lab. Taking care of your employees’ needs is always in season!
Eric Rollins is a veteran of the optical retail, frame and lab industries. His firm, Rollins Consulting, LLC, consults with the three Os to improve profitability. Email him at EricRollins@Comcast.net.
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MAY 2019
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Don Kirman
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
OLP WELCOMES DON KIRMAN
TO ITS ADVISORY BOARD “Practitioners are smart, recognize the value of local businesses, and do not want to be a number to excessively large operations.” Although his father was an optometrist, Don Kirman never envisioned a career in the optical industry. But when his brother, an optician who had opened an edging lab, had to leave the business, Kirman bought it from him. That was 1990, and since then, K Optical has expanded— both in people (including Kirman’s daughter Cara) and in space.
PERSONAL ATTENTION “We take a lot of pride in offering lenses produced with the latest technology in both materials and processing equipment,” he said. With a staff of 20 employees, K Optical prides itself on producing quality eyewear with attentive service. “We try to exceed patients’ expectations by providing complete, exceptional service from the time the job is ordered through surfacing and coating and finishing,” Kirman said. As far as equipment, Kirman said digital surfacing equipment is the key piece that enables the lab “to provide the best experience for the ECPs and their patients, which is what our lab is all about.” Digital surfacing, Kirman explained, allows a lab to design a lens product customized to a patient’s needs.
BEING A RESOURCE
To Kirman, the path to independent lab success is via investment in technology and providing quality personal service. “Large corporations cannot match the level of personal service we can provide them,” he said. “Practitioners are smart, recognize the value of local businesses, and do not want to be a number to excessively large operations.” K Optical, he explained, is able to adapt to the needs of ECPs and offers free support to them.
GOING FORWARD As for working with his daughter Cara, Kirman said she learned the lab business while working there in high school and in college. She’s now worked full time for five years and has learned every facet of the business, from operating and maintaining equipment and working in customer service, to developing marketing programs and doing educational sales calls with ECPs.
In addition to customer service, K Optical also developed proprietary software to bring a host of services and education to accounts.
“My wife and I never put any pressure on her to work in the industry,” Kirman said. “The decision was hers to do so.”
“It helps them service their patients’ visual needs and grow their visibility and practice revenue,” Kirman said. “Our staff uses this technology to make ties with our ECPs, and we are able to help in many ways, from assisting in marketing to developing managed care strategies and training staff in ways to educate their patients on the technologies available to them.”
Aside from his long-term goals of having his daughter assume more responsibilities and implementing software upgrades, Kirman said shortterm, he plans to add another digital generator to provide additional throughput and conservatively grow the business.
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“We truly appreciate our customer base and strive to be as helpful to their practices as we can be,” he said.
MAY 2019
3
ONE TO ONE: ROBB KOHN
Q&A Q: Robb, what’s your optical industry background and when did you start at A&R?
month’s issue, automation, OLP interviewed Robb Kohn, president of Belgium-based A&R, to get his take on lab automation and the current state of the optical lab industry.
Over many years, A&R has deliberately cultivated close relationships with many prescription laboratories of all sizes around the globe. These relationships allow
A: I began my optical career in
us at A&R to be close to our customers and to
1995 with American Optical as a territory sales manager based out of Los Angeles. It was a great time to be at AO because we introduced the optical industry’s first short corridor progressive lens, the Compact, which flew off the shelves at the time. I was very fortunate to begin my tenure at A&R six years ago in 2013. Incidentally, I was introduced to the good folks at A&R through a former coworker from American Optical.
better understand their needs. to be close to our customers and to better understand their needs. Quite simply, A&R develops solutions based on our customer’s needs, and often by direct collaboration. A&R is probably equally known for its focus on customer service, which is part of the corporate culture and made possible through the efforts of our outstanding service engineers.
Q: A&R manufactures
Q: Let’s talk about
equipment for all phases of lens processing, from inspection to job stacking. What makes the company’s equipment unique in the market?
4
Given the theme of this
automation: Manufacturing in general is becoming more and more automated. What’s your position on how this has changed lens processing?
A: Over many years, A&R has
A: A&R develops systems
deliberately cultivated close relationships with many prescription laboratories of all sizes around the globe. These relationships allow us at A&R
that are operator independent, meaning that the operator cannot influence the measurement process. A&R feels that this is vital in order to receive objective
MAY 2019
measurement data. Some A&R systems are completely autonomous and some are semi-automated, depending on the needs of the laboratory. That being said, the new systems are much more complex from a software point of view, which requires a higher skill set at the lab level. However, the benefits of automation are clear, and some examples are increased process control, increased quality, reduced manufacturing costs and ultimately, a superior product delivered to the patient.
Q: When a lab wants to purchase an A&R machine, what does it need to consider for proper installation and effective use? A: We work very closely with our customers in order to drill down on their exact needs. After the equipment is decided upon, the A&R factory in Belgium
begins building the units. For machines, we invite our laboratory customers to the A&R Belgium facility for an acceptance of the unit, which usually lasts three to five days depending on the amount of machines ordered. Our customers receive in-depth training on their actual machines and by the engineers who developed and built them. It’s a wonderful program that helps provide effective use of their machines through handson training and instruction. Even if a customer is unable to attend training at A&R Belgium, we also provide extensive training on the machines during the installation process in the lab. A&R also has a very popular preventative maintenance program for service and training. Additionally, for virtually all of our machines and instruments, it is possible for an A&R technician to troubleshoot via remote access, which is a huge benefit that minimizes downtime.
Q: Is there a size lab that is particularly suitable for this equipment? A: This is a great question and a perfect example of how working closely with our customers has
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helped develop new technology. Specifically, a completely new line of inspection equipment called the A&R ProMapper, which is available in three configurations, was developed for labs that process less than 500 jobs per day. This was a direct result of collaboration with smaller volume labs. I am proud to say that now A&R can provide cost effective solutions to labs of any size.
Q: What are the company’s newest products and what excites you about them? A:
The A&R ProMapper line is basically a miniaturized version of the extremely popular fully-automated A&R AutoMapper. These machines, coupled with A&R’s SPC (Statistical Process Control) program, which is based on Industry 4.0 principles, will ultimately allow laboratories to fabricate prescription lenses with Zero Defects. Zero Defects manufacturing is very exciting because it provides a huge environmentally friendly boost to our industry and reduces manufacturing costs at the same time.
Q: What kind of capabilities does A&R see optical labs requesting? A: A&R’s Statistical Process Control and Zero Defects manufacturing has been the topic of many current discussions. A&R is now in the advanced stages of testing its SPC program with a few partner labs and we are hopeful to have it ready for a commercial release in the relatively near future.
Q: A&R equipment is
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MAY 2019
5
CONVEYOR SYSTEMS
FOR YOUR LAB ONLY: A SYSTEM CUSTOMIZED FOR YOU
Conveyor systems in optical labs are becoming more mainstream as labs understand their value. OLP spoke with three conveyor manufacturers— CarryLine USA, NCC Automated Systems and FlexLink to find out what it takes to design these systems for optical labs and how they’ve evolved. By Cara Aidone Huzinec
A
lthough CarryLine USA, FlexLink and NCC Automated Systems manufacture conveyors for many industries, all say designing them for optical labs requires a thorough understanding of a customer’s unique challenges and specific goals.
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MAY 2019
“The major difference between the ophthalmic industry and most other general manufacturing environments is that each ‘job’ is somewhat of a snowflake,” said Kevin Mauger, president of Souderton, PA-based NCC Automated Systems. “They all have unique characteristics that are bespoke
to the particular customer, which means that each job could potentially take a unique path through the lab through different processes.” Take CarryLine USA’s system it designed for SVS Vision’s lab in Mt. Clemens, MI, the first it manufactured for the optical lab industry: a closed system
that feeds into one machine and then loops back out to come out under a main trunk line, making it a two-level handling system. “On some others, it’s a more linear process,” said Scott Laird, operations and business development manager at CarryLine USA, which is based in Glasgow, KY. “Designing
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Photo courtesy of CarryLine USA.
FEATURE STORY:
of doing more lens types than in the past. Now you just have to get them into an open machine for the most part so you don’t have the delay of having to talk to the LMS system.”
At FlexLink, Optical Sales Engineer Jason Long echoed both Laird and Mauger. He said a certain process needs to be followed in order to produce a final product for a customer in any industry, and this is where industry-specific knowledge comes into play.
Long said viewing conveyors as a commodity has long been a misconception in the industry; that it’s merely a system designed to take a tray from Point A to Point B.
“When I first entered the optical industry over a decade ago, I was amazed and intrigued by all of the processes that were required to manufacture a single pair of eyeglasses,” Long said. “Having the know-how of how all these processes interact to get to the final product is a big plus...Our team can speak the ‘optical lingo’ to our customers, not delaying the process by getting to know how things work.”
CONVEYOR CONSIDERATIONS What does a lab need to consider when planning for a conveyor system? Long said lab owners need to analyze where they see the lab one, three - even five years - out. “It’s easy to see your current needs, but what does the future hold? Things like flexibility for future equipment, taking into consideration larger throughput volumes and even planning for additional space if you are required to add more mounting and inspections stations.” Mauger, too, said having a master plan is critical. “Our most successful customers
Photo courtesy of NCC Automated Systems.
conveyor systems comes from combined experience. It’s just another product, and you just have to understand the variables and unique aspects when you design a system.”
“Quite frankly, if used right, the increased production efficiency of a lab with this type of intelligence should create ROIs that are far beyond what they have been in the past.” - KEVIN MAUGER, NCC AUTOMATED SYSTEMS come to us with a vision for 10 years, and we execute the lab piece by piece,” he said. “When their business expands, we already have a plan, and it allows for easy expansion to support their new production goals.” Other considerations, Mauger said, are operator and maintenance personnel accessibility, lens processing flow, available lab floor space and egress. Laird said in planning a system, labs essentially have to “work backwards.” “The designing of an automated material handling system should always start with the end in sight. Once the final layout is understood, then you can discuss the logical steps to accomplish it,” he said.
CarryLine USA 270.629.4674 • CarryLineUSA.com
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TAKING LAB AUTOMATION TO ANOTHER LEVEL Conveyors are no longer made to merely go in and out of generators or polishers and many stacks of products. CarryLine USA is set to install a system in August at a lab in Louisville, KY, that is going to feed all the way to the edgers and incorporate a cool-down spiral. “Labs had automated to a degree, but now many are taking it to another level with conveyor systems,” Laird said, explaining that in the past, there was always interface with a machine. “Unique machines have to handle unique products, but I think the industry has changed to where the machines are capable
FlexLink 610.973.8200 • FlexLink.com
“This could not be farther from the truth,” he said. “Sure, I get it: the machines are actually producing the lenses. But if a lab has its employees carrying stacks of trays all day long from machine to machine and station to station, that is not an automated lab...Conveyors equipped with smart routing technology allow lab employees to focus their attention elsewhere in the lab on more important tasks.” Mauger, too, said conveyors have evolved to complex systems that incorporate intelligent, “purpose-built logic platforms” that result in more predictable production results and improve quality by cutting down on broken lenses as they move throughout the lab. “The efficiency and technology that we now have at our disposal can result in the highest efficiencies possible in the lab,” he said. “Routing that is far more advanced than ever before, work balancing, tracking, analytics, real-time reporting... Quite frankly, if used right, the increased production efficiency of a lab with this type of intelligence should create ROIs that are far beyond what they have been in the past.”
NCC Automated Systems 215.721.1900 • NCCAS.com
MAY 2019
7
COMPANY PROFILE:
RAX
PROBLEM SOLVER Need inventory management that’s efficient and automated? Check out RAX. It knows where everything is and at night, when it has nothing to do, it will actually organize the shelf. It makes picking quicker. – William Heffner III, FEA Industries, Inc.
A
bout three years ago, William Heffner III, president and CEO of FEA Industries in Morton, PA, was introduced to RAX, a company that provides automated stock handling solutions, and was intrigued. But it wasn’t until last month that he had equipment installed.
“I saw a small version at Vision Expo East two years ago and I liked what it did,” Heffner said. “What’s nice about it is you get lenses all day long but then you get the oddball lenses, and those we would put in cardboard boxes. Now RAX knows we have them and links with DVI (FEA’s lab management software) and tells us what we have. So
RAX aFill
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MAY 2019
now we have perfect inventory management.” RAX describes its equipment as solutions, not systems, that offer advanced robotic material handling. For optical labs, RAX provides single order picking of various items with unlimited SKUs, whether its semi-finished lenses, finished lenses, frames,
parts, tools or contact lenses. RAX loads, sorts and stores these items, can pair lenses and matching to job trays and match frames to job trays. “RAX was founded four years ago and specializes in supplying turnkey automated logistics solutions to the eyewear sector,” said Rupert Katritzky, president.
RAX rLoader
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RAX Solutions: “The driver behind the start-up was the observation that in the eyewear sector, logistics are still overwhelmingly manual, a paradox in an industry in which almost all other processes are highly automated. RAX supplies the missing piece of the automation puzzle and enables Industry 4.0 style solutions with Lean Management – batch size 1 and continuous process flow.” According to the company, its solutions save on labor costs at the receiving process, increase space efficiency, reduce stock holdings, provide inventory accuracy by eliminating lengthy cycle counts as well as accurate and fast order picking. RAX solutions can also enable labs to consolidate orders shipped to ECPs or e-commerce. FEA has the rBox and rLoader as lenses go in, it measures the box size so it can figure out how many boxes fit on a shelf. “It knows where everything is and at night, when it has nothing to do, it will actually organize the shelf. It makes picking quicker,” Heffner said. It took about a month for RAX to be up and running in the lab: two weeks to put together and then another couple of weeks to set up the software and
configure it with the LMS. FEA also utilizes a robot manufactured by AI Systems to input the lenses. Heffner explained the process as it works at FEA: The RAX rLoader conveyor belt is filled with lenses and the rLoader reads the lens box barcodes and transports them to the RAX picking head to be placed on a shelf. Instead of having people requesting lenses from RAX, the AI Systems robot does that. The operator puts a stack of trays on the conveyor and the robot reads the tray number and transmits it to RAX. The robot arm picks up the tray and holds it under the receiving window after the lenses are received from RAX. The tray is then put in an output stack on a conveyor. This, Heffner explained, essentially cuts his workforce down by half, and FEA will move those employees to other areas of lab. “Everyone will have a job but it won’t be the same job,” he said. “Before, we had to have someone every couple of days check inventory and then put it back on the shelf,” Heffner said. “Then we had to have someone pick the orders. RAX can pick about 200 jobs per hour.”
RAX rDestacker
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rBox • automated storage and retrieval system • features easy software integration with user friendly interface
rLoader • automated loading system • available in two designs: external system or fully integrated solution • utilizes a robotic picking arm to separate, barcode scan and deliver to rBox for automated restocking
rInLoader • fully automated conveyor built inside the rBox. Utilizes picking arm to separate, barcode scan and deliver to conveyor inside the rBox to the automation system to allow it be fully restocked
rDestacker • tote-filling system that can be used in conjunction with rBox • collates items into a “tote” or “collection” box • can be designed in various configurations (as a lift, printer or a conveyor) depending on specific business
aFill • automated loading system for finished lenses envelopes • packs are loaded into individual trays and delivered via a conveyor system • storage capacity of 2,500 envelopes (scalable) and can process 1,200 envelopes/hour
RAX • 469.543.6833 • Rax-Solutions.com
RAX rBox
MAY 2019
9
BUSINESS
THE PATH TO AUTOMATION
LBC Optics, the lab behind retailer Wisconsin Vision, is run by an owner who isn’t gun-shy when it comes to investing in automated equipment – as long as there’s a plan.
A
ndy George, owner of New Berlin, WI-based LBC Optics, said it was his uncle, an engineer, who advised him: “When it comes to automation, spend money like a drunken sailor.”
That line stuck with George — not to say he has purchased automated machines all at once. LBC Optics, founded in 1988 to serve Wisconsin Vision retail centers (which includes Heartland Vision and EyeBoutique), continues to serve all locations, which is now up to 40 in three states. “Bringing in automation in a small lab requires we do things over time and not all at once because of the costs,” George said. “We simply don’t have the same cash flow as the big labs and national retailers.”
The automation was inside the machine, but to carry it from machine to machine took a while. Conveyor systems really changed that and it was a real breakthrough.
- ANDY GEORGE
HAVING A PLAN George had a 10-year plan to automate, beginning in 2010 with the purchase of a Schneider Smart XP generator, although the lab still processed work on older machines that required laps. He added Schneider’s Sprint XP, which took the lab to 100% digital, and in 2015, the Sprint was replaced by the Schneider XT generator. In 2017, LBC purchased the CCL auto laser, but none of these machines were connected. “We still carried by hand from machine to machine,” he said. “2018 was a big jump when we installed the conveyor line.” George said a conveyor system, (LBC’s was manufactured by Bosch and sold and installed through Schneider), is the key piece that has automated optical labs. LBC Optics started out doing about 75 jobs per day. Today, that number is up to 450; about 250 pairs per day are AR.
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MAY 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
McFadin and George of LBC Optics left to right: Chad McFadin, general manager; Andy George, and Marius George, maintenance and production
This month, a CCB alloy-free blocker from Schneider is scheduled to be installed in the 10,000 square-foot lab, which has two digital generators, uses an Innovations lab management software system by Ocuco, and processes brand lenses and no private label.
LBC OPTICS EQUIPMENT BREAK DOWN:
NEED FOR PROVEN TECHNOLOGY
SURFACING BY SCHNEIDER OPTICAL MACHINES:
Another factor influencing his decision to automate was how well the technology worked. “What held me up for a couple of years were the automated polishers,” George said. “I wasn’t impressed and I didn’t think they worked that well. Then around 2017 I started seeing pieces from Schneider and Satisloh and thought, ‘Yeah, they’re finally getting this right.’” George said automation in the lab industry was slow to catch on relative to other industries, with conveyors really taking it to the next level. “Most of automation was piecemeal,” he said. “It was really Satisloh and Schneider that tied the pieces of equipment together. The automation was inside the machine, but to carry it from machine to machine took a while. Conveyor systems really changed that and it was a real breakthrough.”
• • • • • • •
CCB Modulo blocker CCS Smart Stacker Modulo XT and Smart XP generators CCP Modulo S polishers (two) CCL Modulo laser marking system DTS Modulo deblocker semi-automated ultra sonic cleaner
FINISHING: • MEI Bisphera • MEI 641 Auto • National Optronics 7Ex Edgers
AR • ZEISS A20 box coaters • ZEISS H8 Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc. 866-596-5467 • ZEISS.com DAC Technologies (National Optronics) 800.800.1550 • DACTechnologies.com
AR Manager Rick Miller
LBC Optics 800.240.0169 • LBCOptics.com • Info@LBCOptics.com MEI System 847.357.0323 • MEISystem.com Satisloh North America, Inc. 800.866.5640 • Satisloh.com • Info.USA@Satisloh.com Schneider Optical Machines 972.247.4000 • Schneider-om.com • Info-USA@Schneider-Om.com
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MAY 2019
11
EXCEPTIONAL AR COATING
1200-DLX-2 THE EVOLUTION OF COATING TECHNOLOGY
MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY, RELIABILITY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY The 1200-DLX-2, Satisloh´s newest high volume coating system, offers multiple process applications for sophisticated AR and/or mirror coatings in unprecedented process times, with the highest coating quality and lowest cost per lens. A perfect fit for large labs and stock lens production. • • •
up to 10% higher productivity up to 25% lower energy consumption next level of robust design maximizes uptime
www.satisloh.com | 800-866-5640
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MAY 2019
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NEW For the Lab
ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS PRO-B300 BLOCKER
Designed for high-volume labs, Essilor Instruments’ PRO-B300 blocker is compatible with both Essilor and WECO posiblock designs and is available with or without a tracer. The PRO-B300 is equipped with a large screen and shape and drilling libraries, and it includes features such as centering assistance, automatic detection of centering marks and Chemistrie job management without the need to handle lenses while blocking. For more information, contact Essilor Instruments at 855.393.4647, EssilorInstrumentsUSA.com.
COBURN TECHNOLOGIES’ COBALT DP+ LENS POLISHER
When combined with Coburn’s Cobalt NXT+ lens generator, the DB+ automated lens polisher enables lens processing to seamlessly move from generating to polishing without any user interaction to eliminate the risk of operator error. For more information, contact Coburn Technologies at 800.262.8761, CoburnTechnologies.com.
KODAK POWERUP LENSES FROM SIGNET ARMORLITE
Kodak PowerUp single vision lenses offer two levels of power in the reading area (0.40D and 0.66D) for those not ready for a progressive lens. Low levels of power boost reduce eye strain and “serve as training in the use of a near vision zone for easier adaptation of a progressive lens design later,” according to the company. PowerUp lenses are available in clear, photochromic, polarized and with blue light filtering options. For more information, contact Signet Armorlite at 800.759.0075, SignetArmorlite.com.
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NEW For the Lab FLAWLESS FIT LENS MOUNTING SYSTEM FROM MEI
This lens mounting system, available only as integrated with the MEI Global Edging Rig, also integrates a Smart Bevel Positioning algorithm that is available on MEI edgers with 3DCirc Adaptation. Its FLGauge analyzes and corrects the matching between the lens and frame to avoid rework and provide a perfect fit, according to MEI. The FlawLess Fit System is able to determine global size compensation by considering all factors. For more information, contact MEI at 847.357.0323, MEISystem.com.
BIO LENS 2.0 FROM OKIA
Bio Lens 2.0 is 100% degradable and can be used as both demo (clear) and sun lenses. Lenses offer high-impact resistance and can be broken down into carbon, water and biomass and comply with ANSI Z80.3-2015 standards. Bio Lens 2.0 can also be treated with AR and mirror coatings. For more information contact OKIA at 852.2371.3889, OKIA.com; SeeTheFuture@okia.com.
EQLIPSE PHOTOCHROMIC LENSES BY QSPEX TECHNOLOGIES
Available in CR39, polycarbonate,1.67 and 1.74 high index materials, eQlipse photochromic lenses offer stable coloration during both activation and de-activation cycles and fade to a clear state “two times faster than the leading competitor,� according to QSpex. Lenses come in rose, gray, brown and green, block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays and are compatible with treatments such as AR. For more information, contact QSpex at 855.787.7739, EQlipseLenses.com.
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MAY 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
LAB News
ESSILOR AND UNITED HEALTH LAUNCH LAB NET WORK UnitedHealthcare recently launched a national vision laboratory network in collaboration with Essilor to serve its members. The expanded lab options now serve UnitedHealthcare’s ECP network, which includes independent optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Expanding the UnitedHealthcare Vision laboratory network is an important part of our strategy to help eyecare professionals provide our millions of vision plan participants access to quality eyecare and affordable, stylish eyewear,” said John Ryan, general manager of UnitedHealthcare Vision. “This expansion gives eyecare providers more choice and flexibility, while consumers benefit from an access to the full range of eyewear technology and future product innovations.
REMINDER: SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE 2019 ISO TC172/SC7 OPHTHALMIC OPTICS AND INSTRUMENTS MEETING IN DALLAS NOV. 4 TO 8. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2XJAP7l.
THE VISION COUNCIL’S LAB DIVISION LAUNCHES HR TASKFORCE Composed of member companies and led by Hedley Lawson of Aligned Growth Partners, the Human Resources Taskforce was recently launched in response to increasing focus on workplace issues. “Countless news stories have given rise to the need for all companies to understand fully the legal and ethical obligations to ensure safe, inclusive and compliant work environments, framed by a committed organizational leadership,” the Lab Division announced in a statement. The most recent topic addressed was the importance of job descriptions, and future topics include employee handbook updates and guidelines; career development paths/professional development; workplace diversity; workplace harassment and full-time versus independent contractor standards by state, to name a few. To read the most recent discussion topics, visit TheVisionCouncil.org/Members/HR-Taskforce. For more information or to join the Human Resources Taskforce, contact Steve Sutherlin, lab division liaison, at SSutherlin@TheVisionCouncil.org.
OpticalLabProducts.com
MAY 2019
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LAB News
CASHING IN
THANKS TO LUZERNE OPTICAL Luzerne Optical presented Stirling, NJ-based Ippolito Family Eyecare with a $5,000 rebate at Vision Expo East. The retailer won the grand prize drawing for the lab’s Millenium Maximum Discount Program, which features Essilor Varilux digital progressive lenses and Crizal AR treatments.
THE VISION COUNCIL UPDATES TESTING LAB MEMBER LIST
The Vision Council has updated its list of testing lab members to include the following: Certottica, COLTS, NSL Analytical, PEL, ICS Laboratories, Inc. and QIMA. Contact Michael Vitale, senior technical director and Lens Division liaison at MVitale@TheVisionCouncil.org with questions or for more information.
NEW LATIN AMERICA SALES MANAGER AT COBURN TECHNOLOGIES
South Windsor, CT-based Coburn Technologies appointed Jason Frank Latin America sales manager. Frank, who previously worked at Hoya as director of commercial operations in Latin America, replaced Pedro Parra, who retired after 38 years with the company.
GREG WALACH NAMED HEAD OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES AT IOT
Ocuco announced last month it named Greg Walach head of technical support services for IOT products produced by Ocuco for its lab division. Walach is responsible for overseeing the integration of IOT products to new and existing customer’s lab management software systems. “As Ocuco continues to grow in the optical industry, experts like Greg will continue to drive our vision for innovative and intuitive lab products,” said Stephen Cohen, COO of Ocuco. “We are excited to offer our clients the very best in optical lens technology including the quality support and service our clients expect from Ocuco.”
REGISTER FOR
SATISLOH ACADEMY 2019 Satisloh is hosting product training for lab staff with most workshops held at the company’s Germantown, WI, offices. Fees include training materials, lodging, continental breakfast , lunch and refreshments. To view the training schedule, visit https://bit.ly/2VXPiMo; to register, go to http://bit.ly/2Zv7nU0. Contact Satisloh with questions or for more information at Academy.USA@Satisloh.com.
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MAY 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
SAPPHIRE
AMETHYST
SAPPHIRE
Transitions SignatureÂŽ lenses from Younger Optics are now available in two vibrant new style colors in single vision hard resin and polycarbonate.
AMETHYST
ORDER NOW FROM YOUNGER OPTICS: 800-366-5367 Transitions and Transitions Signature are registered trademarks, and the Transitions logo and Transitions Light Intelligent Lenses are trademarks of Transitions Optical, Inc. used under license by Transitions Optical Limited. Photochromic performance is influenced by temperature, UV exposure and lens material.
Because quality matters
CCP m dulo Faster, without limitations The powerful and reliable CCP Modulo S puts quality first without compromising flexibility. Now fitted with high-speed handling systems, top quality has become even faster. This powerful combination keeps breakage and cost per lens at an absolute minimum, producing excellent results even with knife-edged lenses. Perfectly suited to cover basic everyday needs and highly sophisticated specialty jobs alike, this jack of all trades polishes the widest range of curvatures, any material and any process without limitations. Premium quality, full flexibility, faster than ever.
SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG Biegenstrasse 8–12 35112 Fronhausen, Germany Phone: +49 (64 26) 96 96-0 www.schneider-om.com
SCHNEIDER Optical Machines Inc. 6644 All Stars Avenue, Suite 100 Frisco, TX 75033, USA Phone: +1 (972) 247-4000 info-us@schneider-om.com