OLP February 2019

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Cleaning Technologies, Coatings and Treatments Solutions Preparation Prior to Hard Coating and AR

Anti-Reective Chemicals

Quartz Monitor Crystals

Super-Hydrophobic Pills

Anti-Reective Consumables and Spare Parts

www.dactechnologies.com

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& IDEAS

FOR THE LABORATORY PROFESSIONAL

OpticalLabProducts.com

O P T I C A L

L A B

FEBRUARY 2019

PRODUCTS

P R O D U C T S

F OCU S ON

One-to-One • PG 4

COATING PG 8

Product Focus • PG 7

News• PG 14

GIVE YOUR LAB THE

ULTRA ADVANTAGE • • •

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FEBRUARY 2019

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NuPolar Mirrors Untitled-3 1 - OLP.indd 1

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In The Lab

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2019

OPINIONS 01 02 03 04

In the Lab Rollins on Marketing Advisory Borad Member Profile One-to-One with Imtiaz Hassan

FEATURES 07 08 10

Product Focus: Quantum Innovations Fusion M Coaters for Everyone Roundtable: Choosing Coating Equipment

RUNDOWN 12 14

New for the Lab Lab News

EDITORIAL STAFF VP, EDITORIAL | John Sailer • JSailer@FVMG.com EDITOR | Cara Aidone Huzinec • CHuzinec@FVMG.com ART DIRECTOR | Megan LaSalla • MLaSalla@FVMG.com CONTRIBUTING WRITER | Eric Rollins • EricRollins@Comcast.net PRODUCTION & WEB MANAGER | Anthony Floreno • AFloreno@FVMG.com

BUSINESS STAFF PUBLISHER | Terry Tanker • TTanker@FVMG.com EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | Shawn Mery • SMery@FVMG.com VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING | Debby Corriveau • DCorriveau@FVMG.com REGIONAL SALES MANAGER | Eric Hagerman • EHagerman@FVMG.com

www.Facebook.com/OpticalLabProducts www.Twitter.com/OLP_Magazine www.Linkedin.com/company/Optical-Lab-Products

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OPINIONS

HAPPY NEW YEAR,

Readers!

W

e’re two months into 2019 and that means Vision Expo East is fast approaching — another opportunity to visit NYC to reconnect with peers, re-assess business needs and of course, look at products! As Eric Rollins writes in his column this month (see page 2), a new year is a great time to invest, whether it’s on people (your staff) or on equipment.

OLP has an exciting development in the works this year: the formation of the OLP Advisory Board. Composed of leaders in the lab industry who truly have their fingers on the pulse of this ever-changing business, these individuals will serve as a sounding board to us here at the magazine; a direct response to the goal of hearing and learning from our readers (you) about what topics are “hot” and relevant, what we should be covering, what new product or piece of equipment has made a positive impact on a business or perhaps about a lab that is taking lens processing to a new level by implementing a novel strategy.

Each issue will include a profile on a board member. This month it is Ronald Cooke, Jr. Many of you may know him from his days at Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc., but as of late last year, Cooke is the founder and owner of Cincinnatibased R&D Optical Laboratory.

Coincidentally, Cooke just purchased and installed the Fusion M coater from Quantum Innovations (see page 7), which is a great segue to this issue: coating.

In interviewing several lab owners and managers about this traditionally time-consuming process, one thing became clear: adding this capability costs money and space, but it also can generate profits. Whether carving out a niche as a lab that can do specialty coatings jobs quickly or having the ability to do numerous AR jobs in a day, coating capabilities add cache to any lab’s menu of services. On page 8, we feature several machines and interviewed customers who recently purchased them. Additionally, several lab owners with established coatings operations give readers their advice on how to choose the best equipment based on a lab’s needs (see page 10).

Imitiaz Hasan, the ever-present face of iCoat Company, is this issue’s One to One (page 4). You’ll learn that iCoat does more than produce coatings: it’s a one-stopshop for labs to boost business.

Enjoy this issue, which also features our regular sections filled with new products and industry news (congratulations to the Essilor IDD Awards winners!). Be sure to follow OLP on Facebook and Twitter!

Cara Huzinec is Editor of OLP. CHuzinec@FVMG.com.

FEBRUARY 2019

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OPINIONS

Rollins on Marketing

Time to INVEST EQUIPMENT

By Eric Rollins

A

new year brings new opportunities, and one of the things that make any business stronger and more competitive is reinvestment into organization.

There are three core areas to review: equipment, people and processes.

A lot of times we hate to replace functioning equipment with more efficient pieces due to high cost. Do an analysis, maybe with an equipment vendor, to determine if the cost of the equipment will be offset by its efficiency, lower scrap rates, lower man hours, etc. Many times the improvements more than make up for high initial costs. There are other benefits as well, such as shorter turnaround time and better quality.

A small offset may be selling the older functioning equipment.

PEOPLE

Here are three quotes from Lee Iacocca, the “father” of the Ford Mustang, the minivan and the savior of Chrysler back in the 1980’s:“Pick good people and set the right priorities.”“Management is nothing more than

motivating other people.”“Start with good people.”

People are the best asset an optical lab can have. If your people are well trained, motivated and engaged, you’ll have excellent production. If they are not, then you’re in for a rough ride. Work with your vendors to provide excellent training.

Training can be about more than just production tips, too.

Consider bringing your banker in for a lunch seminar on building credit scores or your insurance agent for tips on keeping costs low. Maybe get a little crazy and have a massage therapist do 15-minute massages as a one-time benefit.

PROCESSES

Sometimes we have great equipment and great people, but our processes are not as

good as they can be. Again, a great source of assistance can be your equipment vendors.

Tap into their knowledge to increase throughput and quality.

Sometimes it may be a different conveyer system, sometimes it’s something simple but overlooked such as water treatment systems.

If your equipment, people and processes are upgraded, you will have a more competitive and more efficient machine that your customers (and your banker) will appreciate!

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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FEBRUARY 2019

OpticalLabProducts.com

Ronald Cooke

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

OLP WELCOMES

RONALD COOKE, JR., TO ITS ADVISORY BOARD

“Serendipitous” is the word that comes to mind when OLP decided to feature Ronald Cooke, Jr. for the magazine’s first advisory board member profile. The issue’s theme is coatings and as luck would have it, not only did Cooke recently purchase coating equipment to begin coating operations this month at his lab R&D Optical in Cincinnati, but he also decided on the Quantum Fusion M (see page 7) coating machine to provide its customers with next day delivery of AR and mirror lenses.

“We did a lot of research and a lot of negotiations before making ultimate equipment decisions,” Cooke told OLP. “Some decisions were more difficult than others.”

Cooke has 27 years of optical industry experience behind him, beginning in 1991 when he started working in the frame distribution center at Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc. while in college. He went on to receive his optician’s license and worked as a sales representative, making sales calls a couple of days a week while also spending time in both the ophthalmic laboratory and frame department. Cooke then began commuting to the company’s location in Memphis, taking courses toward an MBA degree and building a lab in Memphis. He then became COO of Diversified Ophthalmics, in which he oversaw all operations including the lab. It was six years ago that Cooke decided it was time for a change and was the director of sales at Buhler Group (Leybold) for the U.S. and Canada before returning to Diversified, leaving soon after the company was purchased. Last year, Cooke opened R&D Optical, which began production in July.

OpticalLabProducts.com

“It has been my dream to open an independent optical lab of my own focused on new technologies,” Cooke said. “I believe there are still many independent eyecare professionals who want to work with a small local lab that is independent and is able to provide superior customer service and quality at a reasonable price. My goal is to stay on the cutting edge of optical technology, bringing my customers the newest technology to help their patients see better.”

As for the independent lab industry as whole, Cooke maintains new digital designs allow small labs to make a fair profit, in turn causing them to grow and giving them the ability to offer very high quality lenses both quickly and reasonably priced.

“Many customers are concerned about the corporate labs and the vertically-integrated business model that ultimately competes with them directly,” he said. “This gives the small guys a fighting chance.”

In addition, Cooke believes small labs can find a place in the industry via customer service. At R&D Optical, all accounts have the opportunity to speak with a customer service person they know and trust.

“Service and quality are the key areas and if they keep costs low enough, they can also compete on price,” he said. “The big part is the independence and the personal service that a small lab can provide...In addition, a small lab can focus on specialty work and difficult jobs that tend to get lost in a large lab.”

FEBRUARY 2019

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ONE TO ONE: IMTIAZ HASAN

Q&A Q: Why is iCoat as a company unique?

A: iCoat Company has been

a pioneer in innovative optical lens coating technologies and has a legacy of bringing advanced technologies and services to the optical industry.

“Making Lenses Better” has been our mission, and it drives all areas of iCoat’s research, development and operations.

We offer a range of products and services that serve the needs of large merchants, retail chains, vision health organizations, wholesale labs, sports/sunwear frame manufacturers, ecommerce companies and ECPs. Our customers face varying market demands of their own, and iCoat has developed unique technologies and processes to serve each market segment.

Q: What services does it offer?

A: iCoat offers various prod-

ucts and services tailored to an expanded range of market channels utilizing different business models. We offer coating technology licensing services, custom coating services, mass

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FEBRUARY 2019

As marketing manager of Santa Fe Springs, CA-based iCoat, Imtiaz Hasan knows the ins and outs of not only the company’s business but also the coating business.

OLP chatted with him to find out about iCoat’s place in the lab industry and how it can boost the coating operations of any lab.

coating services, private-brand frame Rx services and typical wholesale lab services. We custom design our coating innovations, in-house digital lens generating capabilities, finishing lab efficiencies and efficient workflow operations into unique packages that fit the needs of our customers. This includes optical retailers, independent optical labs, sports and sunwear frame

program provides everything from initial planning and facility layout to ongoing sup-

port, training, backup coating services and regular audits for quality control. The flagships

of our licensing service are our

proprietary coatings, chemicals, consumables, tooling, continuous lens testing for quality

assurance and on-site support

iCoat’s coating technology licensing program

is flexible to accommodate any size customer, lab or

retail chain, doing anywhere from a couple of hundred coating jobs per day up to thousands of coating jobs per day.

manufacturers, safety eyewear providers, optical frame brands and various e-commerce companies to list a few.

Q: What can iCoat

do for a wholesale, independent lab?

A: iCoat provides unique val-

ue proposition to independent optical labs that are interested in state-of-the-art coating technologies. This turnkey licensing

services. This ensures indepen-

dent labs achieve the consistent quality that iCoat stands by.

iCoat can also partner with an

independent lab by absorbing coating and surfacing overflows

to provide help during sudden

market growth or equipment downtimes. We also offer specialty products available exclu-

sively through iCoat such as

mirror coatings and permanent premium anti-fog coatings.

Q: What are the

advantages for a lab to license iCoat technology?

A: Our Coating Technology

Licensing program offers our customers state-of-the-art coatings that can bring significant competitive value to their own market. Our technology licensing program is built upon our metrics-driven coating operations model that requires precisely composed operations procedures, production systems and unique workflows that allow our licensees to deliver highest quality lenses efficiently and with fast turnaround times.

The prime advantage of licensing iCoat’s coating expertise is to gain immense technological advantage and process know-how that took decades to develop. Over the years, iCoat has perfected efficiencies in manufacturing and profitable coating operating procedures. A licensing lab can take advantage of this from the get-go with no R&D cost, optimized investment planning, manufacturing, and efficient operations. iCoat’s coating technology licensing continued on page 6

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ONE TO ONE: IMTIAZ HASAN continued from page 4 program is a turnkey plan for a successful in-house coating operation that is designed to generate higher yields and profits while keeping costs low and financials effective. It provides a wide range of state-of-the-art coating offerings and different grades of coatings, lens processing flexibility (can coat any lens, material and style) and equipment selection and choice.

Q: Is there an “ideal”

independent lab that would benefit, or would it work in any lab?

A: The program is flexible to

accommodate any size customer, lab or retail chain doing anywhere from a couple of hundred coating jobs per day up to thousands of coating jobs per day.

Prior to getting started, iCoat can assist in a detailed analysis of cost savings and profit margins as they can vary greatly based on coating volumes,

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FEBRUARY 2019

When labs decide to license iCoat technology,

we train them in every step of the way to ensure

Our program offers assistance in making these calculations and optimizing equipment and layout to the necessary specifications for keeping the entire program effective. Bringing coating technologies in-house through our licensing program can help reduce delivery times and provide consistent quality products that will bring significant competitive value to the independent lab’s own market.

Q: What makes iCoat

coatings unique in the market?

achieving the quality the labs want to see. production efficiencies, selling prices and capital investment.

hands-on, on-site production training so that a unified coating department can achieve smooth operations. From classroom training and training via web to live tech support, tutorials for troubleshooting and coating backup services, iCoat provides the whole-nine-yards to ensure all operations are efficient.

A: iCoat’s coatings are a com-

Q: Does iCoat provide training and ongoing support?

A: When labs decide to license iCoat technology, we train them in every step of the way. The goal with training is to get the labs to run efficiently and on their own. In addition, continuous quality testing is offered to help keep the quality consistent. iCoat provides complete assistance from financials analysis, planning and going live to

bination of years of innovation and extensive experience in coating processes and recipes.

Our coatings are unique because they are developed to work with any lens, material or style. Our coating processes are flexibly engineered to be implemented in any size lab, at any location, for any equipment. No matter the specification, we are able to design and install our coating technologies that a lab may choose while ensuring the highest quality is being met at all times from initial installation to continuous production.

OpticalLabProducts.com

PRO DUC T FO C US: Q UA N T U M I N N OVATI O NS FUS I O N TEC HN O LO GY

A MACHINE FOR EVERY LAB The Fusion M Inline Coater from Quantum Innovations gives labs hassle-free flexibility to process coating orders one at a time without having to fill an entire batch.

BY CARA HUZINEC

P

rior to purchasing Quantum Innovations’ Fusion M Inline Coater, Kaiser Permanente’s lab in Clackamas, OR, was outsourcing its AR operations.

“Fusion M isn’t free, but it’s a fraction of what we were paying, and we can control the lenses, throughput and turn time,” said Jim Hilker, lab manager.

Fusion M technology processes one lens at a time, allowing labs to essentially customize coating jobs — for example, applying a mirrored coating to the front and AR on the back. Labs can also fulfill any coating request without having to wait until enough orders come in to fill a batch, therefore expediting processing times. According to Quantum, Fusion M can complete a full process (full coat to front and back of one pair of lenses) within 10 minutes.

“A single-piece flow allows for best optical performance,” said Norman Kester, owner of Central Point, OR-based Quantum Innovations. “You can do anything to that single piece that you want.”

“This allows labs to appear much bigger than they are because they can supply these products and compete with bigger labs because they can get them done within a day.” - Norm Kester Kester thought of the in-line coating concept a “long time ago” because he wanted “to come up with a process to allow for true linear manufacturing” he said, adding that for smaller labs, Fusion M is a great entry point into coating because they can make any coating for any product and it can be done the same day.

“AR coating takes three minutes; mirrors can be done in about a minute and a complicated one in about seven minutes,” he said.

“This allows labs to appear much bigger than they are because they can supply these products and compete with bigger labs because they can get them done within a day.”

Quantum Innovations

888.268.3414 • QTMI.net

OpticalLabProducts.com

Fusion M doesn’t need to be integrated with any other pieces of equipment but does tie into lab management software systems.

Quantum Innovations is also developing EyeRobot technology for automated lens loading.

“All you have to do is load the lens and tell it what you want done, and once it is ready, a robot will put it in the tray. This can be done inline with the process right on the surfacing floor,” Kester explained.

At Kaiser Permanente, Hilker now has two Fusion M machines and gets a lens every four minutes out of both of them.

“There is a place for this machine in every lab,” Hilker said. “We can deliver digital progressive lenses with AR coating the same day. It can run mirrors, blue light filtering coating or jobs for customers who ‘need a pair now.’ For even faster delivery, Fusion M allows you to use spin hardcoats instead of a dip hardcoat, and even big labs that are swamped with regular AR can do specialty coating without having to outsource those jobs.”

FEBRUARY 2019

7

FEATURE STORY

COATERS FOR EVERYONE Adding or increasing coating operations may prove to add value to your lab’s business. Here, OLP features four machines and spoke to labs that recently purchased the equipment to find out why and how they chose it and how it’s given them a boost. arc significantly cuts down calibration time.”

THE MANUFACTURER: Schneider Optical Machines THE MACHINE: EBC 600 THE LAB: Pacific Artisan Labs

Another reason the lab chose the EBC 600? Butler said it’s the company itself.

Ideal for small to mid-size labs, the EBC 600 is a compact, vacuum-coating system. Its EBG system has a high number of pockets for maximum process flexibility, according to Schneider, an expanded ion-source power for argon and oxygen use plus a water-cooled process chamber for high process stability. An easy-to-use interface features touch screen operation with remote maintenance functions along with data-logging and fault analysis. By utilizing Schneider’s visAR process technology, the EBC 600 produces high-end coating including in-chamber hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings for smaller labs and is upgradeable for higher productivity.

When looking for coating equipment, Brandon Butler of Pacific Artisan Labs wanted “capacity, quality, consistency and functionality.”

“We wanted a coater that we knew could handle our growth and be one of the industry’s elite units,” said Butler, who is president of lab operations of the Portland, OR-based lab. “We have not been let down.”

Installed last April, the EBC 600 has proven to be a user-friendly machine capable of quickly churning out jobs.

“The touch screen is easy to navigate and simplified for even the novice user,” Butler added. “Being able to manually adjust the E-beam

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FEBRUARY 2019

“They have proven time and time again to be the industry leader not only in coating, but also in digital surfacing, not to mention the team at Schneider is of the highest-caliber talent across the board,” he said.

THE MANUFACTURER: Satisloh THE MACHINE: MC 280 X THE LAB: Avante Optics

Satisloh calls its MC 280 X a “complete coating lab solution.” This mid-volume box coater for mid-size to larger labs combines an ultrasonic cleaning system, flow-box and degassing oven with fully automated lens cleaning for efficiency. The MC 280 X has a three-sector dome or flip system for double-sided processing and an easy and fast swap from dome to flip-over lens holder. The MC 280 X incorporates user-friendly HMI software and is compatible with Satisloh’s MES360 manufacturing execution system.

After installing the MC 280 X last August, the AR business at Avante Optics in Phoenix doubled in three months.

“We were quoting our customers 10 days for Rx’s with AR coating,” said Danny Valenzuela, general manager.

“Now with AR in-house, we quote two to three days.”

Valenzuela said the machine’s small footprint allowed the lab to lay out equipment

OpticalLabProducts.com

efficiently to maximize both work space and work flow. Its size, he said, “has plenty of capacity for our volume, and we can add another unit with minimal impact on floor space.”

Ahmad Basiri, process technician in the AR Department at Avante Optics, said in addition to the service and support they received from Satisloh, the MC 280 X’s simple process allows most lab technicians to operate it with minimal challenges.

“It’s self-explanatory and is equipped with a visual feature that provides help and explanation with the press of a button,” he said.

“The process is straightforward and requires precise execution of each stage. Once all the steps are followed, there is no room for errors and successful coating of lenses is guaranteed.”

THE MANUFACTURER: Ultra Optics THE MACHINE: 44R Automated Backside Coater THE LAB: Pech Optical

This fully-automated, robotically-fed backside coating system functions in conjunction with a lab management system to tell the coater what to do (coat, wash, dry or pass through) to eliminate sorting prior to entering the machine. The 44R can coat 130 lenses per hour and can operate either on or off the block to suit any lab’s setup. The coater also includes separate heated wash and dry modules for more thoroughly washed lenses, less breakage and automated conveyor tray handling. Advanced PLC controls scan barcodes and instruct the machine on how to process the job.

Seeking to reduce labor and handling as well as costs due to breakage, Pech Optical in Sioux City, IA, installed two 44R coaters last September.

“The installation process was outstanding,” said Gerald Koolstra, general manager of Pech Optical, which does about 1,150 to 1,200 AR jobs and 950 to 1,000 backside coatings per day. “We had two people here for almost a week, and they helped train each operator on each shift as well as our maintenance team on all shifts. They also came back a month later and did a refresher training with our employees and maintenance team to make sure we fully understood and were comfortable running the machine.”

As for reducing handling and labor, Koolstra said there’s no longer a need to have a coating machine operator at the machine for an entire shift.

“With coating being applied while the lens is still on the block, we have basically eliminated all issues with ‘popped centers,’” he explained. “By having the wash cycle and dry cycles in separate chambers, the issues with coating pits have also been greatly reduced.”

OpticalLabProducts.com

THE MANUFACTURER: Buhler Leybold THE MACHINE: CHS 60 Umbra Photochromic and Hard Coating System THE LAB: FEA Industries, Inc.

With a compact design, Leybold’s CHS 60 Umbra includes a fully integrated cleaning and hardcoating process, an optional integrated inspection booth and a conveyor for loading and unloading. The machine’s tank storage offers a full range of tint colors and can easily swap between multiple photochromic colors, with an average time to swap over a coating batch at no more than five minutes. Maintenance and cleaning can be performed outside the machine to not affect production.

After first seeing the Umbra at Vision Expo West last September, Bill Heffner, director of IT, marketing and sales at FEA Industries in Morton, PA, decided to purchase it to add to the lab’s already robust coating operations: the lab produces about 300 to 400 AR jobs per day. The Umbra is scheduled to be delivered and installed at FEA right after Vision Expo East next month.

“It’s a dip coater that applies photochromic coatings so you can take an untreated clear lens, run it through, and make it a photochromic,” said Heffner, who also has several Leybold coating machines: the CHC 150 dip coater, the CCS Pro AR and the 1350 AR. “The Umbra gives us the ability to offer more cost-competitive products,” he said. “When you look at higher index photochromics — 1.67 and 1.74 — they’re still very expensive, so now we can offer something much more competitively priced as our own brand of photochromics.”

And because this machine operates similarly to the lab’s existing dip coating systems, Heffner doesn’t anticipate the need to add more manpower.

“It really is just a couple of extra steps and is mostly automated,” he said.

Buhler Leybold Optics 919.657.7100 • BuhlerGroup.com Satisloh North America, Inc. 800.866.5640 • Satisloh.com Schneider Optical Machines 972.247.4000 • Schneider-om.com Ultra Optics 800.365.9993 • UltraOptics.com

FEBRUARY 2019

9

ROUNDTABLE

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THOSE IN THE KNOW

OLP talked to Tom Schroeder, president of Shroeder Optical in Roanoke, VA, Kenneth Lin, owner of X-tra Lite Optical in Huntington Beach, CA, and Neil Torgersen, national manager, AR coating operations at Walman Optical, about their coating equipment, operations and what advice they have for others who are considering purchasing or adding coating machines.

OLP: How long has your lab had coating operations?

How many coatings jobs are done per day?

Schroeder: Since December 2007. We do 70 jobs per day.

Lin: We’ve had this equipment since June 2017. We do 50 jobs per day and growing.

Torgersen: Walman Optical has had an AR coating operation in some fashion as far back as the mid-1990s. At that time, we were solely doing in-house sputter coatings on a DAC Magnetron coater.

Around 2000, we installed our first AR processes, partnering with Carl Zeiss. Our latest expansion was in 2015 when we became the second Shamir Glacier +UV lab in the U.S. We can currently process most branded AR coatings available in the market through one of our three processing centers. Between the three we currently process nearly 6,000 jobs on a daily basis.

OLP: What coating equipment do you currently use and when and what was your last equipment purchase?

Schroeder: We currently have a Buhler Boxer that we installed about two and a half years ago. We are in the middle of installing a Buhler MCS480 to run small batches for mirror coatings and for other coating jobs that we do in lower volumes.

Lin: We have the Schneider EBC 600 AR Vacuum Chamber and Schneider USC 100 Ultrasonic Cleaner. We also have the Essilor mini BSM coater. All were installed in mid-2017.

Torgersen: We utilize most of the major coating vendors’ equipment. We

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FEBRUARY 2019

have AR coating chambers from Satisloh and Buhler, and our wash and hardcoating lines come from Buhler, SCL and Satisloh. Our last equipment purchase was in December 2018 when we upgraded a smaller AR chamber to the Buhler Syrus 1100.

OLP: Why did you choose this particular equipment?

Schroeder: Buhler has a great reputation, and the company is not owned by a company that competes against us.

Lin: We wanted AR equipment validated for the Essilor Crizal process. The equipment met our current needs and capacity and also allows for future growth in our lab. We’ve had good success with Schneider equipment and its customer service.

Torgersen: We decided on the Buhler platform because the facility that we installed it in already had another Buhler machine. By utilizing the same platform, we were able to consolidate spare parts, and it is also easier on technicians because they don’t have to learn multiple user interfaces.

By processing AR coatings in-house,

we were able to much better control quality and turnaround times

to better serve our customers.

- Neil Torgersen

Neil TORGERSEN OpticalLabProducts.com

OLP: What advice do you have for labs that are thinking of adding coating operations or purchasing and installing updated equipment?

Kenneth LIN We have more control of cost, quality and turn-

around time for AR coatings. As a result, we have seen overall growth and profitability for our lab.

- Kenneth Lin OLP: What has it done for your business?

Schroeder: We can offer more in-house services, making us more full service, which attracts more customers. Also, coatings can be one of the more profitable services that a lab can offer.

Lin: We have more control of cost, quality and turnaround time for AR coatings. As a result, we have seen overall growth and profitability for our lab.

Torgersen: By processing AR coatings in-house, we were able to much better control quality and turnaround times to better serve our customers. It also allows us to manage costs much more effectively, which enhances profitability.

OLP: What technological advances have you seen that have made coating processes more efficient?

Schroeder: AR coatings have become so much more durable than they were 20 to 25 years ago. Better adhesion and better oleophobic and hydrophobic properties have made coatings work much better for the patient.

Lin: Easier user interfaces and more choices in vendors and capacity.

With the newer machines, there are more options for AR recipes.

Schroeder: It is an expensive investment that is well worth it.

Today, a lab has to have AR if they plan to stay in the game. It has become an essential service for wholesale laboratories, and my advice would be to get in the game.

Lin: Do not underestimate the learning curve and prepare for the unexpected. Plan on extra capacity for growth. Do the homework.

Torgersen: Do your research. If you’re considering installing a branded AR process, know which equipment platforms are supported by each vendor and which process-specific hardware modifications are needed before purchasing equipment. Service in this segment of the market is also crucial. If possible, speak with other labs that have equipment from the manufacturers that you’re considering and discuss with them the pros and cons of working with specific vendors.

Finally, developing processes that are documented and followed is essential to maintain consistent, high quality coatings. There are so many variables in the AR coating process that it makes troubleshooting issues nearly impossible if there is no consistent adherence to standard work instructions.

Tom SCHROEDER Today, a lab has to have AR if they plan to stay in

the game. It has become an essential service for wholesale laboratories, and my advice would be to get in the game.

- Tom Schroeder

Torgersen: Over the years, moving away from wet etching lenses and utilizing in-chamber ion-assisted processes has increased coating durability and throughput; the same applies to in-chamber hydrophobic application. The installation of reflow tunnel ovens has drastically reduced hardcoat curing times: in some instances, it has reduced processing times by up to two and a half hours. In the future, I see automated lens loading becoming more mainstream, which will reduce labor requirements and increase overall lab efficiency.

OpticalLabProducts.com

FEBRUARY 2019

11

NEW For the Lab

1.74 FINISHED AND SEMI-FINISHED LENSES FROM CONANT

Made from Mitsui Chemicals’ Do Green MR-174 plant-based monomer that is USDA BioPreferred-certified as 82% biobased, Conant’s 1.74 lenses are available in an extended finished single vision range uo to -15.00 sph with a 1.0 mm thickness in all powers over -2.00 sph. Extended cylindar is also available.

All finished lenses include super hydrophobic AR with a two-year scratch warranty. Semi-finished lenses come in .50 and 16.50 and front nominal curves in 1.0 steps. For more information, contact Conant Lens, Inc. at 770.590.7860, ConantOptical.com.

ARCH CROWN PROP 65 COMPLIANCE OP-TAGS AND LABELS

Arch Crown’s custom and pre-printed California Proposition 65 “Warning” Op-Tags and static cling vinyl labels are specifically for eyewear that contain chemicals that require notification under Proposition 65 compliance regulations. Pre-printed Style 217 “Warning” labels are black on clear, static cling vinyl that can be reapplied without losing static cling or scratching lenses. Non-slip Style 830 Op-Tags are black on white plastic that stay in place and are ideal carriers for computer labels or barcodes. Both styles are available in three “Warning” versions: cancer, reproductive harm and both cancer and reproductive harm. For more information, contact Arch Crown, Inc. at 800.526.8353, ArchCrown.com.

FEELER TIPS AND BLOCKS FOR NIDEK EDGERS FROM DYNAMIC LABS Dynamic Labs has released pliable oval blocks for Nidek edgers. Blocks are 17 x 30 mm and come in red and green available in bags of 10. New feeler tips for lens measurement units are available as a single pair in both right and left tips. Feeler tips will not scratch lenses and can be used on Santinelli LE and LEX 1000, 9000 and 1200 edgers. For more information, contact Dynamic Labs, Inc. at 888.339.6264, DynamicLabs.net.

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OpticalLabProducts.com

NEW For the Lab

IMPROVED CAD-CON 1000 FROM PSI

Cad-Con 1000 has been reformulated with higher-grade, less-dense chemicals to give Cad-Con a “powder-like” texture that mixes better with wastewater, according to Practical Systems, Inc. (PSI). The new chemicals completely separate treated wastewater from sediment, leaving a clear effluent and distinct sediment layer in the bottom of a bucket or tank, which remains intact to eliminate the need to absorb residual water with either paper or other absorbents. Leftover sediment forms a wet paste that can be scraped and accumulated in a dedicated container. For more information, contact Practical Systems, Inc. at 800.237.8154, LookToPSI.com.

HOYA ID LIFESTYLE 3 LENSES

This new lens design comes in three variations for patients’ preferences: iD LifeStyle Indoor for near vision focus; iD LifeStyle Urban that offers equal focus on all main vision areas; and iD LifeStyle Outdoor for distance vision. Each design utilizes Hoya’s patented Integrated Dual Side Optics platform that separates vertical and horizontal components of a prescription, and Binocular Harmonization Technology (BHT), which treats right and left prescriptions as individual components to define the binocular lens design and calculate the necessary corridor length and progressive power distribution.

For more information, contact Hoya Vision Care at 800.423.2361, HoyaVision.com.

OpticalLabProducts.com

YOUNGER OPTICS’ NUPOLAR LENSES NOW IN MIRROR COATS NuPolar polarized lenses are now available in three mirror coats: silver, blue and gold mirrors. Mirror coating is applied to semifinished lenses at the factory to expedite turnaround times. NuPolar Mirror lenses are currently available in digital PAL and SFSV hard resin. For more information, contact Younger Optics at 800.366.5367, YoungerOptics.com.

FEBRUARY 2019

13

EVENTS

C

ESSILOR OF AMERICA’S IDD DIVISION

Recognizes Partners

herry Optical, Inc. of Green Bay, WI, was recognized as the Essilor IDD Lab of the Year at the Vision Excellence Awards on Jan. 8 at the JW Marriott Desert, held during Essilor’s National Sales Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

In addition to being honored as Lab of the Year, Cherry Optical, Inc. also received the Xperio UV Award of Excellence, and Adam Cherry, president, was honored with the Essilor IDD V.I.P Award for National Labs.

The IDD (Independent Distribution Division) hosts the Vision Other winners were: Walman Optical, Essilor Transitions Award Excellence Awards to present its annual laboratory awards, which of Excellence; Perfect Optical, Crizal Award of Excellence; Green recognize independent distributors Optics, Varilux Award of Excellence; that have achieved top performance in “Our independent laboratory partners continue Scott Hamey of Versant Health, both sales and unit growth within speEssilor IDD V.I.P Award for Managed to deliver superb products and services to our Vision Care Labs; and Mike Shane of cific Essilor product categories. customers and patients.” - John Walborn, Senior OnSight Optical, Essilor IDD V.I.P “Our independent laboratory partVice President of Wholesale Business, Essilor Award for Wholesale Labs. ners continue to deliver superb products and services to our customers and Essilor’s IDD offers independent patients,” said John Walborn, senior vice president of wholesale busilabs products, services and programs to help them increase sales revness, who presented the awards. “We greatly appreciate their continenue and margins. It currently works with 185 independent labs with ued commitment to innovation, superior service and delivering the more than 250 lab locations throughout the U.S. best vision solutions and experience possible.”

Cherry Optical receives the Xperio UV Award of Excellence. From left to right: Ed Repp, KBco (Essilor); Shon Bjornberg, vice president, IDD; Bill Lee, premium brand consultant, Cherry Optical, Inc.; Kathryn Sanetra, sales representative, Cherry Optical, Inc.; John Walborn, senior vice president of wholesale business, Essilor; Joanna Ruiz, premium brand consultant, Cherry Optical, Inc.; and Adam Cherry, president, Cherry Optical, Inc.

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FEBRUARY 2019

Walman Optical was honored with the Transitions Award of Excellence. From left to right: Marty Bassett, president and CEO, Walman Optical; Shon Bjornberg; Bryan Schueler, vice president and general manager, Walman Optical; John Walborn

OpticalLabProducts.com

LAB News

LARRY SOMRACK INDUCTED AS ASM TRUSTEE NSL Analytical President Larry Somrack was selected to serve on the 2018-2019 ASM International Board of Trustees. Somrack, who was formally inducted at ASM’s annual meeting in October, will serve a term of three years as a trustee. ASM International provides reference resources and training to materials scientists and engineers.

RECOGNITION FOR DIGITAL EYE LAB NETWORK Digital Eye Lab Network (DEL), a division of ABB Optical Group, recently received the Corporate Partner Award from The Arc Westchester for providing employment opportunities to those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. DEL, located in Hawthorne, NY, has eight full-time employees recruited through The Arc Westchester, an organization that connects people with disabilities to the Westchester County employment community.

LARRY CLARKE LEAVES SATISLOH FOR NEW ROLE AT ESSILOR OF AMERICA; RICHARD HUGHES NAMED PRESIDENT Larry Clarke, former president and CTO of Satisloh, is now president of Nassau/OOGP and Optical Supplies, as of Jan. 1. Peter Lothes, who had served most recently as president of Satisloh North America, took over Clarke’s role. Richard Hughes assumed Lothes’ position as president of Satisloh North America.

“I am excited for this new challenge and growth opportunity and thrilled to turn over the reins at Satisloh to a successor who is more customer-focused than anyone that I have met in the optical industry,” Clarke said in a statement.

Larry Clarke

Hughes began his career in the optical industry as director of sales and service for ophthalmic instruments at Beitler McKee Optical Company in Pittsburgh, later becoming vice president of lab operations and sales and then president and CEO, continuing in this role after Essilor’s acquisition of the lab. He later held several executive positions in operations and sales, including as vice president and GM Northeastern Partner Labs for ELOA. “I am eager to get to know Satisloh’s customers and to partner with them on future endeavors,” Hughes said. “It’s exciting to join the Satisloh team and contribute to future successes by continuing to deliver the very best in products, services and solutions to the market.”

Richard Hughes

OpticalLabProducts.com

FEBRUARY 2019

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LAB News

MEI OPENS REPAIR FACILITY IN U.S.

To serve its U.S., Canada and Mexico customers quickly and efficiently, MEI recently opened a repair facility outside of Chicago dedicated to spindles and other critical parts for its edgers. The facility is equipped with testing instruments that meet MEI’s standards and stocks an extensive inventory of spare parts.

The repair lab is certified by MEI’s Quality Control Team in Italy and is its only U.S.-authorized spindle repair facility.

AL BEDNAR HAS JOINED COBURN TECHNOLOGIES AS DIRECTOR OF LABORATORY SALES FOR THE U.S. AND CANADA.

The Vision Council’s Lab Division is updating Chemical Management and OSHA compliance resources to reflect regulatory changes. Visit The Lab Division page at www.TheVisionCouncil.org https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/ members/osha-300-log-and-300-annualsummary to find out more.

SAVE THE DATE for Ocuco’s Innovations User Group Meeting in Clearwater Beach, FL: April 5-6, 2019

SCHUNK GROUP ACQUIRES STAKE IN OPTOTECH The Schunk Group has acquired 51 percent of optical machinery manufacturer OptoTech, which will remain its own business unit and brand within the Schunk Group.

Completed in November, the acquisition will serve to strengthen OptoTech “economically and technologically by the participation of The Schunk Group and continue to play a pioneering role in the optics market in the future,” according to a statement released by the company.

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FEBRUARY 2019

OpticalLabProducts.com

GIVE YOUR LAB THE

ULTRA ADVANTAGE NOW AVAILABLE IN DRUM SIZE

“The 44R was highly recommended to us by another lab. Ultra Optics is the absolute easiest company to deal with from the purchasing process through installation.

We are thrilled with the 44R. Our yields are virtually 100%. This might be the best machine in our lab.”

- Paul Faibish, President at Plastics Plus

SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY NEED.

GET IT RIGHT. EVERY TIME.

Superior coatings for all substrates and essential products for every lab.

The 44R is the fastest and most reliable automated coater, offering the best coating yields in the market.

• UV-XBT scratch-resistant coating offers unmatched adhesion to all lens substrates • AST-1 scratch-resistant coating is the hardest coating in the optical industry • ClearView is specially formulated to offer the

• Capable of running lenses on or off the block to best fit your lab’s coating needs • 130+ lens-per-hour throughput • Best process technologies give you the lowest breakage rates

best lens preparation prior to backside coating • ConsisTint will eliminate white spots and blotchiness for your tinting department Ask Ultra Optics about our other chemistry offerings such as lens cleaner, ink remover, dye additive and IPA.

ultraoptics.com | 763.488.6030

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The world’s fastest generator

HSC m dulo XT Redefining acceleration With HSC Modulo XTS, SCHNEIDER has accomplished a quantum leap in high-speed cutting, creating the fastest generator in the market.

The heart of the machine is the new and extremely powerful XS-motor, redefining acceleration in ophthalmics. The generator’s machine base has been designed to be extra rigid to withstand the extreme forces exerted. Combined with high-frequency drive technology, a new milling spindle, and intelligent algorithms, an ingenious generator is formed. A sophisticated swarf management system efficiently keeps the work space clean.

The result: The best lens in the shortest time – Full stop.

www.schneider-om.com

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