& IDEAS
FOR THE LABORATORY PROFESSIONAL
OpticalLabProducts.com
O P T I C A L
L A B
SEPTEMBER 2019
PRODUCTS
P R O D U C T S One-to-One • PG 4
News • PG 10
Lab Division Hall of Fame Banquet
SOFTWARE SAVVY
New for the Lab• PG 14
PG 6
OpticalLabProducts.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
1
In The Lab
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2019
OPINIONS
OPINIONS 01 02
In the Lab
04
One-to-One with
Rollins on Marketing
Keith Grossman
FEATURES 05
Advisory Board Member Profile: Tom Schroeder
06
Software Savvy
RUNDOWN 10
Lab News: Lab Division Hall of Fame
12 14
Expo Insider New for the Lab
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 REGIONAL SALES MANAGER | Eric Hagerman • EHagerman@FVMG.com
www.Facebook.com/OpticalLabProducts www.Twitter.com/OLP_Magazine www.Linkedin.com/company/Optical-Lab-Products
OpticalLabProducts.com
SHOW; Don’t Tell There’s much in store for us at Vision Expo West.
I
t’s the end of summer, which means two things for OLP: gearing up for Vision Expo West and getting ready to visit the magazine’s Lab Innovator of 2019, which will be revealed in the November issue. Here’s a teaser: Like many labs, this year’s pick is family-owned and operated. Is it automated? Yes! Have you heard of it? Yes! Back to Vegas: New products and automated technology will debut at the show. From a new blocker by Coburn, to advanced solutions from both Satisloh and Schneider, this year’s show should prove to be an exciting one (see page 14 for new products). And, of course, what OLP is also looking forward to: The Lab Division Hall of Fame celebration. In this issue, we interviewed the six 2019 Hall of Fame inductees to get their take on why the Lab Division is important to the industry and also how it feels to be honored by their peers (see page 10). OLP also spoke with Steve Sutherlin who is this year’s recipient of the Directors’ Choice
Award. As the Lab Division’s liaison to The Vision Council for now more than four years, Sutherlin is a tireless champion of the committee and its mission to help its members by providing various benefits, programs and information. “What this organization does for its members is beyond compare,” Sutherlin told OLP. “Putting the long list of benefits aside, the way the organization fights for members’ causes, as well as the way it helps grow the entire industry, is amazing. I can’t imagine why any lab would not be a part of it.” Speaking of awards, Keith Grossman of Simplify Optics is featured in One to One on page 4. Read what he has to say about the lab business and receiving COLA’s Goodfellow Award (just as his father did). Hopefully many of you will be at Vision Expo, and if you are, be sure to check out Expo Insider on page 12 for a round-up of specials and promos. See you there!
Cara Huzinec is Editor of OLP. CHuzinec@FVMG.com.
SEPTEMBER 2019
1
OPINIONS
Rollins on Marketing
NEW SEASON; New Opportunities It’s also a great time to schedule seminars and “Lunch and Learns” for customers. Fall and spring are the best times to get maximum turnout for educational and sales events: not as many people are on vacation, and cold winter weather won’t keep customers away.
By Eric Rollins
W
ith back-toschool season upon us, it seems like we all refocus our energies toward growing our business. Now that we’ve had the great vacation and spent some time decompressing, it’s time to put our “game face” on and get back in the business saddle.
We are living in the days of data-driven operations. This empowers us to mine important data from our computer management systems for strategic purposes to then design educational and training programs around the intelligence we have gathered. For example, we know that research has shown a large percentage of computer or “screen” users suffer from some aspect of Computer Vision Syndrome. Some research shows as many as 70% of screen users are affected, yet only
about 5% of patients are prescribed computer lenses. Talk about a huge opportunity. Why do we have the gap between the need and the fulfillment? One of the reasons is training. Doctors may not feel comfortable with prescribing computer lenses due to a lack of knowledge about how they function, which lenses work for which type of screen or patient, and how to fit them. Staff may have the same concerns. This is a great Lunch and Learn opportunity. By the way, your customer service department and sales team may have some of the same concerns. If so, it’s time to call your lens vendors to come in and train your staff. Make sure that a part of this training includes fitting your team in computer lenses. The best way to present a product is to use it yourself.
Run a promotion with the Lunch and Learns. Fit customers with computer lenses and have a spiff for the next three months to ensure that the training takes hold. The best way to ensure training is effective is to turn the process into a habit: When your customers have fit dozens of patients with computer lenses and seen the positive results, you have achieved your goal.
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.
DIGITAL VISION TAKES OUR CUSTOMERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL Do you feel stuck at your lab with manual workarounds? Do simple tasks seem harder than they should be? DVI's flexible software and responsive support helps you take command of your lab's processes. Our guiding principle is to empower customers of all sizes to run their labs efficiently, in a way that makes sense for them. Our industry leading system provides tools to streamline, automate, and integrate all aspects of your business. Our consulting partnership ensures you're never left wondering what to do next. As an independent company focused solely on the optical lab industry, our only agenda is your success. Phone: 503.231.6606 Fax: 503.231.4943 6805 SE Milwaukie Ave. Portland, OR 97202
www.thedvi.com
2
SEPTEMBER 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
Tom Schroeder
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
OLP WELCOMES
TOM SCHROEDER
TO ITS ADVISORY BOARD Tom Schroeder may have an old-fashioned attitude on customer service, but his philosophy on equipment is cutting edge.
Tom Schroeder remembers visiting his father’s and grandfather’s lab as a young 4-or 5-year-old boy, eventually spending summers as a teenager working at Schroeder Optical. By the time he graduated college in 1991, he worked full time in the Roanoke, VA-based lab, learning every aspect of the business and eventually managing the company’s sales and marketing prior to becoming president in 2000. Since its founding in 1972 by Schroeder’s grandfather Bill and his father Bob, Schroeder Optical has emphasized education: training staff and customers on new products and services, and in the last six years, has purchased and installed digital surfacing technology from Schneider Optical Machines, has upgraded its AR coating process and added MEI’s 641 TBA to its finishing department. In addition, Schroeder replaced its Schneider Swift polishers with a CCP Modulo polisher and just last month ordered a Schneider Modulo XTS generator to make the lab’s surfacing fully automated. “Schroeder Optical is committed to purchasing new technology and to producing our work locally,” Schroeder said. “Our customer service team can walk in the lab to check on a job for a customer; we are not 100% dependent on lab management software for answers. We approach customer service the way we have for 47 years, but we approach grinding lenses with the most up-to-date technology in the industry.”
OpticalLabProducts.com
Schroeder Optical processes about 225 jobs with 17 employees and runs digital lens designs from Shamir, Seiko and IOT, plus its house brand of digital lenses. Schroeder said independent labs today need to stay current with technology and offer great service to stay competitive. Schroeder optical has a Virginia-licensed optician on staff who conducts customized training for the lab’s customers as part of its services.
“We approach customer service the way we have for 47 years, but we approach grinding lenses with the most up-to-date technology in the industry.” Schroeder will, of course, attend Vision Expo West, which he says he enjoys to take the opportunity to look at equipment and catch up with others in the industry. “I enjoy being a part of the Lab Division and encourage folks to attend the Lab Division meeting at Vision Expo West,” he said. “It’s always a treat to visit with vendors and see all the great new things they have to offer.”
SEPTEMBER 2019
3
ONE TO ONE: KEITH GROSSMAN
Q&A Q: Can you take us
Valencia, CA, Keith Grossman spoke to OLP about what differentiates this lab and what receiving the COLA Goodfellow Award (following in his father’s footsteps) meant to him.
Onsite customer service is something that used to be stan-
through your career and how you got started in optical?
dard in the lab business, but now it seems to be a niche. We
A: My mom and dad, Neil and
gifted individuals who have a passion for what we do.
Jo Anne Grossman, founded a lab in Los Angeles called Empire Optical in 1971. Growing up, working in the lab was a regular routine over the summer, where my sister and I were given different jobs throughout the lab. I attended and graduated from UCLA, which was geographically close to Empire. Fortunately, I was able to work at the lab while also completing my college education. After graduation, I came on board full time and immersed myself in every facet of the business. I had two incredible mentors in my dad and our business partner, Noel Diaz. We steadily grew our lab by earning a strong reputation for service and quality. I learned the industry from the ground up from some incredibly gifted people that I worked alongside at Empire.
Q: When and how did the idea for Simplify Optics come about?
A: The idea for Simplify Optics was a collaboration with Noel Diaz, Javan Diaz and VSP. Our
4
As owner of Simplify Optics in
SEPTEMBER 2019
will never farm this out to another location and will employ
vision was to create a full-service lab that focused on making the customer experience simple. Collectively, we felt the industry needed an organization to fill the premium laboratory niche, and we came together to form Simplify Optics in September 2017.
Q: Given the current
climate of the lab industry, did you consider opening a new lab to be a risk?
A: Any time you start a business there will always be a risk no matter how much experience you may have. Building a new brand in the lab business is not for the faint of heart as it requires lots of hours, money and creativity. In the southwestern market, we are surrounded by many strong competitors, and the practices we work for have impeccable standards. However, we believe that if you bring consistent service and quality to the customers you can become successful. We continue to do our best to earn a strong reputation
and thankfully, word has started to spread about our company.
Q: How did you come up with the name?
A: Our goal as a laboratory is to be simple to do business with. We are obsessed with simplifying the customer experience externally while also simplifying the internal process for our own team. We purposely chose the name Simplify rather than Simplified because making your customers’ lives easier is a constant work in progress. It is never truly completed as we are always challenging ourselves to improve.
Q: What’s unique about Simplify Optics?
A: We feel that we are a throwback to how labs used to treat and interact with their customers. As owners, we believe in “hands-on ownership,” and we work in the lab with our team every single day. We have consistent interactions with our
customers and focus intensely on our internal systems. Our entire team is trained in L.E.A.N. – Six Sigma, which brings consistent quality to our work. We outsource very few products and focus on making as many products under our roof to avoid frustrating wait times.
Q: What key services
do you provide to your customers?
A: Onsite customer service is something that used to be standard in the lab business, but now it seems to be a niche. We will never farm this out to another location and will employ gifted individuals who have a passion for what we do. Our lab only produces digitally surfaced progressives on the most advanced equipment available. This allows us to keep a sufficient inventory level and reduce turnaround time for our practices.
Q: What lenses do you process?
A: We feature the entire family of Unity, Shamir and Techshield premium products in our laboratory. We have a couple house brands that we utilize on occasion that were designed in partnership with IOT.
OpticalLabProducts.com
Q: How automated is the
Q: What goes into your
lab and where do you think lab automation is headed?
and what do you believe these labs need to do to stay competitive?
decisions to purchase new equipment? Any plans to purchase and install new equipment in the future?
A: For a smaller startup lab, we have as much automation as the larger corporate labs. From blocking to hard coating, no human touches a lens as it processes through our surface department. In our finish department, we use only robotic MEI edgers. It feels as though automation has slowed down in the last few years, as we still must hand insert lenses into frames and manually tint lenses. In terms of true automation or reduction of processing steps, I believe 3D printing will evolve and revolutionize our industry one day. I also believe that we will see much more automation in the AR coating process than we currently utilize.
A: The challenge as an inde-
A: The decision to purchase new equipment is based on ease of use, consistency, service support and relationships. Obviously like all labs, we want equipment that is up and running the majority of our production day and offers a fair return on investment. We don’t have any immediate needs in terms of new equipment as we purchased the latest, most advanced equipment throughout our laboratory. Any future purchases would be for redundancy and capacity needs.
Q: What challenges do
you see independent labs facing in the near future,
April. How did it feel to be recognized by your peers and to receive the same award your father had received?
pendent lab is to partner with the right companies who share a mutual interest in your success. You also must carefully select the products, equipment and technology to make sure it meets your criteria. It’s too easy to tell every single company “yes” when they seek a partnership. I also believe that independent labs still must lead the way in overall customer experience. We don’t have the same financial resources to compete with the larger corporate labs, but we do have the passion and personal ownership of our business.
Q: You received COLA’s Goodfellow award this
Visit SALEM in Las Vegas:
A: It was humbling to see my name on the same Goodfellow trophy as my father but also so many of the men and women I’ve respected for my entire life. There are many names on that trophy that I would hear about as a kid and had the extreme good fortune to work alongside during my own career. I am truly blessed to have made a career in the optical business where I’ve been surrounded by hardworking, ambitious and selfless people. My dream would be to have one of my own three children follow in my footsteps and continue our family tradition.
BOOTH LP11068
– SEPTEMBER 18-21, 2019 –
CALL SALEM TODAY
SUPERIOR PRODUCTS + UNPARALLELED SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA 800.445.6339
NORTH CAROLINA 800.234.1982 www.salemdist.com
CANADA 844.858.7444
Aspire™ lens polish | Sentry lens tape | SALEM Ultra-Pure 117 degree alloy | MORE!
OpticalLabProducts.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
5
SOFTWARE SAVVY Updates to popular lab management software systems will get your lab running smoothly and efficiently. OCUCO Ocuco’s new generation of software maximizes production. Its Innovations LMS enables labs to improve manufacturing processes through new tools and off-site monitoring capabilities. “Already trusted for providing workflow monitoring and the ability to enhance every aspect of production through customizable lab configuration, Innovations takes this technology to the next level while still offering software that fits any lab size,” said Ron Kroll, Ocuco Lab Division. Software updates include the Innovations Inventory Manager, which enables lens picking from inventory according to the selection rules set in place by the lab. If a particular lens is out of stock, Innovations can automatically pick another lens or outsource the job. An enhanced Cycle Count technology ensures inventory numbers in Innovations are accurate and match the physical stock. Lab Link 3.0, Ocuco’s latest update to its online remote order
6
SEPTEMBER 2019
portal, now allows labs to specify which coatings are available for which lenses, simplifying online ordering for ECPs and making it easier to match lenses with the right coatings. Other recent updates include the Innovations job staging, allowing frames to be stored without having to use a job tray. Labs can also calculate where an order will be and at what time as it moves through the lab with the production scheduler, which also gives the labs the ability to provide accurate delivery estimates. An advanced productivity tracking dashboard monitors productivity and performance of equipment, personnel and various departments. Invoicing is also easier thanks to software maintenance of data for each account, including contact names, addresses, payment terms and shipping references.
OpticalLabProducts.com
DIGITAL VISION, INC. Over the past two years, DVI has been delivering software to labs to handle online ordering difficulties more efficiently. If a job has not been started, DVI’s software allows the order to be canceled or changed without a phone call or intervention from the lab. If production has started, a hold is placed on the order, flagging the job and stopping it from proceeding in the lab. Notification is delivered to the appropriate lab personnel who can take the necessary steps to revise or cancel the order. DVI is able to work with various ordering systems to make this come together as part of its Enterprise Module.
OPTICAL LAB SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS Succeeding Essilor’s OMICS lab management software, Rx-Universe LMS offers an upgrade to labs currently using OMICS software, including a complete migration of existing OMICS database to the new Rx-Universe technology. Rx-Universe features a user interface with support for multi-lingual user screens (including Chinese character sets), and order entry is now on one screen, which replaces the four character-based screen used in OMICS. Other new features include graphical 3D lens rendering with finished thickness, user-definable work tickets, graphical reports in PDF format and enhanced user profiles with detailed access and security options.
FEATURE FAVORITES FEA Industries, Inc. recently switched its software platform to DVI, after 30 years of using a different system. After making the switch, the change wasn’t easy and was a process to relearn and retrain, according to William Heffner, IV, director of IT, marketing and sales at the Morton, PA-based lab. However, he said, they could tell the new software system would provide a beneficial change. In addition to being able to power updated scoreboards for all production lines in the lab, FEA’s DVI software also provides automated inventory updating, which is Heffner’s favorite feature, and it interfaces with the lab’s automated inventory and retrieval system by RAX Solutions. “This combination of machinery and management software makes it possible for us to know exactly how many lenses we have in inventory, along with the base curves, materials, colors, types — everything,” Heffner said. “This makes ordering lenses we don’t have effortless; there is no human needed to go check the shelves or try to find out if ‘we have that somewhere, I think.’” Another lab, Cincinnati-based R&D Optical, chose to utilize Ocuco’s Innovations LMS. Owner Ronald Cooke said the software offers a 3D view of the lens once calculations are made, which allows the lab to see the lens from all angles and inspect cut-outs and edge thickness in a way previously unavailable. The software’s online ordering is user friendly, and the lab received orders much faster and more accurately. “Two other unique aspects are the workflow monitor and job staging,” Cooke said. “We can see at any moment where the bottlenecks are so they can be eliminated, and job staging allows us to handle the frame to follow jobs much more quickly than before, with extreme accuracy.”
OpticalLabProducts.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
7
Extreme Closeup
SPONSORED CONTENT
ANYTHING BUT AVERAGE AST-2 Scratch Resistant Coating is the latest product from Ultra Optics, offering superior durability and adhesion to change the game on spin coatings.
DETAILS
AST-2 Scratch Resistant Coating is the latest coating from Ultra Optics to hit the market. AST-2 is a high performance coating designed to give Ultra Optics customers the best hardness, adhesion, clarity and AR compatibility than other spin coatings. “Our customers are always looking for the best coatings available to bring the best lens products to market,” said Joel Johnson, sales manager at Ultra Optics. “This is the reason for our continued development of our products: to offer the best spin coatings and machinery available to our loyal customers.”
BACK STORY
With the continued growth of AR coatings, it is paramount for labs to use a coating that provides superior adhesion to all substrates, no crazing characteristics, consistent lens center to edge film thickness, and durable scratch resistance. AST-2 Scratch Resistant Coating allows labs to achieve this.
WOW FACTOR
With the objective to develop a scratch resistant spin coating, Ultra Optics’s AST-2 is the clearest coating available on the market, according to the company. “AST-2 offers the hardest Bayer Value of a spin coating, and we see 100% adhesion to all lens substrates with AST-2,” Johnson said. “Through testing, there was no crazing or delamination of AR treatments. AST-2 is a game-changer.”
Ultra Optics | 800.365.9993 | UltraOptics.com | Vision Expo West Booth #LP4079
8
SEPTEMBER 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
CLASS OF 2019 SIX INDUSTRY VETERANS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE 2019 LAB DIVISION HALL OF FAME; WITH STEVE SUTHERLIN RECEIVING THE DIRECTORS’ CHOICE AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS 45 YEARS IN THE OPTICAL INDUSTRY. HERE, EACH TELLS OLP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LAB DIVISION TO THE LAB INDUSTRY AND HOW IT FEELS TO BE INDUCTED INTO ITS HALL OF FAME.
Steve Sutherlin
LAB DIVISION LIAISON, THE VISION COUNCIL
On receiving the Directors’ Choice Award: “I am beyond humbled to be chosen for this award. When I look at the list of previous recipients, it’s hard to believe that I could be considered in that same category. Our industry has had so many people who have had an unbelievable impact — Sophia Loren was the first recipient. I doubt that anyone would have ever put the two of us in the same sentence! I have a long list of people who helped along the way, but its starts with my family members who I worked with every day, and all of the people I had the privilege to work with on the OLA board and in my time at The Vision Council.” On the significance of the Lab Division: “It has been quite an honor to be the liaison for the Lab Division for the past four-and-a-half years, and what this organization does for its members is beyond compare: putting the long list of member benefits aside, the way the organization fights for members’ causes and the way it helps grow the entire industry is amazing. I can’t imagine why any lab would not want to be a part of it. The volunteer leadership led by Swen Carlson is so selfless. Swen often begins our calls with ‘I’m taking off my company hat and putting on my Vision Council hat,’ and that is what truly happens. It was the same under Drake McLean before him, and it’s the same for members of the Steering Committee who volunteer their time and talent as well.”
Skip Payne
PRESIDENT, ICARELABS, INC.
Involvement with the Lab Division and its significance: “Icare has been involved with the Lab Division since its inception. The Lab Division serves a vital role in the industry by being a single source of information for all labs, big and small.” Reaction to induction into the Hall of Fame: “It is an honor beyond words. I grew up in the industry admiring many of the past honorees, including my father (John W. Payne). I never dreamed I would be on the same list.”
Arman Bernardi
PRESIDENT AND CEO, ICOAT COMPANY, LLC
Involvement with the Lab Division and its significance: “iCoat has been a Vision Council member since 2005. The Lab Division gives optical labs a common platform to voice concerns, share experiences, explore technological advancements, discuss industry standards and offer educational programs to help labs improve. ” Reaction to induction into the Hall of Fame: “I am very thankful and honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Of course, it feels great to be inducted, but equally important, this industry recognition makes it extra special for our team’s years of dedicated focus in helping to improve the quality of vision for millions of consumers ever year. ”
10
SEPTEMBER 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
Kevin Rupp
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NORTH AMERICA INTEGRATION, ESSILOR OF AMERICA
Involvement with the Lab Division and its significance: “Throughout my career I have been involved in the optical lab industry as an executive at Essilor. I have been involved in the acquisition of laboratories and also in many different business transactions involving the lab principles and business. The Lab Division is important to this industry because the product produced in the laboratory is the face of the optical industry; it provides improved vision that leads everyone to a more complete and full life.” Reaction to induction into the Hall of Fame: “Initial reaction: They know I’m a finance guy, right? Seriously, it’s a great honor to be recognized as a contributor to this great industry and to be included with a group of people who have made this industry what it is.”
Ed DeRosa
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTH AMERICA SALES, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND MARKETING, SIGNET ARMORLITE
Involvement with the Lab Division and its significance: “I have supported the Lab Division my whole career since its beginning when it was called the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA). The Lab Division is committed to serving the needs of its members and the vision industry. Its mission, ‘To champion better vision for better lives’ aligns with our mission of “Improving lives by improving sight.” Reaction to induction into the Hall of Fame: “It’s very humbling and exciting to be recognized by your peers, customers and industry veterans to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and I’m honored to be inducted with such a great group of people.”
Yvette Carranza
DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS, DVI, INC.
Involvement with the Lab Division and its significance: “I have been a member since 1993 and actively participate and support all Lab Division functions at Vision Expo East and West. I am also a 21-year member of the Optical Women’s Association. The Lab Division provides many great services to optical labs. Some of the most important, I believe, are the ANSI standards and legal guidance with HIPAA and other government regulations. It’s always adding new tools and resources.” Reaction to induction into the Hall of Fame: “I am extremely honored and deeply humbled.”
Jörg Spangemacher MAFO MAGAZINE
Involvement with the Lab Division and its significance: “I became involved with the Lab Division after founding MAFO magazine in 2000 and MAFO – The Conference. Over the years, I had attended OLA events as an inquisitive editor. The Lab Division has a very important mission for the optical industry and for their people for continuing education and new information on political changes.” Reaction to induction into the Hall of Fame: “It is a great honor to be a member of the Hall of Fame and I never expected to get this grant of honor. I just did my job and liked it by heart.”
OpticalLabProducts.com
SEPTEMBER 2019
11
EXPO INSIDER DEALS & PROMOS AT VISION EXPO WEST A SOIREE at Satisloh Satisloh is hosting a reception at its booth at 11am on Thursday of the show. Pop by to see its new ART-Deblocker-2 and other technology on display.
Booth #LP5065
DAC Deals DAC Technologies is showcasing its entire line of National Optronics finishing equipment, including the QM-X3 edger and Dimension Tracer, the 7Ex edger, 4Tx tracer and 3Bx blocker. Check out DAC’s show specials on these machines plus its line of coatings, surfacing and finishing products. Booth #LP8088
POP by PSI Practical Systems, Inc. is offering 10% off its Stacker/Destacker for in-line automation and logistics. Be sure to grab a free sample of PSI’s new Oleo-Gold Blocking Pads, on which the company is also offering show special pricing.
Booth #LP6085
A FREEBIE at Younger Optics ECPs can receive a pair of Camber Steady premium progressive lenses free of charge by stopping at Younger Optics. Also be sure to catch a demonstration of Transitions Signature Gen 8 lenses to see how they compare to Transitions Signature VII while there. Booth #LP7087
DEEP DISCOUNT at Optivision Optivision is offering a Vision Expo West-only discount of $5,000 off its full line of lab management software. Optivision software features online Rx ordering, remote tracing, inventory and invoicing management and more for any size lab.
Booth #LP6202
SCHNEIDER Debut See a demonstration of Schneider’s Modulo Center 80 all-in-one surfacing center that combines milling, turning, polishing and laser marking and surfaces 80 lenses per hour. Catch the HSE Modulo QS edger in action and the debut of its new spin technology, the SPP Modulo, and a fully automated in-line brush-cleaning system, the LCU 120, both premiering day one of the show. Booth #LP5095
NEW BLOCKER on Display at Coburn
Take a walk to Coburn to see the newly released Spectrum Prismatic Lens Blocker, which is compatible with all surfacing machines and provides precise alignment of a lens at the correct prism angle. Booth #LP6075
12
SEPTEMBER 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
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
NEW For the Lab
SCHNEIDER’S SPP MODULO
Launching at Vision Expo West, the SPP Modulo from Schneider Optical Machines replaces tape to protect lenses during surfacing by utilizing UV-curable liquid protection layers that are evenly distributed across the lens. The layer of liquid covers while tightly adhering, even to extreme flat top bifocals or very curved lenses. Lacquer lasts the entire shift to provide uninterrupted processing and minimal downtime, according to Schneider. For more information, contact Schneider Optical Machines at 972.247.4000; Schneider-om.com.
PSI’S EXPANDED LINE OF CHILLERS
Practical Systems, Inc. now offers an expanded line of four chillers ranging from 5,800 BTU up to 30,709 BTU. Compact and self-contained, chillers offer both front and rear ventilation and can be placed in tight spaces or close to a wall. Chillers also offer a convenient function panel that includes a timer, low tank level indicator, power failure auto re-start and anti-freezing operations, and they use an efficient refrigerant that won’t harm the ozone layer, according to PSI. For more information, contact Practical Systems, Inc. at 800.237.8154; LookToPSI.com.
SPARTAN LENS TAPE FROM DYNAMIC LABS
Spartan Lens Tape with liner offers lens protection with a secure hold and easy release. Tape comes in both a “medium tac” and “high tac” versions when a higher torque can cause slipping. Spartan Lens Tape was specifically designed to reduce numerous surfacing problems for customers and was tested with lens manufacturers and wholesale labs, according to the company. For more information, contact Dynamic Labs at 888.339.6264; DynamicLabs.net.
SATISLOH DEBUTS TWO TECHNOLOGIES AT VEW
Expanding its green blocking solutions, Satisloh is unveiling two machines with alloy replacement technology (ART) at Vision Expo West. The ART-Block-Pod is an automated block piece-handling system that eliminates manual block handling by automatically selecting correct block pieces for each job and sorts and stores them. The ART-Block-Pod can store 864 block pieces and supports up to four high-speed generators to launch 200 jobs per hour. The automated ART-Deblocker-2 separates the lens from the block piece and adhesive using high-pressure water jets and accurately sorts blocks back to job trays after deblocking. The ART-Deblocker-2 is equipped with a water filtration unit for increased productivity and consistent water quality. Both machines can be fully integrated with the company’s MES-360 Manufacturing Execution System. For more information, contact Satisloh North America, Inc. at 800.866.5640, Satisloh.com.
14
SEPTEMBER 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
NEW For the Lab
IOT’S INSPEQTOR
Labs can detect lens errors and improve lens quality with InspeQtor from IOT, a tool that monitors lens production quality using a lensometer. Using a Go-No-Go indicator (“Go” indicates lens has met production standard; “No-Go” means it hasn’t), InspeQtor indicates the lens was manufactured to predetermined quality standards and shows an analysis of the lens and its Go-No-Go variables. For more information, contact IOT America at 877.414.7809; IOTAmerica.com.
DAC TECHNOLOGIES’ AQUA DISTILL
Aqua Distill from DAC Technologies allows labs to conserve water and recycle toxic metal waste while complying with environmental regulations by effectively distilling alloy reclaim tank water and separating toxic residue into a waste bag. Available in 5, 15 and 20 gallon sizes, Aqua Distill uses computer-monitored technology with a self-diagnostic system. For more information, contact DAC Technologies at 800.800.1550; DACTechnologies.com.
SUNSYNC ELITE XT LENSES FROM VSP OPTICS
SunSync Elite XT photochromic lenses from VSP Optics feature fast fade-back speed, ultra-dark outdoor color and 100% UV protection. Lenses also offer blue light filtration and in-car color retention. When tested at 73.4˚ Fahrenheit, SunSync Elite XT lenses in polycarbonate had a T1/2 of 120 seconds, according to the company. For more information, contact VSP Optics at SunSyncLenses.com.
SPECTRUM PRISMATIC LENS BLOCKER FROM COBURN TECHNOLOGIES
Coburn’s Spectrum Prismatic Lens Blocker provides precise alignment of lenses at the correct prism angle. It measures the front curve and sends a warning if the blank is incorrect, eliminating blank selection errors, and the measurement can also be provided to lab management software for modification of back curve calculations. The Spectrum blocker is available with multiple blocking ring configurations from 50mm to 63mm and is also available in a plano, non-prismatic version. For more information, contact Coburn Technologies at 800.262.8761; CoburnTechnologies.com.
16
SEPTEMBER 2019
OpticalLabProducts.com
N E W F R O M YO U N G E R O P T I C S :
NUPOLAR H I- IND EX
1.67 F T28 BIFOCAL LENSES
A great option for high-Rx flat-top wearers o Thinner, better-looking lenses o Better optics for high prescriptions o Reduced weight on large sunwear frames o Accomodates patients who may have been missing out on the benefits of NuPolar! GRAY-3 AND BROWN RX RANGE: -11.00 D TO +6.00 D ADD RANGE: +1.50 D TO +3.00 D BASE CURVES: 2, 4, 6
ORDER NOW FROM YOUNGER OPTICS:
800-366-5367
NUPOLAR WARRANTY
NuPolar is a registered trademark of Younger Mfg. Co.
Replacing Tape
NEW
SPP m dulo Spin Protection Technology SPP Modulo replaces tape to optimally protect the lens during the surfacing process utilizing UV-curable liquid protection layers. Evenly distributed across the lens, the layer optimally covers it while adhering tightly to it – even with extremely curved lenses or extreme flat top bifocals. Problems such as wrinkles, bubbles, or detaching, commonly known with tape, that cause power or cosmetic defects are prevented. The protection layer can be removed easily with SCHNEIDER’s tape-stripping technology.
Tape vs. Spin Protection layer
Besides surfacing protection, this new technology can also be used for ideal protection of blanks and semi-finished goods at different stages such as storage or transportation. Come and join us for the US premiere at Vision Expo West // September 19 – 21, 2019 // Booth LP5095
www.schneider-om.com