It's a Small World

Today's small equipment options are more diverse and easier to use, making smaller footprint in-office labs increasingly viable for ECPs

By Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

Equipment manufacturers are utilizing “tiny technology” to shrink the size and weight of in-office lens production equipment, while ramping up performance. Following is a rundown of some of the latest offerings for this market segment.

■ AIT INDUSTRIES, recently named the U.S. distributor for the WECO industrial product line, introduces the WECO 580 Patternless Edging System. It offers integrated drilling, auto blocking, grooving, internal/external safety and multiple beveling programs, continuous 3D mapping, high base curve wrap edging, and camera-assisted blocking with auto recognition. Dimensions: 22.4'' H x 20'' W x 24.2'' D.

INFO: aitindustries.com

■ BRIOT USA's Alta XS mid-range edging and drilling system features the Alta XS tracer-blocker and Alta NX edger-drill. It includes Briot's exclusive PROS imaging technology to capture an on-screen image of any rimless lens, pattern, or demo and store it in a system library. Digiform software is used to modify the shape of rimless lenses for customization. The Alta NX edger's customizable screen settings allow users to personalize the screen. Dimensions: Alta XS tracer-blocker 23'' H x 13'' W x 20'' D, Alta NX edger-drill 22.5'' H x 20'' W x 24'' D.

INFO: briot-usa.com

■ COBURN TECHNOLOGIES brings free-form, digital processing to in-office labs with LaunchPad, the focal point of the new Free-Form Minilab. A complete lens processing system—from design through surfacing, finishing, and coating—it can be scaled from retail to wholesale environments.

INFO: coburntechnologies.com

Top to bottom: Optek Oasis floorplan, Coburn Technologies' Free-Form Minilab, Briot USA's Alta mid-range edging and drilling system

Top to bottom: WECO's 580 patternless edging system (distributed by AIT Industries), SuperSystems' Optical Technologies Fast Grind for Dummies, Santinelli International's Me 1200

■ ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS' hallmark in-office edging system, Mr. Blue, is a multi-faceted finishing system that offers full-automated centration, accommodates shapes down to 17mm B-size, and offers a unique hybrid platform for wet and dry processing, including milling and drilling. The milling tool allows high-wrap processing up to 9 base, and edging of specialty shapes and premium AR coating. Dimensions: 27.5'' H x 27.5'' W x 20.5'' D.

INFO: essilorinstrumentsusa.com

■ NATIONAL OPTRONICS' Axiom Surface Generator, a third-generation, tabletop in-office generator, provides complete lens processing including generating, cribbing, and pin-beveling in one process step. An upgraded processor drives unsurpassed generating speeds using dry-cut technology. Features include advanced tooling options, integrated smart software, and worker-friendly touchscreen procedures. The unit can cut curves from +6.00 to −30.00D. Dimensions: 21.5'' H x 35.5'' W x 26'' D.

INFO: nationaloptronics.com

■ OPTEK's SFS (Small Footprint Surfacing) entry-level lab is capable of processing brand-name lenses across a full range of Rx's and features a value-orientated combination of computerized and manual equipment to work within a budget yet maintain quality. Installation: As few as 13 linear feet.

INFO: optek-online.com

■ SANTINELLI INTERNATIONAL's retail edging line now includes the Me 1200 compact tabletop lens edger featuring step-beveling for any high-wrap frame, high-curve beveling, partial beveling, partial grooving, design cut, faceting, advanced shape editing, exclusive 3-D grooving, whisper-quiet drilling and notching, all three-piece mount processing capability including Chemistrie Sunlenses with Click Mode, advanced polishing functions, and a diamond grooving wheel. Dimensions: 14'' H x 23.6'' W x 19.5'' D.

INFO: santinelli.com

■ SUPER SYSTEMS OPTICAL TECHNOLOGIES' Fast Grind for Dummies offers faster production and the ability to produce digital-quality (made from digitally-produced molds) PALs and bifocals, including the new ADDVantage PAL and all of the latest multifocal and single-vision lens designs. A three-pad process generates, fines, and polishes lenses using tap water. Dimensions: 28'' x 27''.

INFO: superoptical.com EB

Top to bottom: Mr. Blue from Essilor Instruments, National Optronics' Axiom, Leybold's small footprint lab layout, Optical Dynamics' nanoCLEAR AR 5.1

RETAIL AR UNITS

Big retail is investing in AR in a big way. Recently, Luxottica Group announced that LensCrafters will bring one-hour AR to the optical marketplace. This technology—developed with Essilor—will be up-and-running in 200 LensCrafters stores this year. Since big retail drives the market, get ready to consider your own in-office AR. Here are a few recent intros. ■ COBURN TECHNOLOGIES has introduced the OAC line of AR coating systems ranging from high-volume wholesale to a true retail AR system, featuring four models and several system configuration options. User-friendly AR software plus Coburn's new process allows virtually anyone to run the system. INFO: coburntechnologies.com ■ LEYBOLD OPTICS' CCS Start MiniLab is designed for small spaces. This turnkey, compact AR solution has the ability to produce as much as 30 to 40 pairs of AR lenses per hour. Including all necessary peripheral equipment, it is sized to fit in approximately 350 square feet and be operated by one person. INFO: leyboldoptics.com ■ Ideal for small to mid-sized labs and retailers, OPTICAL DYNAMICS' nanoCLEAR AR 5.1 small footprint system produces digital quality PALs with AR in less than 90 minutes. Designed to work with the Q-2100 Digital Lens System, the unit processes clearLIGHT and now sunSMART and ultraSUN photochromic lenses direct to the patients Rx with AR. INFO: opticaldynamics.com