eye on equipment

Smaller Footprints

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

There has been a significant shift over the last year in equipment manufacturing and distribution. The players are launching more mid-to-small-sized machines of every type, from digital/free-form processing systems to anti-reflective (AR) production.

As with other fields, optical technology is shrinking, becoming faster and more efficient. Equipment has become more accessible to businesses of every type and size, from large optical retailers to one-location practices and online retailers to wholesale labs, causing the industry to reassess its priorities in everything from standards and product offerings to business models and retail revamps.

R&D drives lens production, which drives lens introductions, which in turn drives eyewear sales. Though many ECPs have not seen an increase in unit sales this year, many report an increase in revenue per unit.

One result of higher-ticket sales is increasing interest in adding to or upgrading in-office labs more quickly than expected, in spite of the overall lagging economy.

Equipment manufacturers are launching smaller, tighter, swifter, easier-to-operate, and more durable machines that have more bells and whistles, a trend that is expected to continue. Equipment and lens production is evolving from an art to a science, with the equipment sector leading the industry in this shift.

THE SHORT LIST

Here are some out-of-the-box in-office systems in three categories—AR, lens casting, and surfacing—that can help create a state-of-the-art, small-to-medium-sized lab in-house. In the December issue we'll feature our annual edging roundup, which will bring you up to speed on options in that burgeoning category.

ANTI-REFLECTIVE

• Coburn Technologies: The OAC 25 anti-reflective coating system, create for low-volume environments, yet with a wide variety of AR options, uses ion-assisted vacuum deposition technology. The OAC 25's small footprint, reports the company, comes at a reasonable cost of entry and low cost of ownership.

INFO: coburntechnologies.com

• Leybold Optics USA: Entry-level MINILab offers Computer Controlled System (CCS) AR equipment and backside spin coating hard coat with an overall space requirement of about 350 square feet. EASYLab, a more advanced option, features Leybold's CCS or Boxer machinery for AR with a dip-coating system for hard coat. Space requirement is around 480 square feet.

INFO: leyboldoptics.com

CASTING

• Optical Dynamics Corp: ODC's digital, computerized, cast-to-Rx process produces aspheric, single-vision, bifocal, or multifocal lenses in clear or photochromic options with scratch-resistance in under an hour. NanoCLEAR AR is available in popular designs and takes a little over an hour. Enter the Rx, clean and coat, assemble and fill the mold, and cure.

INFO: opticaldynamics.com

• Opticast: The patented casting and curing system offers flexibility to meet patient needs and time frames—lenses are ready in about one hour.

Semi-automated system components, unique plastic monomers and molds, and anti-reflective lens production (in about 20 minutes) are designed to help improve patient service and practice profitability.

INFO: opticastusa.com

• QSpex Technologies: Create premium lenses in-office with all lens treatments pre-applied to the inside surface of each mold, which is transferred to the lens during curing. Single-use, disposable molds are tossed after use; no gaskets are required as molds have a pre-attached, single-use disposable lens spacer.

INFO: qspex.com

SURFACING

• Optek: Oasis (Optek Advanced System for Integrated Surfacing) MAX is a compact, complete surfacing lab system that easily expands and features three-axis CNC (computer numeric controlled) technology, microprocessor control at every major station with each digitally interfaced to the host Rx computer, and on-board microprocessor control.

INFO: optek-online.com

• Satisloh: The VFT-compact-pro is designed for small and mid-sized labs, yet it has all-format capability, including free-form. The system generates spheric, toric, and free-form surfaces, both convex and concave, and has integrated engraving and semi-automated axis alignment and tool calibration.

INFO: satisloh.com

• Schneider Optical Machines: DSC Prolab fully integrates surfacing procedures. The generator, polisher, laser marker, and measuring unit create a complete surfacing lab system. Integrated hardware and software, driven by on-board lab management and lens design software, feature controls that are graphically displayed on a touchscreen.

INFO: schneider-om.com

• Super Systems Optical Technologies: The Fastgrind all-in-one surfacing system uses a three-pad process to generate, fine, and polish Rx lenses without chemicals, resins, or slurries.

Ideal for space-challenged practices, it takes up less than five square feet, is easy to operate, and produces many lens designs in popular Rx ranges.

INFO: superoptical.com EB