By Andrew Karp: Group Editor, Lenses and Technology

BOCA RATON, Fla.—Quest Optical, a Boca Raton-based company specializing in hard coating technology, is introducing a proprietary photochromic coating that can be applied to any lens material.

The versatile coating can be applied with a spin coater in either a wholesale or retail lab, according to Michael Keating, Quest’s vice president of sales and marketing, adding that Quest also offers a machine developed specifically for producing the coating. “We’re offering it in gray and sahara, which is a shade of brown,” he noted.

Discussing strategy at a recent meeting at Quest Optical’s headquarters, are, left to right, Ed de Rojas, president and CEO; Paul Mellor of Permanento N.V., one of Quest’s European distributors, and Michael Keating, Quest’s vice president of sales and marketing.

The unique product is the latest example of Quest’s innovative approach to developing products and processes for the ophthalmic industry as well as for other industries such as electronics, entertainment, home improvement, and flooring. Founded in 2004 by a team of optical industry veterans headed by Ed de Rojas, the company conducts R&D and produces a wide range of products such as thermal and ultraviolet hard coatings, coating equipment and chemicals used in lens processing, including patent pending hybrid cross linking technology (HCLT) lens coating process. Along with the high performance coatings, Quest Optical markets progressive lens ink marker removers, application and processing equipment and AR and hard coating cleaning solutions.

“One of the things we bring to the table is process development,” said de Rojas, an expert in lens process design, coating and manufacturing who serves as president and CEO of Quest. “We also service machinery. We have five technical support people who can fix our equipment as well as our competitors’ equipment such as LTI or Ultra Optics machines. We even stock and manufacture parts for our competitors’ machines.”

Quest’s diverse technology base is one of its key strengths. “In the current recession, we’ve grown as a result of being in other industries,” said de Rojas, who noted that ophthalmic products account for about 45 percent of the company’s revenue.

Another of Quest’s strengths is the depth of experience of its management team. De Rojas himself is a 36-year optical veteran who has held management positions at manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers such as Essilor, Omega Optical, Vision-Ease, Eye Care Centers of America, VSP and Schneider Optical Machines, North America where he served as president and managing director.

His brother, Al de Rojas, who serves as chief technology officer, has over 31 years of optical experience. A coating expert who holds three U.S. patents, de Rojas was awarded a lifetime achievment award from the Optical Laboratories Association in 2008.

Customer service manager John Healy has also several decades of optical experience and has worked closely with Al de Rojas for many years.

The newest member of the Quest team, Michael Keating, serves as vice president, sales and marketing. Keating has over 30 years of optical industry experience, beginning in 1980 with American Optical’s contact lens division. He has held management positions with Eye Care Centers of America, Neolens and Hoya Vision Care, North America.

While pushing ahead with new R&D projects, Quest is also concentrating on expanding its distribution worldwide. ■ ■

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