54R Spin Coater
Ultra Optics
Fully-automated spin coating machine that Ultra Optics says is smarter, faster and smaller than competitors.
Features:
- Smarter: Ultra Optics looked hard at every process within the spin coating operation and looked for ways to improve it. The dual-coating 54R will pull information from the lab’s LMS and leverage it to optimize the process for every single job. The 54R is capable of modifying the coating process on each and every job to optimize the end result for the lab and the patient. This smarter way of coating a lens will give our customers higher quality with less breakage, as well as reduced utility costs.
- Faster: The process flow was reimagined, along with optimizing each of the individual processes allowed increasing the throughput by over 40 percent, making it by far, the highest throughput of any spin coating machine in the market. Such a large increase is going to allow customers to reduce the number of machines required for their lab. This reduction is not only a significant cost savings, but it is also a significant space savings.
- Smaller: As labs continue to utilize more advanced automation, that usually requires more space. The space saved by utilizing the 54R can be used for further automation of other processes. Even though the throughput of the machine was increased by over 40 percent, the footprint of the machine was reduced by nearly 30 percent. The increase in throughput combined with the reduction in footprint combine to increase the throughput per square foot by nearly double that of the 44R.
ultraoptics.com
[email protected]
(800) 365-9993; (763) 488-6030
Integrity Alloy Recovery System
Coburn Technologies
The Integrity Alloy Recovery System is the first and only automated waterless alloy recovery system.
Features: The Integrity system avoids the hazards of traditional alloy reclaim systems while enhancing efficiency of the lens making process. “The Integrity system provides labs with an efficient, eco-friendly and safe approach to alloy recovery,” explains Coburn Technologies president Alex Incera. “Its waterless process saves labs from using and contaminating water and significantly reduces operator exposure to harmful alloy.”
Whereby traditional reclaim systems completely melt the alloy puck in a hot water tank to remove it from the block, the Integrity system uses induction heating technology to melt a very thin layer of alloy where it engages the block, allowing the alloy puck to separate cleanly and completely intact. The method used by the Integrity system not only eliminates the use and contamination of water, but also facilitates the storage and safe handling of both alloy and blocks. All this is done automatically at a rate of up to 240 blocks an hour, making Integrity the fastest alloy recovery system on the market, according to Coburn Technologies.
coburntechnologies.com/reimagine
(800) COBURN-1
Transitions XTRActive Polarized Lenses with Camber Lens Technology
Younger Optics
Eyecare practices that offer Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses can now dispense them in any of IOT’s Camber lens designs, including the new Camber Steady Plus Progressive lens designs.
Features: Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses start clear indoors, darken moderately in the car, and achieve extra darkness and become polarized outdoors in the sun. The lenses dynamically polarize in direct sunlight, bringing bright, vivid colors, sharper vision and significant glare reduction. Each Camber lens is the combination of the unique Camber lens blank made by Younger Optics and a Camber digital progressive lens design engineered by IOT. Camber lenses offer better vision in all zones, an improved reading area that is more spacious and easier to find, and faster adaptation for most wearers. Camber lenses are highly favored by progressive-wearing patients for their excellent visual performance. To offer Camber lenses with Transitions XTRActive Polarized photochromics brings an even higher level of comfort and delight, especially for light-sensitive patients, because they provide extra protection from bright light indoors, in the car and outdoors, as well as reduce discomfort from blinding glare outdoors.
To learn about the photochromic science behind Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses, download the booklet called The Art & Science of Transitions XTRActive Polarized at flipsnack.com/Younger/art-science-of-transitions-xtractive-polarized.html or access the free CE course “Breakthrough Science Improves Free-form Progressive Lens Design and Optimization” at 2020mag.com/ce.
Availability: Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses with Camber Technology are now available in gray in polycarbonate, Trilogy and high index 1.67 materials through Camber-authorized optical laboratories. For a list of Camber-authorized labs in North America, visit camberlens.com/labs.
Film Lamination AR Coating System
Satisloh
An innovative film lamination process that overcomes the challenges of adding in-house coating: needed space; large investment; and highly skilled staff. With a variety of benefits, the new technology changes the way labs approach hard and AR coating.
Features: Film lamination technology is an alternative to conventional hard and AR coating. It is 10 times faster, has significantly lower investment costs and a footprint of only 54 square feet. This new technology produces coated lenses in just 15 minutes per pair, much faster than conventional coating. Satisloh Tech-Film AR, a prefabricated, all-in-one multi-layer film that replaces several coating consumables by combining multiple coatings and a bonding adhesive, laminates in a few easy steps. The process starts after surfacing when the Satisloh Hydra-Film cleans the lenses for perfectly clean surfaces, which are then plasma treated in the tabletop Plasma Etch for excellent Tech-Film adhesion. The actual lamination is a two-step process in the Satisloh Film-Pod: 1. Thermoforming Tech-Film to the shape of the lens back curve, and 2. Permanently bonding the film to the lens. “Laminated lenses aren’t just coated, they can be ground up to 40 percent thinner for better cosmetics, which the end consumer will love. And they’re 18 times more impact resistant than traditionally coated lenses compared to FDA standard requirements,” says Satisloh’s Andy Huthoefer. “And we’ve eliminated optical imperfections like Newton Rings, which occur with non-index matched hard coatings.”
Benefits:
- Low cost of entry: The initial investment is a third of the cost of conventional coating lines as there is no need for an AR coater, hard coater or cleanroom.
- Simple process: The complete equipment is extremely easy to operate and requires only minimal operator training.
- Ultra-short processing times: Lamination takes only 15 minutes/pair compared to hours for conventional coating.
- Premium results: The laminated lens is a premium product, with consistently high coating quality and extraordinary features—thinner, lighter, higher impact resistance and better aesthetics due to elimination of interference fringes and the exact same residual reflection color every time.
- Sustainability: Film lamination does not use any hazardous materials in the labs (e.g., hard coating lacquers). Energy and water consumption are also lower than with conventional coating.
- Compact size: Typical coating operations require a minimum of 450 square feet for both processing and utilities. Film lamination is extremely compact using 54 square feet, making it a realistic option for most labs.
PhotoFusion X
Zeiss
Zeiss’ latest product offers customers improved speed-to-clear together with comprehensive UV and blue light protection both indoors and outdoors.
Features: Zeiss PhotoFusion X lenses use a completely new patented photokinetic dye compound, which significantly speeds up the activation when outdoors and the fade-back to clear when coming indoors. PhotoFusion X lenses contain billions of compounds, which change shape and orientation depending on stimulation from lighting and environmental conditions, resulting in lenses that darken and clear faster than the previous generation of Zeiss PhotoFusion.
Zeiss notes that the continued advancement of digital technology has caused a rapid increase in screen usage, with over 85 percent of Americans saying they go online daily, leading to concern about the impact digital blue light has on overall eye health. PhotoFusion X lenses are developed with Zeiss BlueGuard as a substrate, providing advanced protection against 40 percent of potentially harmful blue light from digital devices. With the added photochromic treatment, protection increases to up to 50 percent indoors and up to 94 percent outdoors when fully tinted. This represents 30 percent more indoor blue light protection than today’s most common photochromic. Furthermore, Zeiss PhotoFusion X lenses also block up to 100 percent of UV radiation, both indoors and out.
zeiss.com/vision-care/us/eye-care-professionals
Neochromes Light Activated Mirrored Lenses
IOT
Neochromes can help patients choose frame and lens combinations that let them express themselves better than ever before, with no compromises in service levels, durability or product performance, according to IOT.
Features: IOT is releasing three unique colors that were specifically created to complement Neochromes photochromic lenses in both their light and dark states.
Available colors:
- Ocean—versatile and stylish pure bright blue.
- Fire—high energy radiant red with hints of orange.
- Orchid—sophisticated lavender with a tinge of pink.
These new lenses meet the same rigorous durability standard as IOT’s hard-coated Neochromes lenses. They are designed to complement IOT’s Endless freeform digital lens design, especially Endless Single Vision and Endless Sport Progressive.
Availability: Laboratories can process Neochromes Mirrored lenses in-house within their usual turnaround time. The lenses are available in 4, 6 and 8 base polycarbonate. Laboratories that choose to offer Neochromes Mirrored lenses will receive complete technical and marketing support including access to exclusive “Paradise Collection” launch materials that reflect the exciting and dynamic look of the lenses.
iotlenses.com
[email protected]
(877) 414-7809
