NAPERVILLE, Ill.—The Satisloh Users Group (SLUG) met from July 14 to 17 to attend SLUGFest 2010. The meeting, hosted by lab equipment makers Satisloh and National Optronics, provided attendees an opportunity to learn about the companies’ latest digital surfacing and finishing technology. The highlight of the meeting was a tour of Expert Optics, which just completed installation of a new Satisloh On Block Manufacturing (OBM) lab. The lab’s production line includes digital surfacing, AR coating and edging. The edging component will be integrated into the line by year end, making it the first true “no-touch” Rx manufacturing line in the industry.



Steve Sutherlin, Larry Clarke, and Ian Gregg   
At the opening night reception, Steve Sutherlin of Sutherlin
Optical, left, chats with hosts Larry Clarke of Satisloh North
America and Ian Gregg of Satisloh.

Bob Niemiec of Eye Care Centers of America, left, catches up
with Satisloh chief Beat Siegrist.

Bob Pommier, Greg Ruden, and Ken Mittel Hilaire Van der Veen, John Barry, Mike Rybacki, and Ian Gregg
Bob Pommier (left) and Greg Ruden of Expert Optics welcome
Ken Mittel of Hirsch Optical to their new Satisloh OBM (On Block
Manufacturing) Lab.

During their tour of Expert Optics, Paul Faibish of Plastics Plus
joins Hilaire Van der Veen of Shamir, John Barry of Soderberg
and Mike Rybacki of Seiko/Pentax watch while Satisloh’s Ian
Gregg demonstrates the company’s integrated topography
measurement software.

Expert Optics' OBM lab  Nucleo Blocker 
An overview of Expert Optics’ new OBM lab.

In the OBM lab, the Nucleo Blocker offers full-support blocking
with a machinable block-piece that is compatible with all
down-stream production steps.

lens blank  Bob Pommier, with in-line coating system 
A lens blank on the machinable block.

Expert Optics’ Bob Pommier with a fully integrated in-line
coating system based on UV spin-coating and CVD/sputtering.

Helix edge and drill machine  Nucleo Deblocker 
National Optronix’s Helix can edge and drilling on-block,
eliminating the need to orient and reblock the lens.

The Nucleo Deblocker uses a blast of high pressure water to
deblock the lens.

Marty Bassett  panel of experts at SLUGfest 
Satisloh brought the SLUGFest attendees to the Chicagoland
Speedway for the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Marty
Bassett of Walman Optical prepares to take a few laps around
the track with a NASCAR driver behind the wheel of a racecar.

A panel made up of executives from lens manufacturing
companies discussed the current and future state of free form
lenses and digital surfacing. Pictured, left to right, are Dave
Jochims of Carl Zeiss Vision, Bob Colucci of Essilor of America,
Hilaire Van der Veen of Shamir, Mike Rybacki of Seiko/Pentax,
Bruno Salvadori of Signet Armorlite and moderator Andy
Huthoefer of National Optronics.