SEIKO Optical Europe continues its expansion / SEIKO manufactures lenses in Germany

SEIKO Optical Europe acquires a lens production site in Germany.

Willich / Lippstadt, September 2007. As of October 1st, 2007, SEIKO Optical Europe GmbH (Willich) will be in possession of its own lens factory. The lens factory has previously been owned by the German optical chain Krane Optik. Situated in Lippstadt it features its own brand name “Starvision”. All 83 members of the staff as well as the whole manufacturing plant of Starvision will remain in Lippstadt and are integrated into the newly established company SEIKO Optical Europe Laboratory GmbH & Co KG (Lippstadt).

SEIKO Optical wants to keep the brand name Starvision and the existing product line. Akira Nakashima, Managing Director of SEIKO Optical Europe: “Our plan is that from October 1st, 2007 the full range of Starvision lenses, produced at the new manufacturing company SEIKO Optical Europe Laboratory, will be sold in Germany, and from January 1st onwards they will be sold through SEIKO Optical Europe’s distribution network to other European markets. Furthermore, in future we will also produce our own SEIKO brand lenses at this new plant called SEIKO Optical Europe Laboratory”.

By taking over, integrating and expanding Starvision, SEIKO Optical Europe GmbH will in future be able to offer opticians in 30 European countries not only exclusive high tech lenses, such as SEIKO inner surface progressives, but also a wide assortment of all spectacle lenses to suit all needs and pockets.

By acquiring Starvision and expanding the lens production in Germany, SEIKO Optical will in future be able to reduce the delivery time of lenses, for the benefit of opticians and their customers.

„Many of our optician customers only know us for our Japanese precision and as the inventors of the inner surface progressive. They only called us when they had problems to solve such as how to obtain the thinnest and lightest lenses in high powers”, informs Akira Nakashima. “After several years of offering specialized products and to solve wearer problems, we are now becoming a serious partner for our optician customers by supplying a full range of lens options”.

SEIKO Optical Europe GmbH (Willich) develops, produces and distributes high quality plastic lenses and titanium frames supported by the globally renowned SEIKO brand. SEIKO Optical Europe GmbH is 100% owned by SEIKO Optical Products Co. Ltd. in Tokyo. It belongs to the SEIKO Holdings Corporation which has a broad portfolio of companies, such as the well-known SEIKO Watch Corporation and SEIKO Precision Corporation. Most of the consumers know the brand name SEIKO due to the watch segment but also the time measuring systems of the SEIKO Time Systems are well-known due to their exposure at several Olympic Games and international sport events. Furthermore, the group produces golf clubs, printers and other technical equipment. The mother company SEIKO Holdings Corporation in Japan achieves a worldwide turnover of 1.4 billion Euros and employs 7,400 people. The European headquarter of the optical business has existed since 1992.

The headquarter Administration, Finance, Logistics, Personnel, IT and Marketing departments in Willich support distribution in 30 European countries and in the Middle East. Within Germany the distribution of lenses to optical shops is made by employed sales people. All our sales people are qualified opticians or expert in Optics and are, therefore, able to give professional and comprehensive advice to the opticians. SEIKO Optical Europe ‘s customer service staff also have a broad knowledge of optics and can provide accurate and helpful specialized advice. Since 2002 SEIKO has had its own branch in Belgium supplying the Benelux countries and since 2005 there has been a branch in France. The branch in Great Britain supplies the British and Irish markets. Other European markets are supplied by distribution partners.

Silke Hoffmann

SH/Communication – Public Relations

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