Munich-based spectacle lens and medtech company Rodenstock is expanding its presence Downunder with a new lens-glazing lab planned for Auckland early next year, a new lab in Melbourne opening in October and a further lab in Brisbane already up and running.

Having completed the Australian handover of Rodenstock Eyewear to De Rigo, Rodenstock Australia’s general manager Tim McCann said he and his team can now focus solely on lenses and growing the business. Although Rodenstock lenses have been available through third-party suppliers in New Zealand, lately the opportunities to buy its lenses have been diminished, particularly since Independent Lens Specialists (ILS) was bought up by Shamir, he said. “We know there are customers in New Zealand who want our product. Rodenstock was present in New Zealand in the past, is well known and it has always been our intention to go back in. We’ll start small and continue to work to make Rodenstock available directly again.”

Rodenstock’s Bangkok lab has also been undergoing significant development and is now the company’s largest Series production and second largest Rx production facility, fulfilling orders for optometry practices worldwide, McCann told MiVision. “We always knew we had a premium product at a premium price and we weren’t going to change that,” he said. “But the challenge we had was service. Most of our manufacturing was being completed in Europe, so we couldn’t get the lenses to our customers fast enough. In a competitive market, it wasn’t good enough to make practices and their patients wait two or three weeks for their lenses.”

Today, the Bangkok lab is well on the way to becoming a full-range lens supplier and can complete individualised lenses within three days and ship overnight, he said.

New sunglass technology

In other news, Rodenstock unveiled Lambda lens technology, which is designed to enhance contrast with colours, bring out depth and provide a more detailed visual experience. The lens technology also protects the eyes from damaging UV radiation and is suitable for everyday use, the company said.

Lambda Lens Technology

Since July, Rodenstock has been selling its portfolio of lenses directly in New Zealand via sales representative Rachel Green, who now works for both Rodenstock and BTP International Designz, which was a Rodenstock lens distributor until June this year.