06/2025

ISSN 1614-1598 66527

Volume 21

OPHTHALMIC LABS & INDUSTRY

Connect, discover,

stay up-to-date

6/2025

▶ Special: Markets

Worldwide

Data and figures

on lenses and

smart glasses

Vision Expo West 2025

Silmo 2025

INNOVATING THE

FUTURE OF OPTICAL

COATINGS

▶ Technology

What If… AI could

optimize your lab and

save resources daily?

A generalization

of the Minkwitz

theorem and its

benefit for progressive

addition lenses

▶ Interview

“Personalization is still

not well understood”

▶ Business

Effectively managing

remote projects

▶ Spotlight

MAFO – The

Conference 2026

COATING EXCELLENCE - AT EVERY SCALE

With over 60 years of coating innovation, Satisloh delivers advanced anti-reflective and mirror coating

technology from the compact MC-280-X to the high-throughput 1500-X for AR and sun lenses, designed

to meet the needs of labs of all sizes.

Our systems support a full range of coating processes, including AR, UV, Blue Light protection, and

mirror effects, optimized through validated recipes and Satisloh AR consumables to match specific lens

performance requirements.

INNOVATIVE EFFICIENT SUSTAINABLE

Eyepress Fachmedien GmbH

Saarner Str. 151

45479 Mülheim a. d. Ruhr

66527

Germany

Sector dome design with

adaptive rings to accommodate

different sector types at once

satisloh.com

Box coaters for all lab sizes,

producing 30 up to 305 lenses

per batch

Systems with turbo-molecular

pumps keeping energy

consumption low

Cleaning &

Hard Coating

Made Easy

Complete compact cleaning & coating

systems from Optimal Technologies.

Unrivalled Cleaning Power

Crystal-Clear Hard Coating Results

Global Support. Local Access.

Built in Britain.

Trusted Worldwide.

t: +44 (0) 1462 491616

e: sales@optimal-technologies.com

www.optimal-technologies.com

LETTER

Guaranteed

human-made

Hanna Diewald

Chief editor

Tell us your opinion,

ideas and suggestions:

hanna.diewald@mafo-optics.com

The end of the year is approaching,

and with it often comes a time to

reflect the year that is coming to a

close. We at MAFO are doing this

too. This time, we asked ourselves what we

could do even better for you – our readers.

Which topics interest you the most? What

content have you been missing for a long time?

Are you interested in videos or podcasts, or

do you primarily appreciate the printed edition

so you can enjoy reading it at your own convenience?

We welcome any feedback!

And don't worry, we don't want to take up too

much of your already busy schedule so close

to the end of the year. In just a few clicks and

a maximum of five minutes, you can get back

to other topics.

Go to the reader survey

As a journalistic medium, we are also often

asked about our use of AI. No wonder, after

all, the debate about deepfakes and AI-generated

news is highly topical and controversial.

That's exactly why we would like to clarify

something at this point.

MAFO is a trade journal with a focus on technology.

It is therefore in the nature of things that

we are open to new technologies and AI. At the

same time, we have very clear guidelines for

dealing with AI. For example, you will never

find AI-generated articles in MAFO. All articles

are written by industry experts or, in the case

of articles written by journalists, have been

professionally researched.

And if you do happen to find a professional

mistake on our site, you can be sure that it was

made by a human being, and you are welcome

to give me personal feedback.

But just as AI brings advantages in machines

or for monitoring, it also does so in our

everyday editorial work – and we do not shy

away from these advantages. Here, however,

AI is used exclusively for support. For example,

for rough transcription of interviews or

sometimes for creating a special lead photo.

Behind MAFO stands a team of engaged people,

and as such, we would like to take this opportunity

to thank you for your trust in our

Pauline

Möller

Media

Consultant

Britta

Laupichler

Editor

Efstathios

Efthimiadis

Creative

Director

Pascal

Bruns

Media

Designer

medium and the people behind it. We greatly

appreciate your interest in our trade journal

and the good cooperation.

The entire MAFO team wishes you a peaceful

Christmas and a happy New Year!

MAFO 6-25 3

28 FEB - 2 MAR 2026 EXCEL LONDON

The leading UK event

to share expertise,

explore the latest

clinical developments,

and drive better

outcomes for patients.

100% Ophthalmology

100percentophthalmology.co.uk

CO-LOCATED WITH:

REGISTER FOR FREE

Organised by:

Partners:

Content

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Topics in this edition

MAFO issue

November /

December

2025

Page 26

Page 24

Page 40

At a glance

6

All about you

News from the international

ophthalmic industry

8

All about markets

Data in graphics

44

Market Survey

AR coating machines

52

Suppliers Guide

Overview of companies in the spectacle

lens industry

57

Outlook

Closing with good news and preview on

MAFO 01/2026

Interview

12

“Personalization is still not well

understood”

An interview with Dr. Daniel Crespo

and Dr. José Alsonso

Spotlight

10

Special topic: Markets Worldwide

Data and figures on lenses and

smart glasses

By MAFO

26

MAFO – The Conference 2026

Program and abstracts

Technology

16

What If… AI could optimize your

lab and save resources daily?

By Dr. Marcel Mahner and Kim Kathrin Leidig

34

A generalization of the Minkwitz

theorem

By Dr. Wolfgang Becken et al.

Live on site

20



By Hanna Diewald

24


Silmo Paris 2025

By Daniel Groß

Business

40

Effectively managing remote

projects

By Mario Neumann

History

56

The Minkwitz Theorem

By Silke Sage

MAFO 6-25 5

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

All about you

News from the international ophthalmic industry

Symbol picture. Picture: Unsplash

The Vision Council advocates against expanded tariffs on

optical products and manufacturing equipment

The Vision Council (TVC) has submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of

Commerce in response to two ongoing Section 232 national security investigations that

could lead to new tariffs on key products used by the optical industry. The two submissions

address the Department’s investigations into: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),

medical consumables, and medical equipment and robotics and industrial machinery –

broad product definitions that could include spectacle lenses, frames, diagnostic instruments,

and the machinery.

EssilorLuxottica acquires RetinAI

EssilorLuxottica announces the acquisition of Ikerian AG, a health technology company,

operating under the RetinAI brand, specializing in AI and data management in eyecare.

This move reinforces the Group’s med-tech journey, adding advanced software powered

by machine learning and computer vision. These solutions should streamline clinical,

research and pharmaceutical workflows, and deliver actionable AI-driven insights that

empower healthcare professionals and enhance patient care.


Digicon 2026: A look into the future

at the Schneider headquarter in Germany

To showcase what will be next on their journey for a future-proof lab, Schneider announces

a new DigiCON in June 2026. During this exclusive three day conference, the

company is going to release outstanding novelties at their headquarter in Fronhausen,

Germany. “Three years ago, we set a new standard with the “Power-Lab of the Next

Decade”, states Schneider. “Since then, we haven’t stopped. In fact, we’ve taken another

step forward, and we are proud to present our new AI-mazing technologies. We've

been pushing every boundary, following our vision of ultimate, all-in automation.

Powered by AI. Driven by innovation. Designed for the labs of tomorrow.”

Digicon 2026. Picture: Schneider

Zeiss invests in Ocumeda to advance tele-ophthalmology

platform with Fielmann Group

Zeiss Vision Care announced the acquisition of a 10% stake in Ocumeda AG from the

Fielmann Group for €10 million. Ocumeda’s current enterprise value totals €100 million.

Zeiss Vision Care has the option to acquire up to 25% of the shares in further tranches.

Ocumeda´s aim is to revolutionize eye care with a quick, convenient, and cost-effective

teleophthalmological eye check-up. In collaboration with opticians and experienced

ophthalmologists, access to preventive care should be simplified for everyone.

Symbol picture. Picture: Pixabay

6

MAFO 6-25

INTERNATIONAL NEWS


EssilorLuxottica introduces vision innovation summit SWITCH

EssilorLuxottica announced the launch of SWITCH: Vision Innovation Summit by

EssilorLuxottica, a new industry wide event that will explore the driving forces behind

the industry’s rapid transformation. SWITCH will provide a captivating 3-day experience

for eyecare professionals that should spark meaningful conversation around everything

from AI wearables to med-tech to myopia innovation. The new event will be held March

9-11, 2026 in Orlando for partners from the Americas, leading immediately into Vision

Expo, and in Monte-Carlo on April 13-15, 2026 for customers in EMEA and Asia, allowing

the Company to present a global and unified vision for the future.

Mirjam Rösch for leadership role at Spectaris confirmed

Mirjam Rösch remains at the helm of the Consumer Optics Trade Association within

the German industry association Spectaris. The managing director of Hoya Lens

Germany and Seiko Optical Europe was re-elected as chairwoman for another three

years at the Consumer Optics Industry Forum as part of the Spectaris Future Festival

in Berlin. In addition, the general meeting reconfirmed her as deputy chairwoman of

the Spectaris umbrella association. Mirjam Rösch has headed the Consumer Optics

trade association since 2022. Under her leadership, the association has increasingly

focused on strategic future issues – from securing skilled workers and sustainable

production processes to the political visibility of the industry.

Mirjam Rösch. Picture: Spectaris Sablotny

Global connection event at Silmo. Picture: OWA

OWA celebrated global connection event at Silmo

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) is proud to announce the successful conclusion

of its Global Connection Event at Silmo Paris, “Seeing Beyond: The Power of Women

in Optical Innovation,” held on September 26th at the Silmo Talks Stage. The event

brought together industry leaders and optical professionals from around the world to

celebrate and promote the achievements of women driving change in the optical industry.

Facilitated by Nancy Gries, Chair of the OWA International Expansion Committee,

the event featured an inspiring panel of accomplished leaders.

Rodenstock sets benchmarks in international standardization

Dr. Stephan Trumm, who is responsible for standardization work in the field of optics

and devices at Rodenstock, has been honored by the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) with a special award – the ISO Award of Excellence. This award

is presented to outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to

international standardization and who have had a lasting impact on global standardization.

As Senior Principal Innovation Optics and standardization, Dr. Stephan Trumm

is active on behalf of the lens manufacturer Rodenstock at DIN (German Institute for

Standardization) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

Dr. Stephan Trumm. Picture: Rodenstock

MAFO 6-25 7

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

All about markets

Graphical data

According to Spectaris

53 %

of respondends to a new survey

report a reduction in their R&D projects

over the past five years due to the

MDR and IVDR. The European regulations

for medical devices (MDR) and

in vitro diagnostics (IVDR) seem

to be hindering innovation and

putting pressure on Europe

as a medtech location.

According to a report by The

Vision Council a majority of

56%

of consumers in the US report a

favorable impression of smart eyewear

when presented with a clear definition

of potential features e.g.,

wireless connectivity, AI, translation

or audio.

The global economy loses

US$ 450 billion

annually due to a lack of eye care. A

new report by the IAPB and other

organizations shows enormous potential

for the global economy if

governments invest more in eye

health.

Robots are now finding their

way into many industries.

However, they are most widespread

in the medical field, accounting for

27% percent of the total.

8

MAFO 6-25

PR-ADVERT

The Lab with Vision

Roots and Future of the Natural Accommodation Lens - NAL ®

It all starts like a blockbuster story. Here is Mr. Michael Walach, an industry veteran in his late 50s, foreseeing the

need for a specialty lab. Mr. Walach envisioned that emerging new free-form technologies would be conducive to

automation, and that upcoming changes in population demographics would increase the demand for out-of-range

prescription lenses. He started the project in the early 2000s, but he ran it differently. Instead of trying to perfect the

use of existing technology, he operated the lab as an R&D facility, developing everything necessary to successfully

fabricate yet another "impossible" job. By Adam Bodnar and Jeremy Guinnip

There is a unique magnetism in the universe that

attracts brilliant minds of all kinds, simply

because of the frequency of their brainwaves.

Hypothetical or not, it really worked out. Quest

Vision Care Specialty Lab became a unique place where

gifted minds provide solutions to optical and technological

challenges on a daily basis, one step at a time.

After more than twenty years in business, the lab is reinvesting

half of its profits into R&D. It has given birth to many inventions,

one of which led to the creation of the world’s first independent,

cloud-based free-form LDS (Lens Design System) platform. The

unique proprietary software, fully developed in-house, enabled

the production capabilities of Michael Walach’s patented NAL®

lens concept — a multifocal so groundbreaking that some wearers

refer to it as the "miracle" lens.

Today, with every new pair dispensed, the Natural Accommodation

Lens attracts more and more brilliant minds to

support the cause of global proliferation, like UC Berkeley

School of Optometry's own Associate Professor Michelle J.

Hoff, who decided to "rewrite" education to help future professionals

understand the inevitability of the choice.

The industry’s most experienced senior leaders are not

only amazed by the Natural Accommodation Lens; they

are also building an informal, ever-growing group of

wearers and ambassadors for the lens. This cooperation

among legends recently brought Mr. Barney Dougher,

former President of Hoya of the Americas, on board with

QLDS INC, created to operate the LDS platform. Mr.

Dougher's long tenure as a successful senior executive gives

him an excellent understanding of the impact of the Natural

Mr. Paul Barney Dougher

Accommodation Lens on the industry globally, and how

it will improve the quality of life for millions around the

world. This is why he decided to join the QLDS team on

the exciting journey to proliferate the NAL®.

This is how a small, Florida-based lab, with the power of

its minds, ignited a global revolution in multifocal vision

correction. You can envision it as a new airline connection

from today to the future. It is up to each individual industry

participant to decide when they would like to join those

who have already begun their journey. Quoting Steve Jobs,

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

This is why there is no big or small anymore; there are

only first and last.

Markets Worldwide

SPOTLIGHT

Data and figures on lenses

and smart glasses

Ophthalmic optics worldwide

According to the statistics platform Statista, sales in the global optical market are expected to reach approximately

€137.93 billion in 2025. According to forecasts, growth to a market volume of €157.29 billion is expected by

2029, which corresponds to an annual sales growth of 3.36% (CAGR 2025-2029). However, there are

significant differences depending on the country. MAFO has summarized the Statista analyst's

opinions on various regions in the world and took a look at the latest figures for smart

glasses, as they seem to be slowly becoming more than just a niche product for tech

nerds.

Worldwide

The largest market segment in this area is the spectacle lenses

segment, which will account for sales of around €57.06 billion in

2025. In 2025, 21.9% of total sales in the optical market are expected

to be generated online. According to the forecast, the market

volume in terms of quantity will be 10.2 billion units in 2029. Average

per capita consumption in the global optical market is expected

to be 1.25 units in 2025.

Asia-Pacific

The optical market in the Asia-Pacific region

is expected to see the highest growth over the

next five years, with an average annual growth

rate of 8.1%. This growth is due, on the one hand,

to the fact that more and more people need vision

correction as the population ages and, on the other

hand, to rising disposable incomes and changing

consumer preferences.

The optical market in the Asia-Pacific region is highly

fragmented, with a large number of small and mediumsized

suppliers. This fragmentation is expected to continue

over the next five years.

North America

The North American market is forecast to grow at an average

annual rate of 6.4%, driven by the increasing prevalence of eye

diseases and greater awareness of the importance of preventive

eye care. In North America, the market is dominated by a few large

companies. These are expected to maintain a significant market

share over the next five years.

10

MAFO 6-25

Markets Worldwide

SPOTLIGHT

Europe

In Europe, the market for optical products is expected to grow

moderately, with an average annual growth rate of 4.3%. This growth

is driven by the increasing prevalence of myopia and hyperopia, as

well as an aging population. The market in Europe is characterized

by a high degree of regulation, which is likely to restrict market entry

by new players.

Latin America

The market in Latin America is expected to grow at an average

annual rate of 4.2%, with growth likely to be driven by

increasing demand for optical products and rising

disposable incomes. –––The market in Latin America

is highly competitive, with a large number of

players competing for market share.

Smart glasses and consumer sentiment

According to The Vision Council´s newest report on smart

glasses it can be seen in the US that the awareness on smart

glasses is accelerating. 58% of consumers say they either

know exactly what smart eyewear is or have a general sense

of it. A majority of 56% report a favorable impression of smart

eyewear when presented with a clear definition of potential

features (e.g., wireless connectivity, AI, translation, audio). And

about one in seven consumers (14%) report having purchased

smart eyewear and four in ten say they would consider a

purchase in the next 12 months.

Smart glasses sales worldwide

According to market researchers, the global market for

smart glasses grew by 110 percent in the first half of 2025.

This growth is primarily driven by the continuing high demand

for Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and the market entry

of Chinese suppliers such as Xiaomi and TCL-RayNeo, as shown

in the latest “Global Smart Glasses Model Shipments Tracker” from

Counterpoint Research.

EssilorLuxottica/Meta was able to further expand its market leadership,

according to the figures, achieving a market share of 73 percent

in the first half of 2025. AI-based smart glasses accounted for 78

percent of all shipments.

The biggest surprise came from Xiaomi with its AI Glasses, which,

despite only being on sale for about a week in the first half of the

year, became the fourth best-selling smart glasses model overall

and the third best-selling AI model. In addition to Xiaomi, other

Chinese suppliers also established themselves.

MAFO 6-25 11

“Personalization is still not

well understood”

20 years of IOT: how scientists paved the way to design

freedom for every lab

Freeform for every lab: Twenty years ago, three Spanish scientists had a revolutionary idea. The innovative

freeform technology should not be reserved exclusively for large groups. Instead, new software should enable

every independent lab to manufacture freeform progressive lenses. The widespread personalization of ophthalmic

lenses began. Today, it is 2025, and the topic is at least as relevant as it was back then. On the one hand, this is

due to new developments, such as lens designs for myopia management, but also because, in the eyes of the IOT

founders, the topic of personalization has not been fully understood by many people to this day. By Hanna Diewald

In the northeast of the Spanish capital Madrid stands a

large, modern building with open glass fronts. The logo

board alone indicates that this is a hub for innovative

companies – and this impression is quickly confirmed.

The foosball table, sun terrace, and modern furnishings are

clearly designed to attract start-ups and other original

companies.

IOT moved into the new building just a few weeks ago. Around

a third of the workforce is already conducting research and

development at the hub, with the rest of the employees set to

follow soon. The company has a total of around 100 employees,

75 of whom work at the Madrid sites. The founders are particularly

proud of the research and development department,

which accounts for around 40% of the workforce.

MAFO is on site to mark the company's 20th anniversary with

two of the three original founders. One is the President and

CEO Dr. Daniel Crespo, the other is Chief Innovation Officer

Dr. José Alonso. They take the opportunity to give us a personal

12

MAFO 6-25

Pictures: Pauline Möller and Hanna Diewald

INTERVIEW

lenses, because the added value was in the blank. At that time

only few large companies knew how to develop a new progressive

design and had the investment necessary to create all these

collections of blanks. And as freeform lenses became kind of

a software, it doesn't make sense in our opinion that the same

big companies that controlled the industry at that time should

continue to do so via the software.

Alonso: And those large companies had a long history of

making progressive lenses, but not with the flexibility that

freeform gives you. They were designing lenses based on the

idea that you have a fixed surface and that you put the prescription

on the back. Having the flexibility of carving any progressive

surface or others on the back side was something pretty

new.

In contrast, the software we designed dealt from the very beginning

with this flexibility. Other software from other companies

at that time was always limited.

tour of the company before we sit down for an interview. The

third founder, Dr. Juan Antonio Quiroga, is retired already.

MAFO: How did IOT get started 20 years ago?

Crespo: All three of us are physicists, and we come from the

Applied Optics research group within the physics school of the

university. José was my professor. When we started the company,

we wanted to walk away a little from just being in the academic

realm – writing papers and so on. Instead, we wanted to have

contact with real people and real problems to do useful things.

We wanted to have an adventure in the real world.

MAFO: What did that adventure look like?

Crespo: The first technology we started working on was freeform

lens design software. Jose had a lot of experience in ophthalmic

optics, but this was not true for the rest of us. We came more

from the lens metrology side and the optical science. But José

told us there was this new technology called freeform and this

way of making lenses. He saw an opportunity there for an

independent company making lens designs for independent

manufacturers.

MAFO: So, at this time only huge companies were able

to produce freeform lenses?

Crespo: Yes – and that is true also before the freeform era

began. Only the very big companies could create progressive

MAFO: Meaning you started out as a software company.

How does that affect your company culture?

Crespo: In the beginning we were thinking as a software

company. We had this whole background on ray tracing software

and optimization, and we had a very clear idea that lenses had

to be optimized in every direction of sight in the whole field

of view.

At the same time, we had to be very humble because we didn't

know anything about labs and manufacturing. The only chance

we had of success was listening to our customers, as they are

the ones that know how to make lenses.

Those are the two pillars of IOT. On the one hand, we are

scientists wanting to innovate and have fun by learning and

creating new things. And on the other hand, we focus on a very

strong customer orientation. Even today we are still scientists

at heart – more than entrepreneurs or businesspeople.

MAFO: What exactly are the steps involved in creating

a new lens design?

Alonso: In many cases everything starts with an idea from

the optical design group or from the clinical trial group when

they recognize a market gap or specific need. Then we make

the designs based on our data, and we produce a prototype.

In the next step, we conduct a clinical trial comparing the lens

with another lens. We're typically conducting 15 clinical trials

a year; that is more than one per month. We are also very

involved in using eye tracking, for example, to gather information

about visual behavior.

Finally, we extract results and decide whether the idea is good

or not. If it is good, it will go for a product. If not, the cycle

will begin. Our design software is our main business line by

far – it´s like 80% of our business.

MAFO 6-25 13

INTERVIEW

Two founders of IOT. Dr. José Alonso (left) and Dr. Daniel Crespo (right).

MAFO: What are the other 20%?

Crespo: The other 20% is photochromic lenses. That links to

the next chapter in our history. In 2010, Younger Optics became

the majority owner of IOT as we needed a bigger partner and

investor to help the company grow. Younger Optics is also a

private company that's owned by David Rips and Tom Balch.

We understood each other very well and had similar values.

They helped us to open many doors, and in 2010, we started

growing very fast in the United States and Europe.

MAFO: What is currently the most innovative product

in your portfolio and why?

Crespo: Choosing the best progressive for every individual

person might be a key challenge today, as there are so many

aspects. Some are related to your prescription, some to your

history or other aspects like the frame chosen, lifestyle, and

special interests.

Therefore, we now include AI in designing the lens. We are

trying to gather all the data we can from the patient, including

lifestyle, previously worn lenses, and more, trying to create

the most satisfying lens. We keep training the systems with

feedback from users, and that's called Endless AI.

The project is also evolving into a lens recommendation system

for opticians. As they choose a combination from hundreds

of options. Those decisions are sometimes made randomly, or

they are based on preconceptions. Our system helps opticians

to advise more systematically in any part of the world, as opticians

are trained differently all over the globe.

MAFO: Critics sometimes say that progressive lenses

have already reached the end of their development.

How do you respond to such statements?

Crespo: You can see in real life that there's still a lot of work

to do. I'm 51, and all my friends are starting to need

progressives now – but half of them hate it. They went to

an optician’s store, and they made lenses for them, but they

are not satisfied at all. But when I say, come here and let's

measure you, then you see, if you make a good measurement

and you choose carefully, you can get many more people

happy with their lenses.

I think what the industry needs to do instead of all this marketing

hype is that we need to solve the problem of personalized

eye care. This requires a lot of data integration.

In the store, the optician knows so many things about the

patient. They know how many lenses they've been wearing or

how their prescription has been evolving. But then the lab

makes the lens, and they don't know anything about this

background. They only have a small data standard file.

What we want is to make these two systems talk to each other.

When I'm making the lens, I want to know everything there

is to know about the patient. Because then I can make the best

possible lens. You can make a difference like that, but companies

need to care enough.

Because many people walk outside an optician’s store, but they

will never know that they could have seen better with other

lenses. But we know that because we're doing trials here. It

makes a difference!

Alonso: And when people say there is no more room for improvement

because we've reached the top – this might be true

from a statistical point of view, but not individually. I'll tell

you an example. You may start a clinical trial with the best

lens from manufacturer X, and then you will see that statistically

it is 0.5% better. But then you go person by person by person,

and you will see that for some people the design is 60% worse

than the previous one. Individually there can be huge differences

– also you cannot see it in the general statistic. Personalization

is still not well understood.

Crespo: I think there are two tendencies in the industry.

One of them wants to just simplify things – the big retailers

and online shops. They want to know what the best lens is

to put on everybody. We believe in another approach, which

is personalized lenses are healthcare. And these improvements

don't always come from the math but from how we

all work together.

MAFO: How important do you consider lenses for

myopia management in children?

Alonso: Nowadays there is a pretty consistent body of research

describing the risk of myopia development considering genetics,

lifestyle, age, and the refractive history of the kid. And there

are a lot of scientists and experts who are considering the data

is well founded and the lenses to work well, so we should trust

those models. Meaning there is no disadvantage for kids when

wearing those lenses.

14

MAFO 6-25

INTERVIEW

Personalized lenses are healthcare.

And improvements don´t always come from

the math but from how we work together.

But this is not saying that every myopic kid should have a

myopia control lens. You still have to evaluate the risk. There

are tools for doing that, and depending on the results, you may

prescribe one of these lenses.

We currently have a product that has been tested in a three-year

clinical trial with children and has demonstrated good performance

with Caucasian kids. And right now, we are working

with a new design, but we still have discrete elements on the

back side to control myopia.

MAFO: In your opinion, which technological trends in

ophthalmic optics are currently the most exciting?

Crespo: I think augmented reality, like lenses that incorporate

displays, and similar things are very exciting. There

seems to be a big push to move things in that direction,

and they need to find solutions on how to serve people

with prescriptions. We hope we can have something to

contribute there.

MAFO: Where do you see IOT in ten years or so when

thinking about products, markets, and corporations?

Crespo: In ten years, we would like that most lenses in the

world will be made using IOT technology one way or another.

We really would like to be even more relevant in the future

and do more exciting things in this industry.

What's unique about IOT is that we are a team of about 100

people, and if you were to gather them in one room, you'd have

know-how about everything: the math, the optics, the software,

the manufacturing and the chemistry. Of course, large companies

in this industry have this know-how too, but they have

it distributed across teams of thousands of people.

So, I think we are in a very unique position to develop unique

technologies for this industry because of the amount of talent,

the scope of the skills and the way we've built the company is

very unique.

MAFO: Thank you very much for the interview. ◆

Advertisement

Precision that lasts. Performance that sustains

SPECTACLE LENS TOOLING

www.kydiamond.ca

TECHNOLOGY

Pictures: Schneider

What If…

AI could optimize your lab and save resources daily?

Would you hesitate to trust decisions made by AI – especially if there were proof that it could reduce

breakage, streamline processes, and significantly cut costs? Now is the time to realize; this is not a distant

possibility. In fact, it is already happening: Artificial Intelligence is transforming industrial work – improving

efficiency, detecting irregularities in delicate lenses, and making informed decisions on par with the highest

skilled human operator. While many manufacturers already rely on automation to replace manual tasks,

the true potential of AI in ophthalmic lens production is only beginning to unfold – particularly in quality

control, from cosmetic inspection to power measurement. By Dr. Marcel Mahner and Kim Kathrin Leidig

There is a simple truth in production: to save money,

you must control what you spend. Obvious, yes

– but in complex environments like ophthalmic

lens manufacturing, finding the savings is not

straightforward.

In recent years, labs have increasingly turned to automation

technology, seeking increased throughput and process efficiency

that would ultimately reduce costs. And automation truly leads

to optimized process efficiency and unprecedented machine

utilization. Yet one crucial element has been missing until recently:

“When we first had the vision for our Modulo Line

system, more than a decade ago, we already knew that integrating

quality control at an early stage – actually in-line – would be an

essential element and prerequisite for a system to be truly automated

and to unlock greater efficiency. Because automation

without control is blind.” says Gunter Schneider, President at

Schneider. “Especially because of the lengthy and delicate lens

production processes, labs shouldn’t wait for the final inspection

to learn about quality. They need an early warning system.”

By introducing automated, intelligent measurements earlier

in the line, labs can detect quality drifts before they lead to

breakage – conserving resources and preventing waste at scale.

This level of early, reliable decision-making has become possible

only with the rise of AI.

16

MAFO 6-25

TECHNOLOGY

A look at the missed potentials in quality

inspection

In many lens production facilities, general production issues

such as miscalibration or tool wear are still detected too late

in the process. This delay significantly increases the risk of

higher breakage. The later a defect is discovered, the more

costly it becomes to resolve. Another common challenge is the

missed potential of measurement data in process analysis.

“For today's operator, it’s often difficult to interpret measurement

data and translate it into effective quality improvements,”

explains Dr. Stephan Huttenhuis, Vice President Technology/

Business Development at Schneider. “In many labs, statistical

breakage analysis is still not implemented due to insufficient

data availability. In my opinion, generating sufficient data and

interpreting them into valuable actions is key for more costefficient

production.”

To implement a holistic measuring system, Schneider has

launched two solutions with individual approaches that add

to their fully automated lab of the future. Smart devices will

both check the quality of their product and point out the

problems that cause any irregularities.

“Firstly, we have an on-block power measurement system that

allows for in-line power measurement right after surfacing.

Secondly, we have a system that combines full-map power

measurement with AI-based cosmetic inspection. Implementing

both features offers high potential to save time, costs, and

ensure the highest product quality,” says Schneider.

Within the last years his team of AI-experts has trained new

machines to recognize patterns, identify errors and help

ophthalmic industries stay competitive and efficient in the face

of rising price pressures. The strength of AI lies in solving

problems for which a precise algorithmic solution would not

be feasible, or prohibitively complex.

When a trained expert can quickly decide by looking at the

data but will have a hard time explaining why and how they

made that decision, you are likely looking at a prime use case

for AI. This kind of task is very common in all aspects of industrial

automation, from quality control to machine maintenance

or process control.

its optical performance. “Any deviations – such as those caused

by worn tools or loose tape – are detected before costly

downstream processes like cleaning, coating, or edging begin

on a defective lens.”

At the start of the measurement a camera takes images as a

basis for full-map power calculation – doing the math. First

comes a standard evaluation based on ISO, ANSI or other

customer references – for near reference, distance reference

and optical center.

This is followed by an extended pattern recognition in the

second stage. The pattern recognition is AI-based and starts

to identify specific defects, independent from the individual

lab. Most quality inspection tasks boil down to computer vision

issues: Which objects/irregularities are in this image, and

where are they located. After this first detection, results will

be evaluated by the AI, based on pre-defined criteria for labdependent

quality standards.+

Over the last decade, AI has revolutionized the field of computer

vision. Tasks that used to require complex and brittle handcrafted

solutions have become trivial and reliable, while many

previously impossible tasks are now merely routine.

Overall, the early detection results in significant cost savings

and shorter production times. Since it eliminates the need for

deblocking, the on-block measurement method facilitates easy

rework. Overall, it will help to reduce breakage and save resources.

The early warning also ensures that all machines can be utilized

most efficiently and are not busy processing defect lenses.

To get the maximum benefit from the early error recognition,

real time data interpretation is required: The new system uses

nominal surface data to generate and display an error map

and ultimately guide informed decision-making.

The AI recognizes trends and picks up anomalies that may indicate

a systematic problem very early on. “The supervised neural

Automated in-line quality inspection on the

block

A new innovative approach enables ultra-fast measurement of

the lens back surface while the lens remains blocked. This

technique serves as an early warning system to ensure quality

control from the earliest stage.

“With our full-map measurement system, PMD Modulo ONE,

reflective measurement immediately after surfacing provides

the earliest possible quality feedback,” explains Huttenhuis.

The system automatically measures the lens diopter, assessing

Fig. 1: PMD Modulo ONE measures the processed side of the

lens non-transmissively in reflection – in-line and on the block.

MAFO 6-25 17

TECHNOLOGY

Fig. 2: The process flow for fully-automated in-line power inspection – from measurement to AI-based decision making

network is being used for the recognition of certain patterns,

such as turning marks, center dots, waviness or block rings,” says

Huttenhuis. “This way, it makes effective troubleshooting possible

while still within tolerance – before breakage is produced.”

Fully-automated cosmetic inspection and

full-map power measurement

While for the longest time automating cosmetic inspection

was considered impossible, this has changed within the last

years. The fully automated system CSI-P Modulo ONE relies

on AI to analyze lenses and evaluate their surface quality.

It detects cosmetic defects, by screening the surface for irregularities,

and characterizes and evaluates them. Just as in the

on-block system, the AI conducts a lab independent pattern

recognition to determine where potential defects are and how

strong they are. The camera-based imaging system captures

various configurations to analyze the lens.

Artificial neural networks sift through the data applying myriad

algorithms and mathematical routines with hundreds of parameters.

If irregularities or divergent regions are identified,

pixels are combined and features are extracted.

Next, the intensity of each defect is rated and used as the basis

for the decisions. The AI evaluates what kind of defect occurs

and if it is relevant in this specific location and intensity. Based

on the lab’s specific quality standards, the smart system decides

if the job can pass or if it must be rejected.

Surprisingly, finding and identifying the defects proved to be

much easier than deciding which defects in which locations

are acceptable for a specific customer. This is mostly because

human inspectors are very individual and usually do not have

time to properly think about or document the reasons for their

decisions. This made the collection of reliable training data a

huge challenge that we needed to overcome in the first place.

Before the market launch, the cosmetic surface inspection had

to distinguish and precisely determine a variety of types of

irregularities – many of which look very similar to the trained

eye or manifest differently depending on material and production

method. This required the design and fine-tuning of novel

architecture, as well as labeling thousands of individual images

for training.

Now working with this database, the automated cosmetic

inspection supports consistent and reliable evaluation and

empowers AI to decide in the lab’s best interest. It considers

customizable standards to reflect the quality standards of

individual ophthalmic laboratories. Integrating transmissive

power measurement into the cosmetic inspection system enables

labs to assess all quality defining aspects in one shot at the end

of the production process – to assure and comply with quality

standards of outgoing goods.

This also convinces customers: “The decision to implement the

CSI-P Modulo ONE was driven by our commitment to enhancing

product quality and minimizing the influence of human subjectivity

in both intermediate and final inspection stages. This advanced

solution enables highly efficient and consistent control of cosmetic

defects, optical power mapping, and center thickness measurement.

Operating 24/7, the machine maintains a constant inspection

speed and precision, ensuring uniform detection across all

lens types” says Robert Szablowski, CEEMEA Regional Operations

Manager, HOYA, Poland. “Moreover, the system supports proactive

preventive maintenance strategies. For instance, the frequent

appearance of rounded scratches may indicate wear in polishing

components, allowing timely intervention before defects escalate.

By reducing material waste, lowering complaint rates, and improving

process stability, CSI-P Modulo ONE contributes significantly

to our goal of achieving top market performance.”

Ultimately, this allows labs to implement the same quality

routines across locations, e.g. various production facilities, to

guarantee the same standards everywhere. But it also enables

labs to apply differing standards depending on the demands

of the product or brand produced.

18

MAFO 6-25

TECHNOLOGY

AI-based process analysis and trend

analysis

The key advantage of leveraging AI is its ability to combine

data from cosmetic inspections and on-block power measurements

for comprehensive trend analysis. By correlating this

data with relevant metadata, AI can accurately identify and

provide insights into the root causes of failures. All production

data is seamlessly integrated into a centralized management

system, giving operators immediate feedback on current

performance. “Think of the Modulo Control Center as your

production cockpit,” says Sebastian Schneider, Head of Edging

and Coating Technology at Schneider. “It actively monitors

performance, pinpoints issues, sends alerts, and highlights

the proactive measures needed to avoid downtime.”

Rapidly, users gain access to all key insights – offering a level of

transparency and operational understanding that significantly

enhances decision-making. In addition, the smart system equips

lab managers with a comprehensive set of tools to take control

of their environment and implement changes effectively.

“At Schneider, we believe that beyond full automation, AI will

fundamentally transform the ophthalmic industry. Vast

amounts of data are meaningless unless properly classified

and converted into actionable insights. AI enables us to unlock

the full potential of this data, driving high-level process optimization,”

summarizes Gunter Schneider. “And we are nowhere

near the end of the line yet. Rather than simply increasing

speed, ophthalmic labs will become smarter and more efficient

than ever before”. ◆

Dr. Marcel Mahner

Fig. 3: The CSI-P Modulo ONE is implemented at Hoya Poland

to control optical power, measure center thickness, and detect

cosmetic defects.

Marcel Mahner holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from

Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. He started his

industrial career at Schneider as Deputy manager mechanical

design in 2018. Since 2022, he is managing the department

of machine analytics and simulation at Schneider. In this role

he is responsible for the development of measurement and

simulation techniques.

Kim Kathrin Leidig

Fig. 4: The Schneider AI and Technology teams constantly advance

the AI-based measurement technology.

Kim Leidig holds a master’s degree in literature & media

studies. With a decade of experiences in professional multimedia

storytelling and content marketing strategies, she

joined Schneider as marketing specialist to make the brand

more visible. With her journalistic sense and passion, she

tells their innovation stories from a new angle.

MAFO 6-25 19

LIVE ON SITE

Picture: RX/VEW

All eyes on a new beginning


It is a conclusion without much fanfare or big surprises. The last fall trade show in Las Vegas, held from September

18 to 20, presented itself as a solid finale. Visitors were treated to fewer spectacular product unveilings, but the

trade show proved to be a good trend monitor. For example, on the topic of smart glasses, which are generating

increasing interest among consumers. Many exhibitors are also already looking optimistically to the future with

only one spring trade fair. By Hanna Diewald

According to organizers RX and The Vision Council,

approximately 10,000 optical industry professionals

from 80 countries attended the fall trade fair

in Las Vegas. Vision Expo West was the last

September trade fair that participants were able to experience

in Las Vegas – the end of an era.

One trade fair, three locations

From 2026, there will only be one spring trade fair, which will

alternate between different locations. In 2026, the trade fair

will take place in Orlando, in 2027 it will return to Las Vegas,

and in 2028 it will be held in New York.

The decision was not taken lightly by the organizers. And even

if such a profound change will always be accompanied by a

touch of melancholy, it is at least in the interests of many

machine exhibitors with whom MAFO spoke.

“I think it's a very good idea because the technology doesn't

change every six months,” says Hugh McAllister of K&Y Diamond,

for example, about consolidating the trade fair into

one event per year, and General Manager François-Charles

20

MAFO 6-25

LIVE ON SITE

Reed Foster presents

the new autofocals.

Michael Walach presents

the Beam Blaster.

Technology is always in focus. Pictures: Hanna Diewald

Laberge adds, “And it will also attract more people. If you

have a show twice a year, people have more budget constraints,

and some customers have to choose between one show or the

other. And since we are moving to different parts of the country,

this enables us to meet different types of people,” the experts

summarize.

Many machine exhibitors also view the change positively, as

exhibiting a whole series of machines each time involves very

high costs. This was confirmed to MAFO by both large and

small companies.

“I think it's better for everyone. I think companies are more

willing to spend money when they are only looking at one

show a year. It's a lot easier to bring more equipment, showcase

more things, and invest more in publicity,” confirms Jamal

El-Hindi from filter system manufacturer Filtertech, for

example.

Hugh McAllister and François-Charles Laberge from K&Y Diamonds.

Support for independent labs

Many well-known lens and frame manufacturers presented

their highlights at the trade fair in Las Vegas. In addition, for

the first time there was an area specifically for independent

labs. The so-called “Indie Lab Speakeasy” area allowed visitors

to engage in informal conversations with independent lens

manufacturers.

Satisloh Team in front of NEO-Orbit.

MAFO 6-25 21

LIVE ON SITE

At the LaunchPad Showcase, more than 20 start-ups presented

innovations in the fields of AI, VR, AR, and diagnostics.

In addition, many exciting presentations and panel discussions

on stage attracted the audience and offered a welcome change

from visiting the exhibition stands.

Jamal El-Hindi from Filtertech.

Automation & Robotics team.

Carryline USA.

Smart glasses – AI, cameras, and autofocus

One well-attended presentation, for example, presented the

latest study results from The Vision Council on smart glasses.

This clearly showed that smart glasses are emerging from

their niche and becoming a real trend. For example, in terms

of consumer awareness. Consumer awareness about smart

glasses has doubled in the last two years. 14% of consumers

said that they had already purchased smart eyewear in the

past. And 4 out of ten say that they would consider buying

smart glasses in the next 12 months. However, consumer

electronics stores are the most likely purchase channel for

consumers who are likely to buy smart eyewear in the next

12 months.

Smart glasses were also very present at the trade fair. Essilor-

Luxottica now has a whole portfolio of different types, which

is constantly being expanded. At the trade fair, visitors were

able to test the Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Nuance Audio

hearing glasses, for example. In addition, smart glasses with

a display are set to be launched soon, as well as Essilor Stellest

Smart Glasses, which analyze the visual behavior of myopic

children, for example.

Other smart glasses could be tested at the lucyd stand, for

example. At the Fuller Vision stand, visitors could try out the

new Autofocals, glasses that automatically focus from distance

to near.

The market here is developing rapidly and there is now a

product for almost every need. Whether it's a built-in camera,

a translator, audio amplification for better hearing, or glasses

for listening to music.

The MEI-team in front of Alpha and Omega Core TBA.

Machine exhibitors

For machine exhibitors, the trade fair in Las Vegas is one of

the most important in the world. Almost every company was

represented here, and most of them with a corresponding

number of machines. Of course, the major spectacle lens

manufacturers, software providers, lens designers, instrument

suppliers, and many more were also present.

Optotech, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary,

showed a large machine park. The highlight was the brand-new

IQ Synergy Lens Generator. The company described it as a

new “powerhouse in lens production.” Among other things,

decoupled process steps greatly increase throughput.

Another innovation could not (yet) be physically examined—but

those interested will not have to wait much longer: Optotech

22

MAFO 6-25

LIVE ON SITE

has developed a new Eco Block Technology in collaboration

with Zeiss. The patented vacuum blocking process is intended

to replace conventional methods using alloy or adhesive. The

company developed two machines for this purpose: the fully

automated IQ-Synergy Eco Blocker and the IQ-Synergy Eco

Deblocker. Both systems have already been successfully tested

and implemented at Zeiss Vision Care. The supplier is thus

the third manufacturer to soon offer block-free alternatives in

production.

Visitors were also able to explore many highlights at Satisloh,

DAC Vision, and Ultra Optics. The NEO-Orbit and NEO Flex

block-free machines for surface processing of spectacle lenses

were a particular magnet for visitors. According to the manufacturer,

the fact that the usual blocking, taping processes, etc.

are no longer necessary with this duo means that only two

machines are needed instead of seven. 99% of all lenses can

be processed in these machines.

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore an entire fleet of

machines from Schneider. These included, for example, the

fully automated Modulo line, including the new PMD Modulo

ONE inspection machine, which checks the lens on the block

in the middle of the surfacing process, and the all-in-one

cosmetic inspection and surface quality control machine CSI-P

Modulo ONE.

With the Lab Configurator Tool, interested parties can also

digitally assemble their next “Power Lab” themselves in just

a few minutes. This is just as easy as you would expect from a

well-known furniture chain.

The beginning and the end – Alpha and Omega – is the big

topic at machine manufacturer MEI System. Here, too, the

seven familiar process steps are drastically reduced with a

block-free unit. In addition to the already familiar all-in-one

unit Core TBA, Alpha and Omega now double productivity

and can be used modularly.

Coburn Technologies has a home advantage at the trade fair

and regularly showcases a large portfolio of various systems

in the field of lens processing and diagnostics. Here, visitors

found, for example, the new Velocity TT Spin Coater, a backside

spin coater for lens labs that loads two lenses simultaneously,

the Velocity automated spin lens coater, and the Nexus DGT

lens generator.

At Automation & Robotics, the focus is now fully on automatic

cosmetic inspection. From ProMapper to NeoMapper to

AutoMapper, all inspection devices and systems will eventually

feature automatic cosmetic inspection. A&R was recently

acquired by the EssilorLuxottica Group.

Overall, those interested in technology in the field of systems

and more got their hands on the latest innovations.

The next Vision Expo in the USA will take place in Orlando

from March 11 to 14. ◆

New Oakley Meta smart glasses.

Stephan Huttenhuis (left) and Tobias Schneider (right) demonstrate

the lab configurator.

Coburn Technologies.

Tinting lenses at BPI.

MAFO 6-25 23

LIVE ON SITE

Evergreen

Pictures: Pauline Möller

Optotech

Innovation and inspiration

at the heart of optometry

Silmo Paris 2025

From September 26 to 29, 2025, the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center once again became the center

of the international optometry industry. Silmo Paris 2025 not only provided a platform for new products and

technological innovations, but also for intensive professional exchange and the recognition of outstanding

achievements. With an increase in visitor numbers, new formats, and a festive awards ceremony, the trade fair

promoted a strong future for the industry. By Daniel Groß

As one of the world's most important trade fairs

for ophthalmic optics and eyewear design, Silmo

Paris promised a multifaceted program that

combines trends, technologies, and traditions.

The organizers stuck to their proven supporting program,

which offers interested visitors a number of highlights beyond

the product show.

The future of eyewear design and optometry

per se

The Trend Forum presented the upcoming styles and must-haves

in the industry. A carefully curated selection of optical frames

and sunglasses collections showed where design language,

materials, and colors are heading. Visitors gained valuable inspiration

for product range design and customer consulting.

With Silmo Next, the trade fair focused on the future of

ophthalmic optics. Artificial intelligence, smart eyewear, and

immersive visual experiences were made tangible. The focus

was particularly on automated eye tests, virtual reality, and

intelligent business processes—technologies that could permanently

change the everyday work of opticians.

Renowned experts shared their insights and visions in lectures

and discussion panels at Silmo Talks and Silmo Academy. The

topics in Hall 6 ranged from scientific studies and market

24

MAFO 6-25

LIVE ON SITE

Horizons

Satisloh

MEI System

Maat Optical

analyses to ethical issues surrounding digitalization. The Silmo

Academy also awarded a research grant of €10,000 to Andronikos

Chrysanthopoulos for his study on accommodation ability

in young adults.

Trade fair results: growth and

internationality

With 33,358 trade visitors, Silmo Paris 2025 recorded a 6.5%

increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous year.

International participation was once again high: 52% of guests

came from abroad, 48% from France. Over 900 companies

presented their products and developments on an area of 75,000

square meters. The trade fair reflected a dynamic industry that

is increasingly addressing issues such as digitalization, sustainability,

and social responsibility.

Many machine manufacturers, suppliers, and other key players

in the field of eyeglass lens production were also represented

with stands at the trade fair.

CSR premiere and promoting young talent

In cooperation with the Paris-based corporate social responsibility

consulting firm Hyssop, an area for CSR initiatives was

set up. Start-ups presented environmentally friendly materials

and sustainable production processes. The “Committed

Company Award” went to Friendly Frenchy, a company that

works with inclusive organizations and local partners and

focuses on sustainable materials.

As part of the Optical Design Contest, the Gaia children's

glasses designed by student Hélène Caffin-Pinon received an

award. They incorporate a plant identification function using

augmented reality—an innovative approach that combines

design and education. The title of International Optician of

the Year went to Blair Wong from the USA, who has distinguished

himself through his commitment to training and

innovation.

Silmo d'Or 2025: The gala of innovations

A highlight of the trade fair was the Silmo d'Or 2025 awards

ceremony, which took place on Saturday evening, September

27, in the elegant Pavillon Gabriel in the Champs-Élysées

gardens. The atmosphere was exuberant, the venue was packed,

and the excitement was palpable. Each winner was cheered

loudly—often, the cheers revealed which corner of the room

the winner came from. The buffet of French delicacies rounded

off the festive evening, which celebrated the industry's innovative

strength and creativity.

Products and companies were honored in a total of 12 categories.

In addition, the jury awarded a special prize and an award for

social commitment.

The next Silmo Paris will take place from September 25 to 28,

2026, once again at Paris Nord Villepinte. After the success of

2025, we can look forward to seeing what innovations and

impulses await the industry in the coming year. ◆

MAFO 6-25 25

MAFO - The Conference 2026

Additive manufactured lenses, autofocus glasses, or

blockless methods – don´t miss this unique event in Milan!

On January 30, 2026, MAFO is once again hosting a unique event especially for international ophthalmic lens experts:

MAFO - The Conference 2026. Be among the first to learn all the details about the latest trends and technologies,

one day before Mido in Milan, Italy. You can look forward to a day full of exciting presentations, international speakers,

and enough time to exchange ideas during breaks – or to enjoy great Italian food and cocktails.

14 speakers and first audience award

announced

In 2026, 14 international speakers will talk about current trends

and technologies in manufacturing and lens development at

MAFO - The Conference. Detailed abstracts of the speakers

can be found on the following pages. In addition, two further

presentation topics will be announced shortly.

Another highlight: The 24th MAFO - The Conference features

an audience award for the first time to honor the best presentation

of the day. The following highlights await you:

▶ Additive manufactured ophthalmic lenses

▶ Autofocus glasses

▶ Blockless manufacturing

▶ Thermal anti-fog coatings

▶ Smart glasses and myopia management

▶ PFAS updates and more

26

MAFO 6-25

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

(one day before Mido)

Advertisement

Location: Fiera Milano Rho (Italy)

Chairman: Peter Baumbach

Dr. Daniel Crespo and

Dr. José Alonso

IOT

Niko Eiden

IXI Eyewear

Andy Huthoefer and

Alexandre Cormier

Satisloh

Fabrice Bagnoud

Solabs Nanotechnology

Dr. François Van Lishout

Automation & Robotics

Roland Lorek

NielsenIQ/GfK

Light-Form: A digital additive

manufacturing technology for

ophthalmic lenses

Reimagining vision and eyewear

with autofocus lenses

A new vision for your lab –

without blocks

The first thermal antifog solution:

A new segment in the market

Towards fully integrated lens

inspection: Bridging cosmetic,

optical, and coating quality

Current developments in the

European market for spectacles

SPECTACLE

LENS TOOLING

ULTRA PRECISION

DIAMOND

TOOLS

Carsten Leutloff

Spectaris

PFAS in spectacle lenses –

what´s next?

Dr. Bernd Freyermuth

Lensware

Arnaud Ribadeau

Dumas

EssilorLuxottica

Dan Baker

Ocuco

Simone Mangili

MEI System

Modern LMS IT

architecture design

Holistic myopia management

solutions: from lenses to

smart glasses

From job tracker to production

orchestrator: How a modern LMS

scales optical lab operations.

Empowering labs: How industry

innovation is transforming the

lens production

www.mafo-optics.com

MAFO 6-25

kydiamond.ca

Crafting

the future of vision

together

Gold Sponsors

28

MAFO 6-25

Advertisement

Dr. Daniel Crespo and

Dr. José Alonso

IOT

Light-Form: A digital additive

manufacturing technology

for ophthalmic lenses

The optical industry has long pursued

digital additive manufacturing for optical

elements, particularly ophthalmic

lenses, which demand high customization.

Success requires flexibility, simplicity,

sustainability, and performance/cost

parity or superiority over current freeform

surface generation.

Light-Form Technology is the first approach

with true potential to achieve

these goals. It employs a novel volumetric

printing process to polymerize the entire

lens volume onto a substrate, which can

integrate into the product or be removed

and reused. This involves a single polymerization

step using a precisely calculated,

spatially incoherent radiation pattern to

form a threshold surface separating

polymerized and unpolymerized regions,

this surface matching the desired lens

geometry exactly.

Light-Form Technology is highly efficient:

producing a complete lens in under three

minutes without post-processing steps

like homogenization or polishing. The

current prototype achieves about one

lens per minute and scales easily. It uses

no water, consumes one-fifth the energy

of traditional methods, and recovers

unpolymerized resin – cutting polymer

waste by 80%. It can produce any custom

design, progressive or single vision.

This innovation could shift the paradigm

in ophthalmic lens production,

enabling thin optics for VR/AR devices,

high-quality manufacturing in remote

areas, and last-mile production in

urban settings.

Niko Eiden

IXI Eyewear

Reimagining vision and

eyewear with autofocus

lenses

Niko Eiden, CEO and co-founder of IXI,

is pioneering the world’s first autofocus

glasses, a breakthrough set to redefine a

market unchanged for decades and irrevocably

transform one of humanity’s

most universal tools.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience

in advanced optics, VR/XR hardware,

and mobile imaging, Niko is driven by

IXI’s mission to seamlessly improve vision

correction and everyday life for

glasses wearers with integrated technology

that prioritizes user comfort.

At MAFO – The Conference, Niko will

detail how IXI’s technology redefines

‘smart glasses’ and creates a new eyewear

category by eliminating the limitations

of fixed-focus lenses, focusing on genuine

visual impairment solutions and implementing

superior ergonomic features.

Niko will also discuss IXI’s strategy to

scale and deliver it’s autofocus glasses to

opticians, exploring how this will reshape

the global prescribing process.

Join us to discover how a blend of deep

technological expertise and user-focused

design is finally modernising the ophthalmic

lens industry.

A&R CONTACTLESS

INTEGRATED SOLUTION

• ISO/ANSI standards compliance,

• Optical power measurement,

• Mapping inspection,

• Thickness, diameter, shape,

• Cosmetic inspection

PROMAPPER

AUTOMAPPER

NEOMAPPER

A&R’s inspection range is

expanding : NEW GENERATION

coming early 2026!

www.ar.be

MAFO 6-25

SPOTLIGHT

Andy Huthoefer and

Alexandre Cormier

Satisloh

A new vision for your

lab – without blocks

Currently, we block lenses so that they

are held securely throughout all surfacing

processes, don’t flex, and the front of the

lens is protected. These are important

functions. But if we can manage to do

all this without blocks, that has a lot of

advantages. It eliminates taping, blocking,

deblocking and detaping. That makes

the lens production process faster, saves

space in the lab, drastically reduces the

cost of consumables and is better for the

environment. In this talk the presenters

explain Satisloh’s new blockless surfacing

technology and how it maintains compatibility

with the full production range of

lenses, a high throughput and impeccable

lens quality. The resulting benefits for

labs are detailed as well.

Fabrice Bagnoud

Solabs Nanotechnology

The first thermal antifog

solution: A new segment in

the market

Solabs introduces the first thermal antifog

solution (TAF by Solabs); a transparent,

sunlight-activated antifogging

coating that combines optical clarity

with strong photothermal functionality.

The design is engineered to achieve high

absorption in the near-infrared (NIR)

spectrum, which accounts for roughly

half of the solar energy. Upon illumination,

the absorbed NIR light is converted

into heat, elevating the surface temperature

and thereby suppressing water

droplet nucleation and fog formation.

As a result, the coating exhibits more

than a fourfold enhancement in antifogging

resistance and a threefold faster

defogging rate compared to uncoated

surfaces. The coating remains effective

even under low sunlight intensities (as

low as 0.2 suns) and can be fabricated

using standard physical vapor deposition

(PVD) techniques, such as e-beam

evaporation or sputtering.

Dr. François Van Lishout


Towards fully integrated

lens inspection: Bridging

cosmetic, optical, and

coating quality

The inspection of ophthalmic lenses is

moving toward fully integrated systems

capable of evaluating cosmetic appearance,

optical performance, and coating

quality within a single inspection

machine. Advances in imaging, optical

metrology, and AI-driven analysis now

make it possible to reduce subjectivity,

support operators, and achieve consistent

quality across global manufacturing

sites. This presentation discusses key

trends shaping next-generation inspection

systems, including improved repeatability,

multi-modal measurement,

and adaptive algorithms that learn from

data rather than relying solely on fixed

rules. It combines an overview of these

technological directions with illustrative

examples from industrial inspection

systems, and shows how they

enable more robust, scalable, and

traceable lens inspection workflows for

the eyewear industry.

30

MAFO 6-25

Advertisement

Roland Lorek

NielsenIQ/GfK

Current developments in

the European market for

spectacles

With the pandemic years behind us,

Europe finds itself in times of growingly

impactful structural changes: The war

in Ukraine lasts on, well established

industries struggle, inflation remains on

an elevated level and affects the economic

decisions of an ageing and only slightly

growing population. The data from the

GfK Consumer Climate Index show the

attitude of European consumers towards

major purchasing decisions. The NielsenIQ

Optic panel gives insight into how

the current purchasing behavior combined

with the above-mentioned macro

developments impact the European

market for Spectacles. Combined, both

data sources can serve as a basis for developing

an understanding on where the

market will go from here.

Carsten Leutloff

Spectaris

PFAS in spectacle lenses –

what’s next?

Spectacle lenses as medical devices are

facing a pivotal change: the EU plans

a comprehensive ban on PFAS in their

manufacture, use, and placing on the

market. The updated ECHA Background

Document (20 August 2025)

specifies concrete threshold values and

indicates that no exemptions have so

far been proposed for spectacle lens

coatings. Equivalent alternatives are

currently unavailable, and their development

requires considerable effort.

To safeguard quality, safety, and supply,

the spectacle lens industry must actively

participate in the second consultation

phase and demonstrate that PFAS

applications are technically necessary.

Submitted information on uses, alternatives,

socio-economic impacts, and

enforceability will be crucial to ensure

the continued availability of highquality

spectacle lenses.

Your best

Your best

LAB

LAB

MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM

SYSTEM

MORE

MORE

EFFICIENCY

AND

PRODUCTIVITY

FOR YOUR LAB

MAFO 6-25

See you at at

OPTI

OPTI

MIDO

MIDO

SIOF EXPO

SIOF

FRANJA

OPTICA

EXPO

FRANJA

OPTICA

SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Bernd Freyermuth

Lensware

Modern LMS

IT architecture design

The lecture will concentrate to evolute

a template software architecture design

of modern lab management systems.

The architecture will show the different

modules, linked together by a standard

SQL database. Over many years, this

architecture revealed well suitable to

manage a standardized core, extended

by customized functionality for the

individual requirements of the single

lab. Customization, total integration

and migration, based on this core design,

are the decisive elements of a modern

LMS architecture.

The integral LMS should be able to

manage end2end ophthalmic products

(RX lens and Stock lens by pair, Stock

lens also by bulk / wholesale), as well as

trading articles (frames, accessories,

consumables), in future in complex

combination (packages), too.

The lecture will concentrate on discussing

the core elements of the RX production

unit, as well as the enhanded

functionalities of Enterprise (ERP) and

the WEB ordering feature. Integration

into financial packages is mainly

achieved by customization in format

and communication, a standard solution

should be part of the LMS sales modules

(e.g. different eInvoice technologies).

Arnaud Ribadeau Dumas

EssilorLuxottica

Holistic myopia management

solutions: from

lenses to smart glasses

With over 50% of the world’s population

projected to suffer from myopia by

2050, the need for accessible vision care

has never been greater. Committed to

playing a leading role in addressing

this global health issue, EssilorLuxottica

has been steadfast in its commitment

to tackle this rapidly growing

visual impairment and promote better

eye health for future generations.

We believe that tackling this epidemic

requires:

• Developing a comprehensive suite

of myopia management solutions:

solutions today include not only

lenses which help significantly slow

down the progression of myopia in

children, but now also Smart Glasses

that can track wearing time and

patterns for more efficient and personalized

myopia management

• Leading the global myopia conversation:

sharing expertise and the

latest insights, as an open network

company

• Strengthening partnerships and

supporting eyecare professionals:

this includes providing ECPs with

the latest evidence-based scientific,

medical and clinical product knowledge

to better support consumers.

Dan Baker

Ocuco

From job tracker to production

orchestrator: How

a modern LMS scales

optical lab operations

Many optical labs still operate their LMS

like it’s 1995, tracking jobs, printing

tickets, and producing basic reports.

Today’s labs face complex freeform

designs, tighter SLAs, and multiple

system integrations. The Lab Management

System, Dan Baker argues, should

coordinate that complexity rather than

record it after the fact. His session

presents the LMS as a production control

layer that orchestrates workflow, protects

data integrity, and reduces manual intervention.

He details rules-based

routing, scan-and-verify steps, and

stable links to ERP, PMS, LDS, WMS,

and shop-floor devices—measures tied

to higher first-pass yield, shorter cycle

times, and better promise-date adherence.

The talk also offers an AI reality

check: be “AI-ready” through sound

engineering—clean signals, event logging,

and exception handling—before

advanced tools. Browser-based modules,

he notes, enable effective oversight from

anywhere. Attendees leave with a clear

framework, practical KPIs, and next

steps for scalable, measurable, datadriven

operations.

32

MAFO 6-25

Advertisement

SPOTLIGHT

Simone Mangili

MEI System

Empowering labs: How

industry innovation is

transforming the lens

production

As the optical industry evolves through

smart eyewear, automation, and changing

consumer demands, technology

providers are driving a new era of innovation

in lens manufacturing.

By identifying both explicit and latent

needs of ophthalmic labs, industry

players are developing integrated solutions

that consolidate multiple production

steps, reduce transit time, and

eliminate inefficiencies.

These advanced systems offer labs the

Total Quality Control and real-time

visibility over key performance indicators

such as OEE and consistency in

the output.

The result is simplified operations, lower

costs, and consistently high-quality lenses.

Through collaboration and data-driven

development, the industry is empowering

labs to meet future challenges and elevate

the standard of vision care.

Award ceremony

MAFO

Presentation of the first

MAFO - The Conference

audience award for the

best presentation

MAFO 6-25 33

TECHNOLOGY

A generalization of the Minkwitz

theorem and its benefit for

progressive addition lenses

The linear relation between the lateral increase of surface astigmatism and the increase of surface power

along an umbilical line was described by Minkwitz and is known as the Minkwitz theorem. However, in many

cases, modern progressive addition lenses do not show an umbilical principal line. Therefore, we propose to

extend the Minkwitz theorem to non-umbilical lines. Dr. Wolfgang Becken, Dr. Lukas Gromann, Dr. Gregor Esser

and Dr. Dietmar Uttenweiler

We were able to derive a “generalized

Minkwitz theorem,” which states that the

increase of the astigmatism perpendicular

to the principal line depends not only on

the power increase, as described by the Minkwitz theorem,

but also on the astigmatism increase along the principal line.

This generalization holds true also for a finite prescribed

astigmatism. The original Minkwitz theorem itself is a special

case of this generalization. As an application, we demonstrate

an example how a progressive addition lens benefits from

that generalization resulting in a reduction of unwanted

astigmatism in the periphery.

Introduction

The fact that a progressive addition lens (PAL) inevitably possesses

some considerable amount of astigmatism in the periphery of

the lens is one main reason why there exists an immense variety

of different kinds of lens designs. A key feature of a PAL design

is how the distribution of aberrations is adapted to the wearers’s

requirements and application. Without the presence of aberrations

all these efforts would not have been necessary since the world’s

first PAL was introduced in 1959 by Essilor.

Although unwanted astigmatism first only was an experience

fact, a few years later there has been found a rigorous scientific

fundament showing that this drawback is inevitable. In 1963,

G. Minkwitz [1] has achieved to prove a mathematical theorem

(later called the “Minkwitz theorem”) which establishes a

direct relationship between the lateral increase rate of astigmatism

and the power increase rate of a PAL.

More precisely speaking, this theorem makes statements under

certain simplifying restrictions. The first restriction is that it

refers to one single surface rather than to a spectacle lens

comprising at least two surfaces. Second, this surface is assumed

to be smooth. The third and important assumption is that the

surface possesses an umbilic line, i.e. a line along which the

surface astigmatism vanishes. Fourth, an important assumption

is that the surface is symmetric. Finally, it is assumed that the

prescribed astigmatism of that surface is zero.

Under these conditions the theorem states that perpendicularly

to the umbilical line there is some surface astigmatism present

starting with a slope which is twice as large as the power increase

rate along the umbilical line. The conclusion is that a progressive

surface, therefore having a power increase rate, must also have

some peripheral astigmatism. The relevance of the theorem

for PALs is then based on the fact that at least one lens surface

must be progressive, and the assumption that all essential

surface properties are inherited by the lens as a whole.

There have been several discussions about the question whether

Minkwitz’ theorem stays still valid under weaker conditions.

For example, dropping the symmetry assumption does not

alter the key ingredient of the theorem since symmetry was

originally only introduced for convenience rather than as a

mandatory prerequisite, as is e.g. discussed by Blendowske [2] .

Similarly, as illustrated in the present work, the theorem stays

valid also for finite prescribed cylinder: although this case is

non-umbilic regarding total astigmatism, it is umbilic if unwanted

astigmatism is referred to total minus prescribed value.

On the other hand, there have been various attempts to exploit

that in real-life conditions some of the other restrictions are

not present such that Minkwitz’ theorem can be essentially

overcome. For example, in the early 2000s, several lens manufacturers

have proposed to use two progressive surfaces in a

spectacle lens instead of only one, such that astigmatism effects

can be compensating each other if arranged suitably. Although

there exists no rigorous proof showing that this is impossible,

practice shows that no relevant loss of lateral slope of astigmatism

can be achieved that way – if at all.

Further, to bypass Minkwitz’ theorem, the authors introduced

a negligible astigmatism (e.g. 0.001 diopters) along the principal

34

MAFO 6-25

TECHNOLOGY

MAFO: Your paper also serves as the basis for the

latest Rodenstock progressive lens. What are the

advantages of the new design, explained in

simple terms?

Uttenweiler: Spontaneous compatibility is very high! The

wearer perceives the visual fields as very wide and enjoys

sharp vision.

Esser: We already had biometric lenses with a high degree

of customization. Now we can adapt the visual fields more

precisely to the requirements.

Previously, we had a standard visual acuity loss, which was

the same for everyone. Now we can adapt the design accordingly.

For example, if someone cannot perceive a difference

of 0.25 dpt., this means that more aberrations can be tolerated

up to their perception threshold. As a result, the fields of

vision have smooth transitions and the areas can be perceived

as larger.

MAFO: Do you know how people's perception

differ? Are some eyeglass wearers more sensitive

than others?

Esser: Yes, we evaluated the order data and looked at the

correlation between visual acuity and sensitivity. Roughly

clustered, we found that:

▶ 40% have high visual acuity and high visual sensitivity

▶ 31% have low visual acuity and low visual sensitivity

▶ 17% have medium visual acuity and medium sensitivity

▶ 8% have high visual acuity and low visual sensitivity

▶ 4% have low visual acuity and high visual sensitivity

MAFO: What role do big data and AI play in the

development of new ophthalmic lenses?

Esser: There are many aspects, of course, but big data

and AI play a very important role. However, I am convinced

that it is always necessary to take an analytical

approach in advance. Correlations can certainly be

derived from a large data pool in order to draw conclusions.

But that alone is not enough! Our goal is always

to first look at the analytical derivation in order to

improve the design in the periphery and center, for

example, as in the most recent case.

Developments based on derivations can also be mathematically

proven and published scientifically. They

form the basis for the new development or further development

of a design – only then does big data come

into play. In short, functional relationships and their

influence must first be identified – then can big data be

used effectively.

line – insignificant for vision but sufficient to break umbilicity

and potentially reduce peripheral astigmatism. Disappointingly,

as has been described by the authors formerly [3] , there are some

non-vanishing higher-order derivatives of astigmatism left

yielding peripheral astigmatism of a similar amount even then.

This is in accordance with general experience, expressed by

Sheedy and Campbell [4] using the words “Although the Minkwitz

relationship may be altered in some regions of the corridor, there

is a global component to the Minkwitz prediction that applies

to PALs. On a global level, ..., it appears the unwanted astigmatism

associated with a given power change along a given distance

can be redistributed but probably not reduced.”

In this article, we deal with a single surface as the original

Minkwitz theorem does, and we also want to question the

assumption of an umbilic line but in another sense than above.

In our former work [3] , we have found a generalization of

Minkwitz’ theorem introducing additional terms compared

to the original theorem. In the following, we will show in a

simple way how the generalized Minkwitz theorem arises and

how it can be exploited for achieving a benefit for spectacle

lenses by taking into account the wearer’s visual sensitivity.

The original Minkwitz theorem

Throughout the present article, we will consider a single surface

which we assume to be sufficiently smooth. Now, there exist

various ways how to illustrate the meaning of Minkwitz’s theorem.

A very common one is the so-called elephant’s trunk construction

(see e.g. Ref. [5] ). In this article, we shall focus on revisiting the

theorem based on its mathematical background.

It is important to note that Minkwitz’ theorem is a local theorem

in the sense that it does not make any statement about astigmatism

far away from the umbilical line. Instead, it refers only

to its direct proximity. In figure 1, we have shown a representation

of surface astigmatism as a function of some coordinates

in a typical setup for which the surface power increases

from positive to negative values about an addition of 2.5 dpt.

In the middle, an umbilical line can be identified whereas in

the periphery, there is some astigmatism which at some point

adopts a maximum value in the same order of magnitude as

the addition. Figure 1b shows a section of figure 1a along the

direction in a height of

. It reveals that directly

left and right to the umbilical line, the astigmatism increases

in direction with a finite slope. Minkwitz’ theorem only

MAFO 6-25 35

TECHNOLOGY

Fig. 1: Astigmatism of a typical progressive surface as a

function of x and y. The power addition of the surface is given

as 2.5dpt. a) complete astigmatism plot exhibiting a maximum

value in the periphery b) section showing the V shape of the

astigmatism function in the proximity of the umbilical line

refers to that slope. In contrast, Minkwitz’ theorem makes no

statement about the maximal astigmatism in the periphery.

For a rigorous version of Minkwitz’ theorem we assume a

surface sagitta function to be given which possesses

the same restricting properties as in the original work [1] :

▶ It is symmetrical:

▶ It possesses an umbilical line along the symmetry axis

▶ The prescribed cylinder is zero.

The generalization of the Minkwitz theorem

In order to generalize Minkwitz’ theorem to weaker conditions,

for convenience we maintain the condition that the principal line

is a symmetry line.

On the other hand, we do no longer restrict ourselves to the case

of an umbilic line. There are different situations leading to a

non-umbilic line. The first one is present if there is a finite prescribed

cylinder present. If, on the other hand, the prescribed

cylinder is zero, it is still possible that only one point on the

principal line is umbilic, or that there is not even one umbilic

point at all. The following treatment for developing the generalization

allows also to bring order into these different situations.

Beside the formal power series approach presented in Ref.[3],

there exists a much simpler albeit mnemonic method for deriving

Eq.(2). Nevertheless, we will re-engineer the theorem that way

but carefully track the conditions for generalizing it in the end.

Thanks to the chosen coordinate system the first derivatives

and in . Then the surface

power matrix in is given as

(3)

We consider a point

on the umbilical line

and choose the coordinate system such that the plane is

tangential to the surface there. Then the surface mean power

and astigmatism at that point are given as

(1)

respectively, where n and n' are the refractive indices before

and after the surface. The symbols , and stand for

the second surface derivatives of at position

. Considering and to be variable themselves, the rigorous

version of Minkwitz’ theorem reads:

Theorem: If every point on the apex line of a symmetrical

refractive surface F is umbilic, then

The first equality is the definition of the power matrix in terms

of power vector components

where are sphere, cylinder and axis. The second matrix

contains the second derivatives

of the sagitta

with respect to the coordinates. The entries in that matrix are

curvatures which have in general rather complicated expressions

but thanks to and they reduce to the simple

expressions in Eq.(3) in the point .

The decisive step is now that the interchangeability of derivatives

has implications on the partial derivatives of power vector

components according to the second equality in Eq.(3), as

already demonstrated in a former work [3] . Comparing the

derivatives within each row in the power matrix yields

(a)

(b)

(4)

(2)

i.e. the surface astigmatism increases twice as fast along a

direction perpendicular to the apex line as the modulus of

the change rate of the mean surface power along that line.

For completeness, it should be mentioned that this step is

mnemonic rather than rigorous for the following reason. The

curvature of a function along direction, for example,

is not given by but in general by . Only

at position this reduces to because there. Although

it is tempting to compute the derivative of curvature

36

MAFO 6-25

TECHNOLOGY

in directly by derivative of yielding , the formally

correct way would be to compute the derivative of the complete

general curvature expression and putting thereafter.

Fortunately, this yields as well, which allows to keep

things simple. Although this scheme does not generally hold

for higher orders since e.g. the second derivative of curvature

in is given by instead of , the “naïve”

conclusion still holds for third order, such that Eq.(3) is true

after all.

For proving Minkwitz’ theorem (as well as its generalization),

we must still establish a connection to astigmatism

itself instead of only one

of its components. Forming the derivative

(5)

shows that the derivative of astigmatism is essentially given

by the projection of the power vector derivative onto

the unit vector . It is noteworthy that Eqs.(4,5) are always

valid because neither the symmetry condition nor the condition

of umbilicity have been applied so far. These conditions come

now into play for evaluating Eq.(5) in the cases of interest.

Exploiting now that and are even under the symmetry operation

while is odd, a short consideration leads to

(6)

at position .

Eqs.(6) has the implication that along an umbilical line, there

is a vanishing component throughout. In accordance with

this observation, from Eqs.(6) it follows in combination with

Eq.(4b) that

along the umbilical line. This

means that if there is at all some astigmatism on the principal

line, this is due to . Therefore, for the following evaluation

of Eq.(5) two cases have to be distinguished:

Case 1: The point on the principal line is non-umbilic.

Then Eq.(5) evaluates to zero because in the numerator both

terms and are vanishing. In other words,

the vectors and are orthogonal, and their projection

vanishes., such that

(7)

Case 2: The point on the principal line is umbilic.

Then both and are vanishing there. In that case Eq.(5)

cannot be evaluated directly because both numerator and

denominator are zero. However, a limiting process

shows that and are aligned parallel for (and

antiparallel for ), such that in that case

(8)

which in combination with Eq.(4a) yields for

(9)

Eq.(9) can be directly considered as a generalization of

Minkwitz’ theorem, still referred to vanishing prescribed

cylinder. Compared to the original Minkwitz theorem, it

comprises an additional term which describes the

increase rate of astigmatism along the principal line. For the

Advertisement

QUALITY &

SAVINGS

FROM

STOCK

®

GOLD

STRESS-RELIEVING ALLOY ®

LONGER LIFE GOLD ® &

LIQUID PLATING CRYSTALS

SENSOR HEADS & FEEDTHROUGHS

IONIZATION,

THERMOCOUPLE,

INSTRUTECH

& INFICON

GAUGES

INFICON

RATE/THICKNESS

CONTROLLERS &

MONITORS

704 & 705

SILICONE

DIFFUSION

PUMP

FLUIDS

FRONTIER

VACUUM VALVES

www.filtech.com

paula@filtech.com

617-227-1133

800-743-1743

ELECTRON

BEAM GUN

PARTS

ION SOURCE PARTS

SCAN FOR OUR FULL CATALOG

TECHNOLOGY

case of an umbilic line, therefore, the original Minkwitz theorem

is contained as a special case because then we encounter

.

Finally, even Eq.(9) can be generalized further to the case of

a non-vanishing prescribes cylinder . If the corresponding

cylinder power vector is called

,

then we can simply replace the total astigmatism by shifted

quantities. Defining the unwanted cylinder as

Figure 2 shows that the upper solid curve for approaches

the curve for in the umbilic case from above. Eq.(12) shows

that is always larger than the contribution from would

be,

. Therefore, also in the non-umbilic

case we inherit a considerable amount of astigmatism in the

periphery from the umbilic case.

Of course, Eq.(12) is itself only valid approximately and in the

proximity of the principal line because in the far periphery

the local approach breaks down due to the higher-order terms

and a slowly increasing value of away from zero, but

it gives a certain understanding of lateral astigmatism also in

the non-umbilical case.

(10)

where , we obtain and

hence following

Theorem: If at least one point on the apex line of a symmetrical

refractive surface F is umbilic regarding

, then

(11)

Discussion

The generalization in Eq.(11) allows to understand in a simple

way why it is a useless attempt to artificially introduce some tiny

unwanted auxiliary astigmatism in for removing

umbilicity and thereby bypassing Minkwitz’ theorem.

For simplicity, let us assume that the originally prescribed

cylinder is zero. It is true that then according to Eq.(7) the

initial slope of astigmatism vanishes. But the hope

that the slope keeps small values for larger (as shown by the

dashed line in Fig. 2) is in vain.

For maintaining symmetry, the only power vector component

one can introduce is while . Now, we

interpret to be a prescribed cylinder. Although being

non-umbilic with respect to , the point is umbilic

with respect to . Therefore Eq.(11) can be applied, finding

that starts approximately as a linear function due

to an approximately linear component

(see lower

solid curve in Fig.2). Regarding the original astigmatism

function, this yields

(12)

with constant .

Fig. 2: Astigmatism as a function of lateral coordinate .

The upper solid curve stands for the total astigmatism

whereas the lower curve describes the behaviour of the unwanted

astigmatism referred to a fictitious prescribed

cylinder given in the point . While this point

is non-umbilical with respect to , it is umbilical with respect

to such that the generalized Minkwitz theorem

can be applied

In practice, our findings can also be exploited for optimizing

spectacle lenses. For simplicity, we assume the properties of

the lens to be determined by the properties of one single

progressive surface.

It is a good tradition to keep the progression channel free of

astigmatism, i.e. to attempt it to be an umbilical line. Then

inevitably the lateral slope of astigmatism is determined by

the shape of power increase along the whole principal line.

Although the periphery is not completely determined by the

progression zone that way, there are only certain margins

within which a lens optimization can create a design.

We have now found a way how to enlarge these margins

noticeably by applying the presented generalization of

Minkwitz’ theorem. Accepting that reduction of lateral

astigmatism is limited by Minkwitz’ theorem as a consequence

of vertical power increase, one would like to diminish

the contributions on the rhs of Eq.(11). Indeed, if the

point is umbilic, then Eq.(11) applies there. If now

a variable astigmatism

is introduced suitably

such that acts as counter term to , then

38

MAFO 6-25

TECHNOLOGY

in fact the lateral increase of unwanted astigmatism can

be reduced.

The improvement by compensating the term in parts

is associated to some finite astigmatism

on some

portions of the principal line. In classical lens design, this

had always been avoided by construction. In contrast to this,

we have based a new lens design on the fact that a certain

amount of astigmatism can be tolerated even on the principal

line, depending on the wearer’s visual sensitivity regarding

aberrations. Every lens can benefit from this principle, and

taking into account visual sensitivity as individual input value,

the potential for reduction of astigmatism can be exploited

in a well-directed way.

Dr. Wolfgang Becken

Dr. Wolfgang Becken, PhD physicist and Senior Principal at

Rodenstock, has experience in industrial research over two

decades as. His work as expert and as project manager focuses

on innovative developments in eyeglass design, including

patents on wavefront tracing and optimization of optical

systems such as spectacle lenses with DNEye technology.

Summary and Conclusion

The Minkwitz theorem describing a symmetric surface has

been generalized to the case that the principal line is not necessarily

umbilic. The most important finding is that if the principal

line as a whole is non-umbilic but at least one point on it is

umbilic, then a theorem similar like the original Minkwitz

theorem is valid, but with one additional term describing the

increase rate of astigmatism beside the power increase rate.

The case of a prescribed cylinder present can be reduced to the

situation without prescribed cylinder by considering the unwanted

difference between astigmatism and the prescribed

cylinder instead of the total astigmatism itself.

Even on a section of the principal line without an umbilic point

at all, where the lateral slope of astigmatism is zero, at some

middle distance from the principal line astigmatism can reasonably

be estimated by the value determined from the umbilical

case. Altogether, our generalization covers the cases of variable

astigmatism along the principal line as well as the case of a

prescribed cylinder.

As an application for lens design development, the generalized

law allows to take advantage of astigmatism slope along the

principal line as a new control parameter which helps to reduce

peripheral astigmatism, provided that some minor astigmatism

in the progression channel is tolerated. Making use of the

knowledge of visual sensitivity of the wearer, individual margins

for a new flexibility in lens design can be exploited.

References

1. G. Minkwitz, “Über den Flächenastigmatismus bei gewissen symmetrischen

Asphären,” Opt. Acta 10, 223–227 (1963)

2. R. Blendowske, Simple approach to the generalized Minkwitz theorem,

Vol. 34, No. 9 / Sept 2017 / JOSA A (1481-3)

3. G. Esser, W. Becken, H. Altheimer and W. Müller, Generalization of the

Minkwitz theorem to nonumbilical lines of symmetrical surfaces, Vol.

34, No. 3 / March 2017 / JOSA A

4. J. E. Sheedy, C. Campbell, Ewen King-Smith, John R Hayes, ”Progressive

powered lenses: the Minkwitz theorem”, Optom Vis Sci. 2005

Oct;82(10):916-22

5. M. Jalie, 50 years of developments in ophthalmic lenses, MAFO Vol.

2/2025, p. 34-38

Dr. Lukas B. Gromann

Dr. Lukas B. Gromann is Senior Manager for Research in

Optics and Technologies at Rodenstock, where he leads

advanced developments in lenses, optical systems and

metrology. He has extensive experience in applied optics

and optoelectronics, gained through progressive roles in

research and management following his PhD in Physics.

Dr. Gregor Esser

Dr. Gregor Esser is a distinguished expert and Director Research

& Development Optics at Rodenstock. With a background in

optometry and vision science, he earned his PhD in Optical

Engineering. As a senior leader at Rodenstock, he has played a

key role in advancing lens technologies for many years, particularly

through his groundbreaking work on higher-order aberrations

and their application in innovations like B.I.G. Vision.

Dr. Dietmar Uttenweiler

Dr Dietmar Uttenweiler is Executive Vice President Innovation at

Rodenstock. In this role he is responsible for the Corporate Research

& Development activities for the Rodenstock Group. Dr

Uttenweiler has published in excess of 50 scientific papers and

more than 100 patents and patent applications. He is a frequent

speaker with focus on R&D, scientific and innovation topics.

MAFO 6-25 39

BUSINESS


remote projects

Strategies, processes, and key performance indicators

Remote and virtual project management has become part of everyday life in the optical industry.

Teams work independently of location, but leadership remains a key challenge. This article shows how

managers can effectively lead remote teams, clarify expectations, and make roles transparent. The focus

is on clear communication routines, regular synchronized updates, and the targeted use of tools that

enable collaboration rather than distance. By Mario Neumann

A

leading company in the precision engineering and

optical industry launched an international remote

project to develop an automated production process

for precision lens manufacturing that meets strict

quality and safety standards. The team consisted of specialists in

optics and lens engineering in Germany, experts in CNC/precision

mechanics at a research facility in Grenoble, and manufacturing

experts in Poland. The desired solution was to optimize the entire

production process, increase product quality, and minimize

rework – a challenging task for Timo B.'s team.

However, clear roles and expectations were not sufficiently clarified,

which led to diverging requirements and early misunderstandings.

Specifications had to be adjusted several times, tests were delayed,

and approvals stalled. Different tools at the locations prevented

the urgently needed transparency. The project stalled and the

final solution missed important deadlines, with consequences

for market launch, customer confidence, and competitiveness.

Team distribution – a challenge for

team leaders

This example clearly shows how remote project management is

shaping modern projects. The problem of increasing team

distribution is becoming a challenge for project and team leaders.

While modern remote approaches bring together geographically

40

MAFO 6-25

BUSINESS

dispersed specialists, physical separation often leads to increasing

decentralization of knowledge and responsibilities.

In the project described, experts in Germany, Grenoble, and

Poland are working toward common goals, but without clear

roles, transparent expectations, and coordinated processes – silo

thinking quickly emerges.

Each location group prefers its own tools, methods, and

schedules, which narrows communication channels and

fragments information. Instead of a consistent overall picture,

decision-makers only receive partial evaluations, and decisions

must be confirmed multiple times. This almost inevitably leads

to delays, mis deliveries, and friction between locations.

Distributed teams therefore require explicit governance

structures: clear role and responsibility assignments, binding

communication routines, cross-location tools, regular synchronized

updates, and strong moderation to ensure trust, transparency,

and efficiency. This is the only way to reap the benefits of

decentralization without jeopardizing the project's chances of

success.

Basics of remote project management

First, the definition: remote project management describes the

planning, execution, and control of projects in which team

members work in geographically dispersed locations and often

communicate via digital tools. Distributed teams are groups

of professionals who work toward common goals but are based

in different locations, time zones, or organizational units.

There are different types of distributed teams:

▶ Plannable, time-synchronized teams (with fixed meetings)

▶ Asynchronous teams (work processes spread over time slots)

and

▶ hybrid forms that combine both.

The differences from traditional project management lie primarily

in communication, coordination, and productivity. While

physical proximity, direct feedback, and informal coordination

often work smoothly in face-to-face models, remote models

require conscious governance, structured communication

channels, clear decision-making processes, and transparent

documentation.

Reliable technical infrastructure, tools, and data access are

important enablers. Poor infrastructure, unclear expectations,

or fragmented tools almost inevitably lead to delays and

misunderstandings.

Without a doubt, clear objectives with measurable deliverables,

clear role and responsibility assignments (RACI-like), and

binding communication routines, such as regular stand-ups

and weekly review meetings, are among the critical success

factors of a remote project. In addition, cross-location tools

and central documentation are essential, as are a shared

roadmap and regular synchronization across time zones.

Practice shows that without clear governance, consistent

processes, and strong moderation, there is a risk of delays, cost

increases, and quality risks. The key is a balance of structured

organization, flexible collaboration, and a trust-based culture.

This is the only way to leverage the potential of distributed

teams without jeopardizing the project's chances of success.

Leading virtual teams

The example also highlights how leading virtual teams has a

significant impact on the effectiveness of a remote project. A

leadership culture that emphasizes trust and openness is key.

Project managers must succeed in creating an environment

in which team members can openly address mistakes without

fear of negative consequences. The urgently needed trust – even

across location boundaries – is created through consistent

communication, reliable support, and transparent decisionmaking

processes. When project and team leaders regularly

provide insights into plans, risks, and progress, this strengthens

the willingness of team members to proactively contribute and

take responsibility.

In person, leadership often results from direct physical presence:

reactions can be seen immediately, and nonverbal cues can be

perceived directly. In addition, short, informal conversations

during coffee breaks or in the hallway enable quick coordination;

many decisions can be made through short, spontaneous

conversations. Team members often feel that the leader has a

clear, visible position. Project and team leaders exert their

influence through their presence, role model function, and

immediate feedback. Tasks are often assigned through brief,

personal discussions; trust in leadership is strengthened by

regular personal encounters.

With virtual teams, the focus shifts significantly: informal

communication takes place via digital channels, which can

lead to misunderstandings much more easily. Leadership is

therefore inevitably characterized more by clear processes,

transparent governance, and consistent documentation. The

effect is based less on physical presence and much more on reliable

framework conditions: defined goals, clear roles, centralized

information, and regular, structured updates. Trust is built less

through chance encounters and more through consistent reliability

and transparent decision-making processes.

Governance is key

Decision-making processes in virtual project environments

differ significantly from traditional face-to-face models. Decisions

should be made where relevant information is available.

Typically, decision-making rights are determined by a RACI-like

assignment: who decides (decision owner), who must be informed

(inform), who advises (consulted), and who implements

(accountable).

MAFO 6-25 41

BUSINESS

This clear distribution of roles avoids delays caused by lengthy

coordination rounds across time zones. At the same time, it

reduces uncertainty by making the decision-making process

transparent. Prioritization is also based on a fixed set of criteria,

so that it is always clear which tasks have priority and why.

Budget control is particularly challenging in a remote context,

as expenses are often incurred decentrally and external partners

or tools are involved with a time delay. This requires central

budget tracking mechanisms, regular forecasts, and approval

loops that can be tracked in the respective time zone.

Dashboards with cash flow, burn rate, and ROI metrics are

helpful, providing all stakeholders with the transparency they

need to make course corrections early on if necessary. Here,

too, standardized processes, clear guidelines, and a policy of

cost discipline are indispensable.

Remote projects harbor a whole range of project-related risks

that often occur hidden but directly influence the success of

the project. For example, unclear instructions and incomplete

documentation lead to misunderstandings and delays. Time

zone and availability conflicts prolong decision-making

processes, while dependencies between distributed teams create

bottlenecks.

Risk management in remote projects must therefore go beyond

traditional issues. It relies primarily on early warning indicators:

delays in subtasks, dependencies between remote teams, or

the availability of critical systems. Such risks are recorded in

a centrally maintained risk list, prioritized, and assigned responsibilities.

Regular risk reviews enable project management

to respond promptly.

In addition, remote operation requires project management

to take a number of targeted countermeasures to get typical

problems under control:

▶ Communication gaps can be avoided through structured

meetings, short daily or event calls, asynchronous updates,

and clearly formulated tasks.

▶ Time zone conflicts can be addressed with rotations for

face-to-face appointments, alternating meeting times, and

asynchronous decision documentation.

▶ Dependencies between teams can be made visible and

manageable through regular dependency management, clear

escalation paths, and visible roadmaps.

▶ Governance gaps can be closed through transparent approval

processes, regular risk reviews, and audit trails.

Conclusion

Leading virtual teams requires greater structure and transparency

than traditional face-to-face leadership: clear goals,

well-defined roles, consistent communication routines, digitally

accessible information, empathetic trust-building and psychological

safety, and the ability to structure and moderate meetings

effectively.

While in-person leadership relies more on direct observation,

personal authority, and spontaneous interaction, virtual

leadership is based more on governance, tools, coded collaboration,

and a culture that accepts remote work as an independent,

productive way of working. ◆

Consistently increasing the chances of

success

An agile, hybrid approach combines flexibility with predictable

building blocks: short iterations, transparency, regular demos,

and retrospective feedback loops enable rapid adjustments in

the face of uncertainty and large time zone differences.

At the same time, central planning and coordination tasks

can be transferred to standardized workflows that are scalable.

A hybrid way of working allows you to respond flexibly to

new requirements while creating stable rituals. These include

defined sprint periods, regular coordination across time zones,

and clear handoffs between preparation and follow-up

phases.

Standardized processes and templates are at the heart of consistent

remote work. A predefined set of templates for requirements,

user stories, acceptance criteria, change requests, risk management,

and reporting facilitates the flow of information. A

central repository with versioned documentation ensures

transparency and traceability, even across locations and time

zones.

Mario Neumann

Mario Neumann, engineer and experienced project manager,

has guided numerous project teams through complex projects

as an independent consultant since 2008. With his book

"Projekt-Safari" (Project Safari), he set a milestone for project

managers back in 2012 and has received several awards for it,

including the German Continuing Education Innovation Award.

His practical approach and expertise make him a sought-after

expert in the industry. https://marioneumann.com

42

MAFO 6-25

CB LAYER COAT

PHOTOCHROMIC LENSES

Optional Index: 1.49, 1.56, 1.59, 1.60, 1.67, 1.74

CleanView

Email: sales@maatoptical.com

Website: www.maatoptical.com

MARKET SURVEYS

Bühler Alzenau

www.buhlergroup.com

AR coating machines

Leybold Optics CCS 610+ Leybold Optics CCS 700 BOXER 900

Application

Technical data

Process

Features

Small labs ( < 100 L/ shift) x x /

Medium sized labs (100 - 3000 L/shift) / x x

Mass production labs ( > 3.000 L/shift) / / /

Lens materials all materials all materials, mineral

AR coating including mirror coating x x x

Further special coatings (please specify)

Top coatings (hydrophobic, oleophobic,

superhydrophobic)

x x x

Top coatings from separate thermal source o o o

In-chamber tinting full color (absorption coating) / x x

Gradient tinting color / / /

Productivity HMC+ Ø 70 (avg. lenses/h )

[both sides coated]

35 47 96

Process time [both sides coated] (minutes) 70 60 48

Process time [single side coated] (minutes) 35 37 35

Dome/segment number of sectors Dome, Flip-over system 3 segments

Full dome/segment capacity Ø 70 48 60 96

Flip-over capacity segment Ø 70 16 36 N/A

High-vacuum pump system type

(diffusion pump, tubomolecular pump, etc.)

Turbo pump Turbo pump Turbo pump

High-vacuum pump system capacity ( L/s) 2050 2050 2050

Gate valve (in case of turbomolecular pump) / / /

Roughing pump system (type / stages) single stage single stage single stage, dual pump

Roughing pump system capacity (m3/h) 100m³/h 100 m3/h 2x100 m³/h

Cryogenic booster pump with Meissner trap x x x

Weight (kg / lbs) 1200 / 3300 1350 / 3640 2200 / 4850

Dimensions (w x d x h) / [mm / inches]

(machine without conveyor)

2260 x 1150 x 1310 /

89 x 45 x 52

2260 x 1150 x 1450 /

89 x 45 x 52

1800 x 1900 x 2100 /

70 x 73 x 83

Flip-over o o /

PVD (physical vapour deposition) x x x

CVD (chemical vapour deposition) / / /

Second distribution mask / / x

Electron beam gun (number of pockets/kW) 7 / 3kW 10,13 / 5kW

Ion source (kW) 0.4 kW 1 kW

Plasma source (kW) / / /

Number of vacuum measurement systems 4

Optional heater (kW) / / x 2.6 / o 5.2kW

Monitoring by quartz-crystal/optical single single / dual / 6-fold

LMS connectivity o o o

Manufacturing execution system o o o

Further information

Top loader,

Standard coatings

Top loader,

High end coatings

High end coatings

Legend: Yes = x, No = /, Optional = o

44

MAFO 6-25

MARKET SURVEYS

Bühler Alzenau

www.buhlergroup.com

BOXER 1100 SYRUS 1100 BOXER 1100+ SYRUS 1100+ BOXER 1350

/ / / / /

x x x x x

/ / / / x

all materials, mineral

all materials, mineral

x x x x x

PE-CVD

x x x x x

o o o o o

x x x x x

/ / o o o

150 150 150 250

42 42 42 44

33 35 40 40 33

4 segments 4 segments / others Dome, 4 segments, Planetary system

N/A

144 252 / 200

Turbo pump Diffusion pump Turbo pump Diffusion pump Turbo pump

2x 2050, 3rd o 12000 2x 2050, 3rd o 12000 2x 4200

/ N/A / N/A x

multi stage double stage multi stage double stage multi stage

500 m³/h 300 / 1000 m³/h 500 m³/h various capacity 500 m³/h

x x x x x

2800 / 6173 3300 / 7275 3000 / 6614 3500 / 7700 4500 / 9900

2000 x 2650 x 2200 /

79 x 104 x 87

2000 x 2900 x 2200 /

79 x 114 x 87

2000 x 2650 x 2200 /

79 x 104 x 87

2000 x 3900 x 2500 /

79 x 153 x 98

o

2400 x 3300 x 2500 /

94 x 130 x 98

/ / o o o

x x x x x

/ / o o /

x x x x x

7,8,10,13 / 5kW 10,13 / 5kW

1 kW 1 kW (o) 1 kW

/ / 8kW (o) / others /

4 4 / o 4

x 2.6 / o 5.2kW x 2.6 / o 5.2, 7.8kW x 2.6 / o 5.2kW

single / dual / 6-fold single / dual / 6-fold / optical single / dual / 6-fold

o o o o o

o o o o o

High end and premium coatings,

Backside topcoat evaporator (o)

Highly customizable to customer requirements.

High end and premium coatings

Top line, Planetary system for

highly curved substrates (o).

High end coatings

MAFO 6-25 45

MARKET SURVEYS

Bühler Alzenau

www.buhlergroup.com

AR coating machines

Leybold Optics ECS 1350 TMP Leybold Optics ECS 1350 Leybold Optics MIR 1200

Application

Technical data

Process

Features

Small labs ( < 100 L/ shift) / / /

Medium sized labs (100 - 3000 L/shift) x x x

Mass production labs ( > 3.000 L/shift) x x x

Lens materials all materials, mineral all materials


Further special coatings (please specify) /


superhydrophobic)

x x x

Top coatings from separate thermal source o o /

In-chamber tinting full color (absorption

coating)

x x x

Gradient tinting color o o o

Productivity HMC+ Ø 70

(avg. lenses/h ) [both sides coated]

250

200

single side coated

Process time [both sides coated] (minutes) 44 75

Process time [single side coated] (minutes) 33 35 mirror coatings 50

Dome/segment number of sectors Dome, 4 segments, Planetary system Drum

Full dome/segment capacity Ø 70 252 / 200 296

Flip-over capacity segment Ø 70 o o N/A



Turbo pump Diffusion pump Turbo pump

High-vacuum pump system capacity ( L/s) 2x 4200 20000 2x 2050

Gate valve (in case of turbomolecular pump) x N/A x

Roughing pump system (type / stages) multi stage or double stage double stage

Roughing pump system capacity (m3/h)

500m³/h or

300/1000m³/h

300 / 1000 m³/h 65 / 505 m³/h


Weight (kg / lbs) 4500 / 9900 4900 / 10800



2400 x 3300 x 2500 /

94 x 130 x 98

2400 x 3600 x 2500 /

94 x 130 x 98

2700 x 2200 x 2400 /

106 x 87 x 94

Flip-over o o /



Second distribution mask x x o

Electron beam gun (number of pockets/kW) 10,13 / 5kW 8,10 / 5kW

Ion source (kW) 1 kW glow discharge



Optional heater (kW) x 6kW x

Monitoring by quartz-crystal/optical single / dual / 6-fold single

LMS connectivity o o o

Manufacturing execution system o o o

Further information

Performance line, Planetary system for highly curved

substrates (o). High end coatings

Drum coater for highly curved

substrates. For fashion applications


46

MAFO 6-25

Your lens design and innovation partner

See Us at MIDO 2026

Discover our amazing

product portfolio

Try Neochromes,

our latest

photochromic lenses

Scan to discover

more about our

technologies and

designs

Our state-of-the-art photochromic

lenses offering wearers optimal

vision and maximum comfort

in any light, without needing to

change glasses.

Embrace the light

IOT offers advanced ophthalmic technology solutions from initial design and development to the industrial manufacturing process.

Our products create added value and offer a boost of innovation for any company or laboratory, regardless of size.

www.iotlenses.com

MARKET SURVEYS

Cotec

www.cotec-gmbh.com

Optotech

www.optotech.net/en

AR coating machines

HCS 100P-UH OAC-30 Veloce OAC-60

Application

Technical data

Process

Features

Small labs ( < 100 L/ shift) x x x

Medium sized labs (100 - 3000 L/shift) x x

Mass production labs ( > 3.000 L/shift)

x

Lens materials all materials/mineral all materials/mineral

AR coating including mirror coating / x x

Further special coatings (please specify) / anti fog


superhydrophobic)

x x x

Top coatings from separate thermal source

x

In-chamber tinting full color (absorption coating) / x

Gradient tinting color /



400/h

Process time [both sides coated] (minutes) 3D coating process -12 min. 80 (65 Flip-over) 70

Process time [single side coated] (minutes)

12 (one side should be masked)

35 30

Dome/segment number of sectors 2 1 1 (option 3)

Full dome/segment capacity Ø 70 100 20 34

Flip-over capacity segment Ø 70 100 10



/ Turbo

High-vacuum pump system capacity ( L/s) / 2300 L/s

Gate valve (in case of turbomolecular pump) / o o

Roughing pump system (type / stages) single single

Roughing pump system capacity (m3/h) 48 m³/h 40

Cryogenic booster pump with Meissner trap / o x

Weight (kg / lbs) 300/661 780 / 1720 1345 / 2966



780 x 950 x 1950 / 31 x 38 x 77 925 x 1380 x 1850 / 37x55x72

800 x 1720 x 2000

/ 32 x 68 x 79

Flip-over not needed 3D coating process x


CVD (chemical vapour deposition) /

Second distribution mask /

Electron beam gun (number of pockets/kW) / 3 Kw

Ion source (kW) / 3,2 Kw

Plasma source (kW) /

Number of vacuum measurement systems 1 3

Optional heater (kW) / x x

Monitoring by quartz-crystal/optical / single single / multiple

LMS connectivity /

Manufacturing execution system

o

Further information

High quality hydrophobic coatings

for various surfaces in combination

with our DURALON products


48

MAFO 6-25

MARKET SURVEYS

Optotech

www.optotech.net/en

OAC-75 OAC-75 SP OAC-90 OAC-140 Fast OAC-140SP

x

x

all materials/mineral

x x x x x

anti fog anti fog, mirror gradient anti fog anti fog, mirror gradient

x x x x x

x x x x x

x x x x x

x

x

70 80 50 60 80

30 35 25 30 35

3 4 3 6 6

60 40 / 60 90 - 110 240 168 / 240

Turbo

Diffusion

2300 L/s 20000 L/s

o

single 2 stages single

100 65 200 300

x x x x x

1650 / 3638 2700 / 5953 2160 4800 / 10583 4920 / 10847

1000 x 1998 x 2070

/ 40x79x82

1520 x 3200 x 2200 /

60 x 126 x 87

1500 x 2400 x 2400 /

60 x 94,5 x 94,5

2350 x 3550 x 2340

/ 93 x 140 x 92

x x x x x

x

x

6 Kw 2x 6 KW 6 Kw 2x 6 Kw

3,2 Kw

3 4 3 4

x x x x x

single / multiple single / double / multiple single / multiple single / double / multiple

Special Version: Gradient and

mirror gradient possible

Special Version: Gradient

and mirror gradient possible

MAFO 6-25 49

MARKET SURVEYS

Satisloh

www.satisloh.com/ophthalmic

AR coating machines

1500-X 1200-DLX-2 900-TLX

Application

Technical data

Small labs ( < 100 L/ shift)

Medium sized labs (100 - 3000 L/shift)

Mass production labs ( > 3.000 L/shift) x x

Lens materials

all organic materials and mineral glass


Further special coatings (please specify)

On request

Anti-Fog, Protect-Blue, Protect UV,

Protect Complete, Premium Drive,

Protect Infrared, In-chamber tinting

x

Antistatic Broadband AR - Ultimate-2,

Premium, Protect-Blue,

Protect UV, Protect Complete.

Dichroic mirror, Metallic Mirror


superhydrophobic)

x x x

Top coatings from separate thermal source x x x

In-chamber tinting full color (absorption coating) / x /

Gradient tinting color / x /



246 219 129

Process time [both sides coated] (minutes) 60* 46* 46*

Process time [single side coated] (minutes) 30 23

Dome/segment number of sectors 6, 7 6 3

Full dome/segment capacity Ø 70 305/246 209/168 99

Flip-over capacity segment Ø 70 / 120 /



Diffusion pump

Turbo pump Mag. Lev.

High-vacuum pump system capacity ( L/s) 30000 l/s 20000 l/s 3050 l/s N2

Gate valve (in case of turbomolecular pump) / o x

Roughing pump system (type / stages)

root + rotary double stage

Roughing pump system capacity (m3/h)

2030 m3/h


Weight (kg / lbs) 3900 / 8598 3637 / 8018 2675 / 5897



2384 x 3295 x 2765 /

94 x 130 x 109

2171 x 3145 x 2440 /

85.5 x 123.8 x 96

1824 x 2585 x 2304 /

72 x 102 x 91

Features

Process

Flip-over / x /



Second distribution mask / / /

Electron beam gun (number of pockets/kW)

6 / 6kW

Ion source (kW) 0,9



Optional heater (kW) 18 22 6

Monitoring by quartz-crystal/optical

Double Crystal Quartz Head

LMS connectivity x x x

Manufacturing execution system x x x

Further information

Remote Service available


50

MAFO 6-25

MARKET SURVEYS

Satisloh

www.satisloh.com/ophthalmic

Schneider

www.schneider-om.com

da da da

da

da

MC-380-X-2 MC-280-X EBC 600 EBC 900 X EBC 1400

x x x

x x x

x

all organic materials and mineral glass

all materials / mineral

x x x x x

Anti-Fog, Protect-Blue, Protect

UV, Protect Complete, Premium

Drive, Protect Infrared

Anti-Fog, Protect-Blue,

Protect UV, Protect Complete,

Premium Drive

antifog

x x x x x

x x x x x

x / x x x

x / / / /

68 27 36 96 240

52* 60* 70 60

26 30 35 30

3 1 3 5

74/60 30/27 42 96 240

42 14 / 72 140

Turbo pump

Magnetic turbo pump

Magnetic turbo pump

single or double TMP

Magnetic turbo pump

double TMP

1900 l/s N2 1250 l/s N2 -2200 4400 -8600

/ / x x x

root + rotary double stage rotary double stage rotary vane pump (double stage) rotary vane pump (single stage)

rotary vane pump (single

stage) + roots (optional)

2030 m3/h 65m3/h 65 m3/h 284 m3/h 300 m3/h / 1000 m3/h (optional)

x x x x x

1453 / 3203 1150 / 2535 1250 kg 1800 kg 5050 kg

1609 x 2157 x 2195 /

64 x 85 x 87

1453 x 1481 x 2124 /

57 x 58 x 84

1572 x 1100 x 2700 /

62 x 46 x 82

1860 x 1600 x 2030 /

74 x 63 x 85

2741 x 1700 x 2640 /

108 x 98 x 104

x x x x x

x x x x x

/ / / / /

/ / x x x

8 / 6kW 12 / 3 kW 12 / 6 kW

0,3 0,2 kW / 0,4 kW 0,4 kW / 1 kW 1 kW

/ / / / /

3 2 2 / 3 4 / 5

9 5 x (2 kW) x (4,8,12 kW) x (4,8,12,16 kW)

Single Crystal Quartz Head

quarz, single or double

x x x x x

x x x x x

Remote Service available

MAFO 6-25 51

Suppliers

Guide

Surfacing

Filtration systems

Engraving / printing

Tinting

Hard coating

Cleaning

AR Coating

Edging

Inspection

Consumables

Diamond tools

Software

Designs


Bühler

Coburn Technologies

Comes

Evergreen

Fil-Tech

Filtertech

FISA

Horizons Optical

IOT

K&Y

Kan-Pacific

Lensware

Nidek

Optimal Technologies

Optotech

QLDS

Satisloh

Schneider

SCL

Teco

Ultra Optics

52

MAFO 6-25

Suppliers Guide

AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS

www.ar.be

TOTAL LENS INSPECTION

DIGITAL INKING

STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC)

SERVICES & AUTOMATED SOLUTIONS

salesmarketing@ar.be

QUALITY & SAVINGS

FROM STOCK

• Sensor Heads and Feedthroughs

• INFICON Deposition Monitors and Controllers

• Quality Crystals ®

• Vacuum Pump Fluids

• Vacuum Measurement Gauges

• Electron Beam Gun Parts

• Ion Source Parts

www.filtech.com

617-227-1133 • 800-743-1743

paula@filtech.com

Machines for your coating excellence

Reliable. Efficient. Flexible.

Bühler Alzenau GmbH

Business Area Leybold Optics

Siemensstrasse 88, D-63755 Alzenau

T +49(0)6023 500-0

leyboldoptics@buhlergroup.com

www.buhlergroup.com

Tel. 315-682-8815

info@filtertech.com

Process

Water Treatment

Ultrasounds

Robot

Industry 4.0

HMI Controller

CONTACT US NOW

www.fisa.com

Optics@fisa.com

Plugins

!AZ.indd 1

Optical solutions tailored to you,

from lens design

to your retail experience.

Focus on you

!AZ.indd 13

A prime spot for companies

ready to be seen

Runtime: 1 year in all 6 issues for €1,090.

09.05.25 11:47

Contact:

pauline.moeller@mafo-optics.com

MAFO 6-25 53

Suppliers Hard Guide

coating ad:

Your lens innovation

and technology partner.

Cleaning & Hard Coating

IOT empowers Automatic optical Machines businesses

with cutting-edge technologies and

innovative See more solutions to design and

produce information advanced ophthalmic lenses.

scan QR code

info@kanpacific.com

www.kanpacific.com

World leaders in Lens Hard Coating

Machines Cleaning and process & Hard solutions Coating

Full range Automatic available for any Machines

production

volume See more

Expert information advice on your application

scan QR code

contact us: (+44) 1462 49 16 16

info@kanpacific.com

sales@optimal-technologies.com www.kanpacific.com

optimal-technologies.com


Automatic Machines

See more

information

scan QR code

info@kanpacific.com

www.kanpacific.com

Cleaning ad:


Automatic Machines

See more

Optical Machinery. Processing Technology.

information

OptoTech Optikmaschinen GmbH scan QR code

Sandusweg 2-4 • 35435 Wettenberg/Germany

Tel.: + 49 641 49939-0 info@kanpacific.com

World leaders Ultrasonic Cleaning

eMail: info.de@optotech.net

Machines prior to lens coating

Web: www.optotech.net www.kanpacific.com

Full range available for any lens volume

Expert advice on your application

YOUR ULTRA PRECISION

Diamond Tools Manufacturer

Contact us for our full range: +44 (0) 1462 491 616

sales@optimal-technologies.com www.optimal-technologies.com

> Excellent service and

quick turnaround

> Compliant with

any generator

kydiamond.ca

sales@ kydiamond.ca

The Lab Management System Company

LensWare International GmbH

Robert-Bosch-Str. 32

63225 Langen - Germany

OPTICAL MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS

!AZ.indd 15

Phone : +49 6103 / 372 87 87

Email : info@lensware.de

Web : www.lensware.de

Satisloh AG

Neuhofstrasse 12

CH - 6340 Baar / Switzerland

Phone: +41 (0) 41766 16 16

Email: info@satisloh.com

satisloh.com

07.05.25 12:40

!AZ.indd 1

SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG

21.10.24 14:14

Biegenstrasse 8–12 · 35112 Fronhausen · Germany

Phone: +49 (64 26) 96 96-0 · Fax: +49 (64 26) 96 96-100

www.schneider-om.com · info@schneider-om.com

54

MAFO 6-25

Suppliers Guide

HARD COAT LEADER

HARD COATING CLEANING TINTING PERIPHERALS CONSUMABLES EXPERTISE

271 rue Laszlo Biro

ArchParc

FR-74160 Archamps

scl-intl.com

+33 (0) 450 820 720

office1@scl-intl.com

X-Cube

Lens Digital Printer

Enjoy:

• unlimited designs

• digi-speed process

TECHNOLOGY AT IT’S BEST –

FOR OPHTHALMIC LABS & INDUSTRY

www.tecofrance.com

info@tecofrance.com

Choose your frame colour

White

Blue

Cyan

Yellow

Red

Purple


HOME OF YOUR

BUSINESS

SG_Eyepress.indd 1 30.01.20 16:41

Advertisement

!AZ.indd 9

Get your latest news.

Subscribe now!

07.05.25 11:44

Join the inner circle of spectacle lens production – every two months:

Latest technologies and machines

20.08.24 22:21

Market data and business

Never miss the latest MAFO edition

www.mafo-optics.com/newsletter-sub

HISTORY

The Minkwitz Theorem

How Dr. Minkwitz laid the basis for progressive lens designs

His findings remain one of the most important theoretical foundations for calculating progressive lenses. In 1963,

Dr. Günter Minkwitz was the first to mathematically prove that the width of the progression channel is limited due to an

increased positive refractive power change and also becomes narrower with increasing addition. By Silke Sage

Dr. Günter Minkwitz presented his calculations

at the Institute for Optics and Spectroscopy of

the Academy of Sciences in former East Berlin,

thereby proving a mathematical correlation in

progressive lenses. Every ECP knows his calculations as the

“Minkwitz theorem,” and his formula has also found its way

into optometry textbooks.

Unavoidable surface astigmatism

In progressive lenses, so-called surface astigmatism occurs as

an imaging error. This is unavoidable and depends on the lens

power and addition. Since several powers are accommodated

in the important visual areas, the far point and the progression

channel, surface astigmatism occurs as a by-product. These

distortions limit sharp vision in the periphery of the lens.

There are various ways to accommodate surface astigmatism

in a progressive lens, but no matter how you do it, it always

remains.

Either the surface astigmatism is distributed over a few areas,

in which case we get a “hard progressive lens design,” which

is associated with a higher amount for this imaging error.

Or it is distributed over larger areas in the peripheral region,

which results in less severe aberrations at the top. This is referred

to as a “soft progressive lens design.” The latter results in smaller

areas of sharp vision for distance and near vision but also

reduces the rocking effect.

In 1963, Dr. Günter Minkwitz was the first to mathematically

describe the relationships between surface astigmatism, addition,

and progression channel: Within the progression zone,

surface astigmatism depends on the addition and the length

of the progression channel.

Based on this relationship, the width of the progression channel

can also be calculated using the “Minkwitz theorem”. It states

that perpendicular to the vertex line, the surface astigmatism

changes twice as quickly as the rate of change of power along

the vertex line. This can be mathematically stated as:

Dr. Günter Minkwitz here in 2013 as a speaker

at the 21 st Fielmann Colloquium. Picture: Fielmann Academy

where Pa and Ps are astigmatic and mean spherical power,

respectively, x is the distance from the vertex line, and y is the

distance along the vertex line.

In other words, the higher the addition and the shorter the

channel, the narrower the progressive channel. The lower the

addition and the longer the progressive channel, the wider it is.

Mountains in the sandbox

To explain to laypeople what these calculations mean, a sandbox

model is often used: If you wanted to smooth out unwanted

sand mounds in the middle of a sandbox with a certain amount

of sand – and thus eliminate astigmatism – you could only push

it to the sides and edges. There, you could pile it up, sometimes

higher, sometimes lower. The higher you pile it up here to smooth

larger areas, the greater the surface astigmatism would be at

this point – to return to the topic of progressive lenses.

If the addition increases, even more steps have to be accommodated

and the more radii have to be changed and blended,

which further reinforces the model.

Born in 1935, the scientist Dr. Günter Minkwitz died in January

2015 at the age of 80. To this day, his theory forms an important

basis for the design of progressive lenses.

56

MAFO 6-25

OUTLOOK

Finally seeing again with

retinal implant technology

In an international clinical study, patients with geographic atrophy – a severe

late form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – were able to partially

restore their central vision for the first time. This was made possible by an

innovative subretinal microchip implant.

Over 80 percent of participants showed significant improvements in visual

acuity, and more than 84 percent were able to recognize letters, numbers,

or words again after implantation. The study results of an interdisciplinary

research team led by the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital Bonn (UKB)

in Germany and in collaboration with the University of Bonn have now been

published in the renowned New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

“These results mark a milestone in the treatment of geographic atrophy. For

the first time, it has been possible to partially restore central visual functions

in advanced AMD,” explains lead author and clinical coordinator of the study

Prof. Frank Holz, director of the UKB Eye Clinic and retinal surgeon.

Picture: UKB/J.F. Saba

Special topics in

MAFO 2026

MAFO 01

Smart Eyewear &

Processes

MAFO 02

Vision Trends

2026

MAFO 03

Children‘s Vision

MAFO 04

Eyewear

Worldwide

MAFO 05

Lenses & Coatings

MAFO 06

Go Green!

Preview

MAFO 01/2026

MAFO is kicking off the new year with an innovative

focus on “Smart Eyewear & Processes.” It will cover

smart glasses, lenses for myopia management,

ecological projects aimed at making the entire

spectacle lens industry more sustainable, and much

more. Furthermore, this MAFO issue offers a

comprehensive preview of the latest innovations of the

Mido and Opti trade fairs.

MAFO 6-25 57


Saarner Str. 151


66527

Germany

Sector dome design with

adaptive rings to accommodate

different sector types at once

Box coaters for all lab sizes,

producing 30 up to 305 lenses

per batch

Systems with turbo-molecular

pumps keeping energy

consumption low

01_Titel.indd 1 10.11.25 14:36


Saarner Str. 151


66527

Germany

Drastic throughput

increase

Lowest cost

per lens

RZ_AZ_HSC_modulo_ONE_2_MAFO_4-2024_160x225_4c_engl_D.indd 1 18.04.2024 13:52:14

01_Titel.indd 1 10.09.25 11:59

Highest

uptime


Saarner Str. 151


66527

Germany

POWER MEASURED

FULL-MAP

POWER

MEASUREMENT

No Go

Go

DETECTED

Haze

DETECTED

Scratch

DETECTED

Center

Dot

FULLY -AUTOMATED

COSMETIC

INSPECTION

RZ_AZ_CSI-p_modulo_ONE_MAFO_05-2025_160x225_4c_engl.indd 1 05.06.2025 15:53:16

01_Titel.indd 1 17.06.25 15:00

3/2025


Saarner Str. 151


66527

Germany

Highly

versatile

Environmentally

friendly

Highest

throughput

01_Titel.indd 1 12.05.25 11:43

Missed an issue?

No problem, view the latest issues online:

app.mafo-optics.com

ISSN 1614-1598 66527

Volume 21

ISSN 1614-1598 66527

Volume 21

ISSN 1614-1598 66527

Volume 21

ISSN 1614-1598 66527

Volume 21





Connect, discover,

stay up-to-date

6/2025

▶ Special: Markets

Worldwide

Data and figures

on lenses and

smart glasses


Silmo 2025

▶ Technology

What If… AI could

optimize your lab and

save resources daily?

A generalization

of the Minkwitz

theorem and its

benefit for progressive

addition lenses

▶ Interview

“Personalization is still

not well understood”

▶ Business


remote projects

▶ Spotlight

MAFO – The

Conference 2026

INNOVATING THE

FUTURE OF OPTICAL

COATINGS

COATING EXCELLENCE - AT EVERY SCALE

With over 60 years of coating innovation, Satisloh delivers advanced anti-reflective and mirror coating

technology from the compact MC-280-X to the high-throughput 1500-X for AR and sun lenses, designed

to meet the needs of labs of all sizes.

Our systems support a full range of coating processes, including AR, UV, Blue Light protection, and

mirror effects, optimized through validated recipes and Satisloh AR consumables to match specific lens

performance requirements.

satisloh.com

INNOVATIVE EFFICIENT SUSTAINABLE

Connect, discover,

stay up-to-date

5/2025

▶ Special: Go Green!

Paperless: The future

of lens manufacturing

Interview:

Sustainability in

ophthalmic optics

▶ Technology

Optimizing lens

hard coatings

Case study: Lens

brush cleaning

▶ Business

Do not take rejection

or ghosting personally

▶ History

Pioneer: Dr. Anna

Estelle Glancy

▶ Survey

Hard coating

machines – spin

and dip

VIRTUALLY THE POWER OF

TWO GENERATORS IN ONE

HSC m

From the freeform pioneers comes a new one-of-a-kind generator that excels on every

level. With an added performance of more than 50%, HSC Modulo ONE is not just a

little bit better but a revolution. It is virtually the power of two generators in ONE and

forms the very heart of the Power Lab of the Next Decade – Modulo ONE.

What makes HSC Modulo ONE so exceptionally fast? It is built on a brand new kinematic

concept facilitating even faster process times. The high-performance generator

relies on the proven two-motor concept featuring the most powerful XS-Tec motor

for maximum dynamics and highest quality. The proven RS-Tec motor is known for its

high robustness and provides added versatility. A new ultra-fast workpiece changer

transfers the lenses and facilitates shortest chip to chip times. The result is insane

generating speed and performance at the same great lens quality you know from

SCHNEIDER generators.

Ultimately, HSC Modulo ONE provides significantly increased throughput in an even

smaller footprint than before. Get the power of two generators in ONE.


dulo

Connect, discover,

stay up-to-date

4/2025

▶ Special: Connected

Products

Autofocus glasses – a

concept for the future?

Basic knowledge of

artificial intelligence

Everything connected

▶ Technology

Black magic or

precision?

50 years of

w

developments

in ophthalmic

lenses | part 3

▶ Interview

How tariffs affect the

eyeglass industry

Good forecasts

despite partly poor

consumer climate

▶ Business

Polite or cowardly?

NEW

CSIp m

FULLY-AUTOMATED

COSMETIC INSPECTION

AND FULL-MAP

POWER MEASUREMENT

dulo

Rework

The AI-powered system is a real game changer, combining fully-automated cosmetic

inspection with full-map power measurement in one machine. CSI-P Modulo ONE assesses

all quality defining aspects in a fast process and assures consistent compliance with all

of a lab‘s quality standards.

The system reliably detects cosmetic defects absolutely dependably. It screens the surface for

irregularities, and characterizes and evaluates them with the help of artificial intelligence. Any

common defects are detected. The smart system learns and understands what kind of defect(s),

in which combination, in what intensity and in which zones is deemed acceptable. Ultimately it

mimics individual decision making patterns to reflect a lab‘s unique quality standard.

In addition, CSI-P Modulo ONE measures the power across the full-map including

spherical and cylindrical power, axes, and prism in transmission with high resolution.

The data is analyzed and an error map is calculated and displayed.

The result is automated assessment of all quality defining information.


Connect, discover,

stay up-to-date

▶ Special:

Sustainable

Environments

“Supporting talent –

regardless of if they

are men or women“

First German-

Chinese school

for optometrists in

China established

▶ Technology

Dry tinting technology

w

▶ Live on Site

A visit at the

EssilorLuxottica lens

production facility

▶ History

50 years of

developments

in ophthalmic

lenses | part 2

▶ Business

How fear prevents

confidence and

success

ECO-FRIENDLY DEBOXING AT

UNMATCHED SPEED

DBX m

With DBX Modulo ONE, SCHNEIDER debuts a powerful and fully automated lens

deboxer for high throughput, 24/7. The innovative technology unpacks not just

one kind but a wide range of boxes – perforated or not, with or without blisters –

with a clean process. Designed for high efficiency and throughput, it deboxes

two lenses at a time.

In line with today‘s market trends, it has been specifically optimized for more

eco-friendly cardboard solutions and supports this new standard. It requires a

minimum of energy to open the boxes, making it a highly sustainable deboxer.

All waste material is separated and collected individually to simplify recycling.

DBX Modulo ONE follows SCHNEIDER‘s vision to provide the full solution for

ophthalmic labs, from warehousing all the way to inline coating and beyond.


dulo

MASTHEAD

PUBLISHERS ADDRESS


Saarner Str. 151, D-45479 Mülheim a. d. Ruhr

Tel.: +49-208-306683-00

Fax: +49-208-306683-99

Website: www.mafo-optics.com

E-mail: info@mafo-optics.com

CEO

Petros Sioutis

E-mail: p.sioutis@eyepress.de

PUBLISHER

Silke Sage, Petros Sioutis, Efstathios Efthimiadis

FOUNDED 2003 by Jörg Spangemacher

BANK DETAILS

Bank account: Sparkasse Aachen

Bank No.: 390 500 00, Acc. No.: 1073 3925 06

IBAN: DE21 3905 0000 1073 3925 06

SWIFT: AACSDE33XXX

CHIEF-EDITOR

Hanna Diewald

E-mail: hanna.diewald@mafo-optics.com

EDITORS

Rebekka Nurkanovic

E-mail: rebekka.nurkanovic@mafo-optics.com

Britta Laupichler

E-mail: britta@mafo-optics.com

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jörg Spangemacher, Peter Baumbach, Mo Jalie

PRODUCTION & LAYOUT

Efstathios Efthimiadis, Pascal Bruns

E-mail: produktion@eyepress.de

DISTRIBUTION

PressUp GmbH, Postbox 70 13 11, D-22013 Hamburg

Tel.: +49-40-386666-308, Fax: +49-40-386666-299

MEDIA CONSULTANT

Pauline Möller

Tel.: +49-208-306683-24

E-mail: pauline.moeller@mafo-optics.com

ADVERTISING AGENT GREAT CHINA

Beijing FOCUS Optics Culture Communication Co. Ltd.

Room 319, Building 2, Nr. 1, Northbank 1292, Nr. 15

Jianguo Eastroad,

Beijing 100024 (Chaoyang), P.R. China

Mrs. Jian Wang

Tel.: +86-10-8537-6529

Email: jennywang_focus@126.com

Skype: jennywang611

焦点视光 ( 北京 ) 文化传播有限公司

北京市朝阳区建国东路 15 号院甲一号北岸 1292

二号楼 319 室邮编 :100024

电话 :+86-10-8537-6529

电邮 :jennywang_focus@126.com

ADVERTISEMENT RATES

Price list no. 21, valid from January 01, 2025

Publication schedule

6 issues 2025: January, March, May,

July, September, November

SUBSCRIPTION COSTS PER YEAR

European Union € 140,00

(plus VAT for German companies)

Overseas Seamail € 160,00

Overseas Airmail € 195,00

United States Seamail € 170,00

United States Airmail € 225,00

Single issue € 20,00

(plus mailing costs)

The Publisher requires three months written notice on

cancellation. Subscribers please note that proof of

notice may be required.

PHOTO CREDITS

P.10: Getty Images, P.16: growtika, P.34: Mathieu Stern,

P.34: VPanteon, P.40: deagreez, P.57:OSORIOartist

/stock.adobe.com /unsplash.com /envato.com

/istock .com /pixabay.com

PRODUCTION & PRINT

Kollin Medien GmbH, Neudrossenfeld, Germany

The publisher takes no responsibility for unsolicited

manuscripts. Please note also that photographs submitted

for use in MAFO cannot be returned. The publisher’s

written permission is required for any reproduction,

translation or recording of material published in MAFO,

including extracts of such material. Permission will

normally be given, subject to the usual acknowledgement.

Copies made of published items must be limited

in number and for personal use only.

58

MAFO 6-25

MAXGALLI + MIXER GROUP

GLOBAL EYEWEAR,

GOLD STANDARD.

JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 1-2 - 2026

Fiera Milano, Rho

NEXT LEVEL

THIN FILM COATING

EBC 900 X

The powerful and economical batch coating system combines shortest process times, energy savings and

great stability for high end processes – ideal for medium-sized and larger Rx labs.

The modular system is available in two versions, with either one or two turbomolecular pumps. Combined

with the powerful cryo cooler and extended Meissner trap it facilitates shortest cycle times. Energy consumption

is at a minimum, making EBC 900 X both economical and eco-friendly.

The high performance EBG system and crucible configuration provides full evaporation material flexibility –

whether on a segmented dome or a flip-over system. To reduce downtime, the crucible has been designed

to be interchangeable. The coater’s smart encapsulation and shutter technology reduces contamination

and the need for shield changes, streamlining maintenance.

For the great variety of coatings possible, the layer properties are optimized with ion assisted deposition

using Ar or O 2

to guarantee best process quality.

EBC 900 X features next level coating technology, using a new full-view control system for full process

control at your fingertips. Any performance unit involved in the process is integrated and controlled via

one smart interface.

Visit us at VISON PLUS EXPO // 17 – 18 Nov. 2025 // Booth B21


06/2025

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?