Luxexcel Will Deliver VisionPlatform for 3D Printed Ophthalmic Lenses to Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab

Founded in 2009, Luxexcel developed a turnkey 3D printing solution for ophthalmic laboratories, and is the only company in the world with the ability to 3D print ophthalmic lenses that don’t need to be subjected to post-processing methods of polishing or grinding. In 2015, Netherlands-based Luxexcel launched an online 3D printing service for businesses that require custom optics, and, after receiving a $10 million equity investment this spring, got ready to start shipping its advanced ophthalmic 3D printing platform. In September, the company signed a contract with IFB Solutions for the first platform, just weeks before receiving an additional €4 million in equity financing.

Luxexcel has now announced that it’s reached an agreement with Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab to install another one of its unique 3D printing platforms for specialty ophthalmic lenses.

“Our first operational VisionPlatform installation was unveiled on November 13^th in North Carolina, USA. We are excited to make this next step with Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab,” said Guido Groet, Chief Commercial Officer of Luxexcel. “With Quest we have found a partner that will maximize the benefits of our Luxexcel VisionPlatform by printing custom RX lenses for non-mainstream applications. Quest will help make our 3D printing technology available to a broader range of labs and end-customers.”

Per the contract between the two, Luxexcel’s VisionPlatform will be installed this January at Quest Vision Care’s Florida site. Referred to as a ‘Lab’s Lab,’ Quest Vision Care exclusively provides lenses to wholesale optical laboratories. It is a leader in terms of specialty lab work in the US, and also operates in nearly 20 other countries.

The company offers optical labs specialty ophthalmic correction RX lenses, which are out of range for production equipment. The products Quest Vision Care provides, such as diving masks, strong prisms, and high-power lenses, are labor intensive and require special equipment, knowledge, and tooling to make.

Michael Walach

“Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab, is known as the lab in the industry for specialty lenses,” explained Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab President and Founder Michael Walach. “The flexibility the Luxexcel VisionPlatform offers, empowers us to provide completely customized ophthalmic specialty lenses made to the measure. The Luxexcel equipment can simply address patient needs for vocational, lifestyle or special prescription requirements which cannot be produced with existing production technologies like corrective lenses for meridional aniseikonia, channel prisms, prism segs, quatrofocals and many other special vocational and corrective Rx lenses with unusual or extreme requirements This absolutely unique 3D printing technology empowers our lens designers to create totally new and sui generis solutions. In short, we are thrilled to announce our position as early adopters to this new technology!”

Luxexcel combines hardware, design software, and consumables to make up its unique VisionPlatform 3D printing solution. Some of the benefits the company’s technology offers include creating new, customized products and getting rid of operational inefficiencies.

By integrating Luxexcel’s turnkey solution into the workflow, ophthalmic labs are able to manufacture unique ophthalmic lenses on the company’s industrial-grade VisionEngine optical 3D printer. In return for a click fee payment, ophthalmic labs can acquire the complete Luxexcel VisionPlatform, which includes the VisionEngine, its VisionClear resins, support and lens-design software solution VisionMaster, and workflow integration tools. The 3D printed lenses produced with Luxexcel’s VisionPlatform are compliant with the ISO Focal Power standard, in addition to being compatible with customary edging and framing processes and current industry coatings.

What do you think of this news? Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

[Images: Luxexcel]