Products & ideas for the laboratory professional.
Issue link: https://opticallabproducts.epubxp.com/i/138167
RUNDOWN NEW FOR THE LAB SCHNEIDER GETS INTO COATING Schneider Optical Machines, Inc. launched two new products at DigiCON U.S. 2013 in April (see "Innovations at DigiCON," p.19) including its frst-ever coating solution: the EBC 400, a compact, anti-refective (AR) electron beam coater which is the frst in a series. Eventually, the Schneider coating equipment portfolio will range from small to large solutions for hardcoating (the DHC Series) as well as AR, mirror, gradient, and absorption coating (the EBC series). Schneider plans to release a mid-size thin flm coater, the EBC 900, at Vision Expo West in October. Schneider also announced the debut of CB Connect, an alloy-free blocker which works with its DSC Prolab System, a compact, all-in-one, digital surfacing center, for start-ups, small, and mid-sized labs. It includes a blocker, generator, quality inspection, laser marker, polisher, and washing station. For more information, contact Schneider Optical Machines, Inc. at 972-247-4000 or Schneider-om.com. AUGEN FOLLOWS THE CURVE Augen Optics has launched the EasyForm® FF-2LP digital freeform polisher which can follow progressive and aspheric design curves. It is easy-to-use with a large button monitor for tracking dual polishing arms simultaneously and is built for around-the-clock use. The company has also updated its patented EasyForm Digital Free-Form Processing system with a 2013 model of the Augen EasyForm FF-V3 Generator. The new FF-V3 Digital Surfacing Generator is designed with extra sturdy construction, calibration-free functionality, an easy-to-use touch screen, and curve accuracy to 0.01D. The multi-axis computerized generator is a lightweight unit that easily fts into any laboratory environment with a footprint of 4 sq. ft. Its plug 'n play functionality can produce smooth lens surfaces within 1/100 diopter. System lubricant is recycled during processing for reduced lens waste, easy waste removal, and a cleaner lab environment. Average throughput for conventional lenses is 30 pairs an hour, while non-progressive free-form lenses average 16 pairs an hour, and free-form progressive lenses average 12 pairs. Both machines are part of Augen's EasyForm Integrated Digital Surfacing System, an all-in-one free-form equipment package for labs. For more information, contact Augen Optics at 866-284-3611 or easyformequipment.com. 20 july 2013 AN ARRAY OF MATERIALS The new free-form Hoyalux Array lens is available in all materials, including polarized lenses, from HOYA Vision Care, North America. The benefts to Hoyalux Array include: HOYA free-form backside surfacing technology on any single vision lens in any material; the lens design can be optimized for individual prescriptions; and it provides larger cut-outs which make clear and sun options easier to order. For more information, contact HOYA Vision Care, North America at 972-221-4141 or hoyavision.com. BLUTECH LENSES BLOCK BLUE LIGHT VSP Optics Group has launched UNITY BluTech lenses to protect the eyes from harmful blue light which is radiated by fuorescent light bulbs and the screens of computers, tablets, smartphones, and televisions. BluTech was developed by Eye Solutions Technologies and is available in both indoor and outdoor lenses for most of the UNITY digital single vision and progressive lenses. For more information, contact VSP Optics Group at 800-877-7195 or vspopticsgroup.com. A NOVEL IDEA FROM VISION-EASE Vision-Ease Lens' new Novel and Novella conventional front-side progressives have joined the Anthology Series, its new family of progressive addition lenses (PALs). The two new lenses use advanced PAL technology across 80% of the Rx range. Novel is a general purpose lens, while Novella is a softer design to accommodate smaller frame styles. They are available in polycarbonate including clear, LifeRx® photochromic, and Coppertone® polarized treatments. Later this year, the Novel and Novella designs will be available in plastic, including clear and photochromic. For more information, contact Vision-Ease Lens at 800-328-3449 or vision-ease.com. MORE MATERIALS IN SHAMIR'S INTOUCH Shamir Insight, Inc. has released a new material within its InTouch™ line, SuperLite 1.74™ clear. InTouch is designed to enhance visual comfort in the handheld technology zone. Now in SuperLite 1.74 clear, InTouch can accommodate the needs of a wider variety of patients. For more information, contact Shamir Insight, Inc. at 877-514-8330 or shamirlens.com. totallyoptical.com