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january 2015 17 opticallabproducts.com NEWS RUNDOWN LAB FINALISTS ANNOUNCED BY TRANSITIONS Transitions Optical, Inc. has named the fnalists of its annual Transi- tions Awards program which recognizes optical labs, optical retailers, and independent ECPs for their commitment to promoting photochro- mic lenses. The fnalists will be honored during Transitions Academy, to be held January 25-28, at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Orlando, FL. • 24th annual U.S. Lab of the Year: Expert Optics, Optical Prescription Lab, and Walman Optical. • 5th annual National Retailer of the Year: Costco Optical and Visionworks. • Regional Retailer of the Year: Henry Ford OptimEyes and SVS Vision. • 4th annual Eyecare Practice of the Year: Dumas Vision Source, Southern Eye Specialists, P.C., and VisionArts Eyecare Center. MITSUI LAUNCHES NEW COMPANY WITH PIXELOPTICS AND PANASONIC TECHNOLOGY Whole You ® , Inc., a new Mitsui Chemicals Co., has just launched in the U.S. with several acquisitions and the promise of bringing new healthcare solutions to those with sensory and physical mobility challenges. It has acquired proprietary technol- ogy from PixelOptics, Inc. and Panasonic Healthcare Co. Ltd. According to Whole You's CEO Yasunori Nishiyama, "We are trying to use these technologies that we've acquired to come up with products that are totally new." He said the Panasonic Healthcare lens making technology complements EmPower!, PixelOptics' electronic eyewear technology. "By using them combined we'll try to come up with something strengthened. Because we have carefully studied all the quality issues PixelOptics faced, we can make sure the quality products we will be launching will be 100%. Right now we are still assessing the technologies to come up with an innovation for future eyewear." Both PixelOptics and Panasonic Healthcare's technologies will help Whole You carve a niche in the vision market, especially for an ageing population experiencing nearsightedness and presbyopia. Whole You is a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals America but is operating as a separate entity headquartered in San Jose, CA. The company is starting to hire marketing professionals and chemists and it is working with engineers from Mitsui Chemicals and Panasonic Healthcare. "Conventionally in vision care there are not many solutions available that use electronic technology. The technology we've acquired offers really great potential in the vision care category," Nishiyama said. "I do not believe we will directly compete with Google Glass," he added. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 20.6 million non-insti- tutionalized adults living with vision trouble, 37.6 million with hearing trouble, and 74.6 million with at least one basic action diffculty or complex activity limitation. Whole You aims to provide solutions to relieve and alleviate these issues. Yasunori Nishiyama, CEO of Whole You. Celebrating last year's win as Regional Retailer of the Year were staff from Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, Phoenix, AZ. LEYBOLD BECOMES BUHLER Leybold Optics USA Inc., based out of Cary, N.C., is now operating under the umbrella of Buhler. For two years, Leybold Optics has been part of Buhler, a technology partner for various industries, represented in over 140 countries and with more than 10,000 employees. This month, the integration into the group's global network will be completed and Leybold Optics will operate exclusively under the Buhler brand. Santinelli. Expect Consistency. • Robust "24/7" volume production capabilities • In-chamber grooving • High base curve customizable beveling and shelf beveling • New & improved, durable Lens Measuring Unit (LMU) High-Volume SE-9090 Supra www.santinelli.com 800.644.3343 extension 325