gentex optics 100 years of innovation
TRANSCRIPT
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GentexGentex OpticsOptics
100 Years of Innovation100 Years of Innovation
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GENTEX GENTEX
BEGINNINGSBEGINNINGS
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1894
New York based silk producer Klots Throwing Company
reopens in Carbondale, PA after a major fire
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1901
Company purchased by its formercontroller Marcus Frieder
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1917
L.P. Frieder, son of Marcus, joins the company, bringingMechanical Engineering Scienceto textile production
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1923
Company is one of the country’s largest silk weavers with several mills
and more than 7000 employees
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1925
Silk industry begins to suffer significant economic decline with advent of inexpensive rayon fiber
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1932
Company forced into reorganization after stock market crash. New name –General Textile Mills – is adopted
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DiversificationDiversification
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1939
Early signs of war create opportunity forthe company – design and development of military cargo parachutes
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1942
Company has become largest cargo parachute producer in the world
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1950
Faster jet aircraft bring need for improved air crew head protection. Laminate technology is applied to helmets
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OPTICS BEGINSOPTICS BEGINS
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1955
Company produces its first optical component – acrylic helmet visor
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1958
Name changed to reflect increasing diversification – Gentex Corporation
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1959
Reported first commercial use of optical grade polycarbonate – for bullet proof windows
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1960
Former A.O. employees start Omnitechto continue work A.O. had begun innuclear flash protection. Gentex andOmnitech begin working relationship
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1965
Omnitech acquired by Univis
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1966
L.P. Frieder, Jr. joins Gentex
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1970
Gentex acquires Omnitech from Univis concurrent with Univis sale to Itech
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The Product Line EvolvesThe Product Line Evolves……
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1972
First industrial safety product – 3mmplano lenses
»L.P. Frieder, Jr. becomes Gentex President and CEO
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1978
John K. Davis joins Gentex
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1980First prescription lens-70mm x 3mm FSV
Optics moves to new, larger Dudley facility
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1982
Organic synthesis capability added inCarbondale to produce laser dyes
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1985
First semi-finished Rx products added to line First tintable coating applied
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1987
Cole Vision signs long-term Rx lens purchase agreement. Repositions polycarbonate as all-purpose lens
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Poised for GrowthPoised for Growth
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1989
Optics created as separate operatingsubsidiary. Major facility expansioncompleted.
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1990
First Gentex-produced progressive lens (A.O. Omni) PDQ tintable coating introduced Featherwates launched by Lenscrafters
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1991
E.O.A./Gentex relationship beginswith Varilux Plus Polycarbonate
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1993Agreement signed to expand E.O.A./Gentex relationship
Profile Aspheric introduced
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1993-1994
Major facilities expansions:16,000 sf. Molding/coating/AR (Dudley)30,000 sf. Rx warehouse20,000 sf. Molding/coating (Carbondale)
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GentexGentex HistoryHistoryOur beginnings trace back to Gentex
Corporation who, shortly after World War II, contracted tomake U.S. Military helmets, each of which incorporated transparent face shields. The companybegan making its own visors from acrylic plastic in the mid-1950s.
In the 1960s, polycarbonate had been introduced as a tough, impact-resistant material formaking burglar, vandal, and bullet proof windows for banks, schools, etc. Through a newassociation with Omnitech
(an optical products company in Dudley, MA), Gentex
soon became a pioneer in developing other uses for this exciting new material.
In 1970, Gentex
purchased Omintech
and soon entered the plano
(non-Rx) safety lens market –drawing heavily on their newly acquired optical experience. The
first Gentex
lens coatingsystem was developed and built for safety product applications. The company became a majorlens supplier in the industrial safety field.
From 1970 to 1980, the safety lens business grew substantially. As the technology forprocessing polycarbonate improved, Gentex
turned its attention to prescription dress lenses(Rx) made of polycarbonate.
In the Spring of 1981, Gentex
moved its Dudley operation from the original Omnitech
facilitiesinto a new manufacturing plant and officially changed its name to “Gentex
Corporation”.
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In 1986, the name changed again to Gentex
Optics. That, with further growth, officiallybecame Gentex
Optics, Inc. in 1989.
In February 1995, Essilor announced its acquisition of Gentex, “the world’s leadingmanufacturer of Polycarbonate corrective lenses”.
As of June 1, 1995, Gentex
Optics became a subsidiary of Essilor International, whoseheadquarters are in Paris, France.
The facilities have expanded several times in the attempt to keep up with the exceptionalgrowth in demand for polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses.
The expansion of Gentex
Optics’
manufacturing, lens design, coating, anti reflective coating,and R&D operations has enabled the company to reap the benefits from the lengthy processof establishing polycarbonate as a viable ophthalmic lens material. In addition to the militaryand sunwear
products, the Gentex
product line covers all Rx ophthalmic lenses, ranging fromfinished and semi-finished single vision, multifocals, and progressives. Gentex
Optics servesas the primary source for polycarbonate progressives sold by a number of ophthalmic lenssuppliers throughout the world.
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1998 Building #1 expansion
2003 Building #2 Ground-breaking ceremony
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