Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
We manufacture functional lenses for glasses. We succeeded in mass-producing high refraction polarization lenses (refractive index of 1.60 or 1.67) earlier than our competitors. We are recognized as a pioneer of high refraction polarization lenses. We are also advancing joint research with a major chemical manufacturer. An advantage of our company is that we have the technology power to develop and manufacture products that had not been on the market before. This includes our photochromic lenses and lenses that absorb a specific wavelength of light.

[Business description]
We manufacture plastic lenses for glasses. We manufacture semi-finished products called semi-finished lenses in which resin is simply poured into a glass molding die, and the thickness is not yet adjusted. These semi-finished lenses are ground on the reverse side and finished into prescription lenses in the customer’s factory. We manufacture functional lenses in Japan as advanced plastic lenses that are friendly to the eyes. These include high refraction polarization lenses (refractive index of 1.60 or 1.67), photochromic lenses, and lenses that absorb a specific wavelength of light. We deliver these lenses to major lens manufacturers, sales companies, and agents.

[Industry]
Plastic lens manufacturing for glasses

[Strength of products/technologies]
A polarization lens includes a polarization film for cutting diffused reflection light, which is inserted at a position 0.5 to 0.9 mm from the surface of the lens. A high refraction polarization lens (refractive index of 1.60 or 1.67) can be made thin and lightweight compared with a general-purpose product (refractive index of 1.50). Our lenses that absorb a specific wavelength of light have the function of selectively cutting light around the 580-nm band (yellow light), which human beings perceive as being the most dazzling. The antiglare effect is maintained without reducing brightness, so visibility is not degraded. There is also a color vision improvement effect, which mitigates against aging-related cloudiness in the lens of the eye and blurring of vision. We think that this product is particularly effective for cataract patients.

[Representative's message]
We succeeded in developing high refraction polarization lenses, which form the base of our business expansion. We develop and sell photochromic lenses and lenses that absorb a specific wavelength of light. Clear photochromic lenses react to light (ultraviolet light) and change color to become sunglasses so as to prevent the wearer being dazzled by the light outdoors. Our lenses that absorb a specific wavelength of light have the function to selectively cut (attenuate) only light around the 580-nm band, which human beings perceive as being most dazzling. This product can mitigate against age-related susceptibility to glare. We hope to provide customers with a more comfortable life through our lenses. We will work on developing more advanced functional lenses and the cultivation of new markets.

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
We spun off our sales division and established a separate sales company for cultivating the market in order to expand our business. This sales company has a dedicated marketing taskforce that deals with information transmission to customers and a point of contact for customers.



[Market share/Ranking]
We have the world’s top share in the market for high refraction (1.60 or 1.67) polarization lenses (in-company study).

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]
Global Niche Top Companies Selection 100, selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (FY2013).

[Media]
Highlighting JAPAN, introduction of our polarization lenses (#79 September); Internet Career Connection, introduction of our company in a series of articles on world-level “Monozukuri SMEs in Japan.”  


[Joint research and development]
Registered Japanese Patents: Manufacturing Method for High Refraction Polarization Lens (Japanese Patent No. 4614883), and four other patents.
Registered US Patents: Plastic Spectacles Lens (US Patent No. 7506977 [pending in Japan]), and five other overseas patents.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications: Six patent applications.
Overseas Patent Applications: Five patent applications.


[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Mitsui Chemicals, Emori, San Ray, Daiso Chemical, and so on.