RAMSEY, MINN. (Dec. 15, 2009) – Vision-Ease Lens (VEL), a manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses, has determined what appears to be the cause of the fire in its Jakarta, Indonesia, manufacturing plant: an electrical short in a piece of production equipment. Though the fire has stopped all production at the facility, significant parts of infrastructure housing major components such as generators were untouched, which VEL anticipates will help speed recovery. Additionally, rebuild contracts have already been put into place and work on a new facility has begun.

 

VEL will continue to increase production in Ramsey, Minn., and anticipates having the Jakarta facility fully operational before the end of summer 2010. Limited glass production in Jakarta will begin as soon as January in areas that sustained lesser damage.

 

“We are confident that we will continue to fulfill all premium film-based products such as Coppertone™ Polarized, SunRx® Polarized and LifeRx® photochromic lenses. In addition, we expect no significant interruption on clear multifocals and Illumina® and Outlook® progressives,” said Doug Hepper, VEL CEO. “However, this means we will suspend certain product availability.”

 

Specific inventory scenarios and contingency plans have been communicated directly to VEL customers including temporary suspension of FSV lines including Tegra, Tegra® AR, Continua®, Continua Tintable, Continua AR and Safety, SFSV Continua Tintable and SFSV Continua (71 and 75mm), as well as a ‘ship or cancel’ status on Glass lenses, all effective immediately.

 

“Although it is a difficult decision to suspend availability of any of our lenses, it is our intent to choose products that may be more easily substituted by customers to lessen the burden placed upon them while continuing to supply the unique, harder-to-get products they’ve come to rely on Vision-Ease Lens to provide,” Hepper said. “We are grateful for the kind words and well wishes from customers and industry colleagues.”

Headquartered in Ramsey, Minn., Vision-Ease Lens is a manufacturer of quality ophthalmic lenses including LifeRx® light-responsive lenses, Coppertone^™ polarized lenses, SunRx® polarized lenses, and Illumina® progressive line-free lenses. Vision-Ease Lens products are sold through independent opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, as well as many retail chains and dispensing markets across the country. For more information about Vision-Ease Lens and its products, visit www.vision-ease.com.