Rodenstock has expanded its edging and fitting laboratory network into Tasmania, shortly after opening sites in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Up until last year, the ophthalmic lens manufacturer’s only fitting lab was in Sydney, but the company’s German headquarters has made a significant investment in Australia to improve turnaround times and enhance customer service to its independent optical practice customers.
Rodenstock’s Tasmania lab, in George Street, Launceston, commenced operations in January 2024. The company purchased an existing glazing lab known as Slama Optical, operated by Mr David Slama. As part of the transition, he has also joined Rodenstock and they will continue the business together.
“It is a great opportunity for Slama Optical to be partnered with a well renowned lens manufacturer and still provide a local, high quality service to Tasmania. It is a perfect match,” Rodenstock Australia general manager Mr Tim McCann said.
During the past year, Rodenstock has opened three glazing locations in Australia, with four in total.
The Melbourne lab that opened in 2023 was a greenfield project, set up in the south-eastern suburb of Mount Waverley. It is centrally located within a spread of Rodenstock customers and close to the Monash Freeway for easy courier access.
Meanwhile, Rodenstock’s Brisbane lab came after the owners of independent lens fitting firm C&S Optical – which provided a service for some of the major lens manufacturers – were seeking a partnership, so Rodenstock Australia acquired the business and its experienced employees. Originally located in the inner northern suburb of Windsor, Rodenstock has moved the lab to Banyo.
The other major change has seen the company move the production and surfacing of Australian-bound lenses from Europe to Bangkok, meaning its lenses can be brought faster into Australia on an overnight flight. McCann said these changes were reaping benefits for independent practice customers.
“The new laboratories create opportunities to improve Rodenstock’s service and distribution capabilities, reducing delivery times, offering greater flexibility and responsiveness to meet the practice’s needs, and ensuring more reliable timing and quality delivery of your orders,” he said.
“Local fitting services also reduce freight costs for practices and reduce transit times for frames going to and from the lab. Stock lens services are particularly fast with local turnaround.”
If more opportunities present in future, McCann said Rodenstock would consider expanding the glazing network.
“We believe in optimum local service to the independents and we will do this when and where we can,” he said.
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