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Published on November 17, 2007

Managing director Sawang Pracharktam yesterday said Thai Optical's fourth and fifth production lines, expected to start operating in next year's first and second quarter, respectively, will double production of its Trivex high-impact-resistant lens from 45 million to 90 million pieces a year.

The Trivex brand is considered a speciality lens type, while other main products are organic, mineral and prescription lenses. Products are provided in the form of manufacture for other brands or under original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) licence, as well as under its own Excellite brand.

The two new production lines cost about Bt50 million. Once they are completed, the company will have five.

"Demand for speciality lenses is expected to increase continuously in the future, especially in high-powered purchasing markets like the US and the EU," he said. "Global demand for glass lenses next year is expected to rise 5 per cent year on year to 1 billion pieces".

This is the latest move in Thai Optical's shift from generic to speciality lenses, in order to avoid the effects of cheaper lenses from China.

Thai Optical's revenue breakdown is moving away from generic to favour speciality lenses. The proportion of speciality lenses will increase from 30 per cent in the past few years to 70 per cent in the future, Sawang said.

Sasithorn Ongdee

 The Nation