Eyewear Manufacturing
Description
Companies in this industry manufacture ophthalmic products, including contact lenses, prescription glasses frames and lenses, and sunglasses. Major companies include Bausch + Lomb and Marchon Eyewear (both based in the US), as well as EssilorLuxottica (France), Fielmann (Germany), and De Rigo, Marcolin, and Safilo (all based in Italy).
The global eyewear market is forecast to reach about $335 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Italy is home to many of the world's top eyewear manufacturers.
The US eyewear manufacturing industry includes about 500 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $6 billion.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by demographics, fashion trends, new product lines, and the level of consumers' discretionary income. The profitability of individual companies depends on maximizing operating efficiencies, maintaining a stable of licenses with popular brands, and effective pricing. Large companies have advantages in purchasing power for raw materials and may control many of the distribution outlets. Small companies can compete effectively by offering more specialized and innovative product lines. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 95% of industry revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include prescription lenses (about 70% of industry revenue), and ophthalmic focal lenses (about 25%).
Eyewear makers usually have in-house design teams to develop frames for their proprietary or licensee brands. The manufacturing process can be intensive. Metal frame manufacturing can require some 70 to 200 production steps, including detailed assembly work, and may take 90 to 180 days of production time. Plastic frames may be made using the milling process (a machine carves frames from plastic sheets) or an injection molding process.
Glasses manufacturers may place orders six months before the style is released. A sample is sent for quality testing before the batch is made. Eyewear has to meet standards set by individual countries. Many eyewear makers use contract manufacturers outside the US, while others own their own factories. Payment is typically not made prior to shipment. Some eyewear manufacturers, such as EssilorLuxottica, are vertically integrated, owning their own distribution and retail operations.
Raw materials used in eyeglasses manufacturing include metal alloys, plastic resins, acetate sheets, crystal and plastic lenses and frame parts. Contact lens materials include plastic polymers. Raw materials come from a variety of suppliers in Europe, Asia, and the US.
The global eyewear market is forecast to reach about $335 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Italy is home to many of the world's top eyewear manufacturers.
The US eyewear manufacturing industry includes about 500 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $6 billion.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by demographics, fashion trends, new product lines, and the level of consumers' discretionary income. The profitability of individual companies depends on maximizing operating efficiencies, maintaining a stable of licenses with popular brands, and effective pricing. Large companies have advantages in purchasing power for raw materials and may control many of the distribution outlets. Small companies can compete effectively by offering more specialized and innovative product lines. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 95% of industry revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include prescription lenses (about 70% of industry revenue), and ophthalmic focal lenses (about 25%).
Eyewear makers usually have in-house design teams to develop frames for their proprietary or licensee brands. The manufacturing process can be intensive. Metal frame manufacturing can require some 70 to 200 production steps, including detailed assembly work, and may take 90 to 180 days of production time. Plastic frames may be made using the milling process (a machine carves frames from plastic sheets) or an injection molding process.
Glasses manufacturers may place orders six months before the style is released. A sample is sent for quality testing before the batch is made. Eyewear has to meet standards set by individual countries. Many eyewear makers use contract manufacturers outside the US, while others own their own factories. Payment is typically not made prior to shipment. Some eyewear manufacturers, such as EssilorLuxottica, are vertically integrated, owning their own distribution and retail operations.
Raw materials used in eyeglasses manufacturing include metal alloys, plastic resins, acetate sheets, crystal and plastic lenses and frame parts. Contact lens materials include plastic polymers. Raw materials come from a variety of suppliers in Europe, Asia, and the US.
Table of Contents
- Industry Overview
- Quarterly Industry Update
- Business Challenges
- Business Trends
- Industry Opportunities
- Call Preparation Questions
- Financial Information
- Industry Forecast
- Web Links and Acronyms
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