EssilorLuxottica to start wearable production in Italy
EssilorLuxottica, together with the National Secretariats, the National Coordinators and the Trade Union Coordination of Filctem CGIL, Femca CISL and Uiltec UIL, announces the introduction of its first wearable production lines in Italy, starting from the second half of the year. The initiative will initially focus on the historic Agordo plant, where an entire production area will be completely converted to support the new industrial activities, with operations set to begin by early 2027.
The significant investment in the facility as well as machinery and people which underpins this initiative is part of the broader path undertaken by the Group together with the trade unions, within the framework of the Contratto Integrativo Aziendale (CIA) and the subsequent framework agreement signed last September. It is intended to support the development and competitiveness of the Group’s Italian manufacturing network, while reinforcing an industrial model grounded in quality, innovation and the global value of Made in Italy.
This initiative represents a strategic industrial choice for EssilorLuxottica, due to the high technological content of wearable devices. It is driven by the ambition to preserve and strengthen the role of the Group’s Italian plants as innovation hubs, supporting the evolution of eyewear toward a new era of different user experiences and fostering the development of a solid, competitive and future-oriented manufacturing ecosystem.
In this context, collaboration with the trade unions will be essential to ensure the efficiency of the production platform and the long-term sustainability of the investment.
“Bringing the production of our wearable devices also to Italy, starting from the Agordo plant, represents a strategic and industrial choice of great significance for both the Group and the local territory. It is an ambitious plan that requires strong capabilities, a robust supply chain and an ecosystem able to support innovation, quality and speed of execution. We are convinced that this challenge can only be successfully addressed through a strong alignment among all stakeholders — the Company, its people, trade unions and institutions — in order to build an integrated ecosystem that brings together technology, talents and supply chain, further strengthening our leadership in a sector with enormous potential,” said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica.
“This is a choice that confirms how innovation, research, and advanced manufacturing can and must find a place in our country. The challenge now is to support this transition with continuous investment in people, skills development, and the quality of work, ensuring that technological evolution translates into industrial and social growth across our community”, commented Marco Falcinelli, Sebastiano Tripoli and Daniela Piras, General Secretaries of Filctem Cgil, Femca Cisl and Ultec Uil, respectively.
“An important signal against delocalization dynamics and in support of an industrial policy that places work, skills, and the manufacturing capacity of our country back at the center, while reinforcing the strategic role of the Group’s Italian plants. We will continue to support a development model that combines innovation, stable employment, employees’ participation, and the strengthening of the domestic industrial base”, added the National Secretaries Sonia Tosoni of Filctem Cgil, Raffaele Salvatoni and Ivano Dalla Brea of Femca Cisl and Livia Raffaglio of Uiltec Uil