Rodenstock closes optovision production facility in Germany

Rodenstock continues to press ahead with the realignment of the group. The group has announced yesterday that optovision’s ophthalmic lens production in Germany will be closed and the production should be relocated to a large manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic. Last fall, Rodenstock had already announced the closure of the plant in Regen (Germany).

Strategic transformation process

The reorganization is part of a comprehensive strategic transformation process. The groups plan is to further increase the quality of service for partners and customers of the Rodenstock Group by transforming optovision into a competence center. optovision has been part of the Rodenstock Group since 1998.
Part of the measures in the coming months is the relocation of the German lens production. optovision will mainly be relocated to Klattau/Czech Republic, the largest and most modern production site of the Rodenstock Group.

Plans for employees

Once the reorganization has been completed, optovision will still employ around 130 people, which also means that significantly more than half of the employees must be laid off.
In the course of the reorganization and the changes in business operations, optovision is planning a comprehensive package of measures for the affected employees with offers of active support and advice. In the course of the planned relocation, optovision will enter into talks with the works council. Implementation will be subject to the co-determination of the works council.

Focus on sales and marketing

Against the backdrop of the Group’s current decline in volumes, this important step should enable balanced capacity utilization of the global production centers. The existing work areas will be optimized in the course of optovision’s concentration on brand sales and service expertise.

These changes are part of the Rodenstock Group’s long-term strategy of innovative strength and service quality against the backdrop of changing market conditions. In view of increasing competition, rising production costs and declining volumes, the Rodenstock Group is now taking further measures to secure its long-term competitiveness.

The aim of the planned reorganization is to strengthen optovision in the long term with a clear focus on sales, marketing and product management. According to the company this should ensure uniform processes and high quality standards within the Rodenstock Group’s production network. Customers of optovision will therefore continue to benefit from the highest precision, reliability and delivery reliability.

Roland Dimbath, COO Rodenstock Group says: “With the relocation of our manufacturing production volumes, we are taking an important step towards securing the long-term and global competitiveness of the Rodenstock Group. In addition, we are strengthening optovision’s clear customer focus.”

Christian Bannert, Managing Director of optovision, adds: “The upcoming realignment of optovision offers great opportunities to position ourselves for the future in the global ophthalmic optics market and to sustainably improve the quality of service for our customers and partners.