The News

VARIOPTIC’s pilot line automates production Reproducible manufacturing process yields reliable quality lenses

19/10/2005

Lyon (France), 19 October 2005 - Varioptic S.A., the French company that invented the liquid lens, has announced its new semi-automated pilot production line is up and running. It will roll out prototype lenses. Varioptic can now supply its customers with a reliable finished product that has passed the company’s stringent quality control and evaluation tests.

Prototypes are much in demand from makers of camera modules. They will be supplied with lenses originating from a reproducible manufacturing process that guarantees consistent performance.

Varioptic’s partners can now design production facilities for output volumes of several million units per month.

Varioptic decided to invest in its own production line in early 2005 on securing ISO 9001 certification. The move was in accordance with company policy of making quality integral to business development.

“The manufacturing process we have designed has enabled us automate the critical stages and so supply our partners with reliable products,” states Varioptic’s Vice President, Engineering Jean-Jacques Louart. “We have proved not only that we have a clean-break technology but that we can meet high-volume production needs. More than anything else we want to see our lenses swiftly incorporated into consumer goods.”

About Varioptic:
Varioptic S.A, venture-backed by Sofinnova Partners, PolyTechnos Ventures and NIF Partners was founded in 2002. Located in Lyon, France, the company is the world leader in liquid lens technology by pioneering the development of Electrowetting Technology to create revolutionary auto focus and zoom lenses with absolutely no moving parts. These products feature several crucial advantages over traditional technologies in terms of cost, dimensions, power consumption and speed. Varioptic is led by CEO Etienne Paillard, and founder/inventor and CTO Bruno Berge.

Press contact:
Isabelle Jourdain - Communication Manager, Varioptic
Isabelle.jourdain@varioptic.com
Tel: +33 (0)157 639 639 or +33 (0)687 712 095
More about Varioptic, videos and pictures available on www.ts2c.com