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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Lens manufacturer invests $96.3 M in PH

Lens manufacturer invests $96.3 M in PH

Published Sep 18, 2019 12:00 am
By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat EHS Lens Philippines Inc. (EHS Lens) is investing $96.3 million for its 3.4-hectare lens manufacturing plant in Tanauan City, Batangas. Aside from supplying the local requirements, EHS Lens exports 99 percent of their lenses, mostly Seiko lens products, to corporate customers in the USA, Europe, Japan and Asia.It also produces world’s thinnest polarized lenses, with the biggest markets being Europe and the US. The manufacturer is also seriously considering starting to export Hoya lens products to other affiliates abroad. The firm has a workforce of 2,000 personnel– an overwhelming majority of whom are Filipinos, with only three Japanese expatriates in the headcount. Jennifer Rayala, Managing Director of Hoya Lens Philippines Inc. (HLPH), announced that by Q1 of 2020, Hoya intends to fully source all product range of prescription lenses from their local manufacturing affiliate, EHS Lens. With the local ophthalmic or eyeglass lens market forecast to grow to approximately P1.9 billion in value next year - translating to a volume of 8 million pieces of lenses or 4 million pairs – HLPH, one of the country’s leading lens marketers and its manufacturing arm EHS -- are set to maximize their investment of $96.3 million to fully supply their local requirements. “Currently, our high-end products like Lifestyle and Mystyleprogressive lenses are being imported from our Hoya global RX laboratory in Thailand. By sourcing the lenses locally, we can shorten the delivery time to our customers to 4-5 working days from a previous 8-10 working days if imported. Customer satisfaction is our highest priority, and with this strategy, we hope to improve our customer service,” Rayala noted. For his part, Alberto De Los Reyes Jr., president of EHS Lens, announced that the current utilization of the RX lines is at 80 percent including exported RX lenses. With this project, they are able to maximize the investments of Hoya Corporation and improve utilization to 95 percent, and create additional job opportunities. With these investments and strategic initiatives, Hoya Lens intends to boost the profile of its well-known Seiko and Hoya lens brands for shorter lead-time. The company also intends to increase the gains of its highly popular Fili lens brand in the local market. Launched in 2013 and at an affordable price starting at about P7,000 per pair, Fili is manufactured specifically for the Philippine market. Its brand name was inspired by the El Filibusterismo novel of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
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