MEI: when a pioneering vision becomes the new standard in block-less production

MEI: when a pioneering vision becomes the new standard in block-less production

When MEI first introduced block-less technology into lens production with the launch of CoreTBA at Vision Expo Las Vegas in September 2022, many considered it a technological challenge that would be difficult to turn into an industrial solution. Completely eliminating the traditional blocking and deblocking steps seemed an ambitious goal, destined to remain confined to the field of experimentation.

The elimination of alloy has always been a common, complex yet decisive goal. MEI went further: it removed alloy and everything that does not add value, significantly reducing operating costs and greatly accelerating the time to delivery of the lens.

Today, the landscape has changed profoundly. The growing adoption of this technology, the increase in industrial installations and the introduction, also by other players, of block-less solutions confirm a transformation that MEI had anticipated years ago, helping to turn a pioneering vision into the benchmark production model.

An Italian company among the world leaders in the development of automated technologies and solutions for the production of ophthalmic lenses, MEI has turned this vision into an industrial reality with CoreTBA, the solution that eliminates blocking and deblocking operations and the tape application and removal steps, integrating all lens processing steps, including quality control, into a single system. An innovation that has reduced non-value-added activities, simplified the production flow and paved the way for a new industrial paradigm, which today continues to evolve with Alpha CoreTBA and Omega CoreTBA, the new solutions designed to offer even greater productivity, modularity and operational flexibility, while maintaining the same market-validated technology.

“When we began investing in block-less technology, our goal was not simply to develop a new machine, but to rethink the way lenses are produced. Today, seeing this technology establish itself as the new benchmark for the industry confirms the validity of our vision and drives us to continue innovating, offering laboratories increasingly efficient, sustainable and future-oriented solutions” declares Stefano Sonzogni, President of MEI

Two solutions, one technology

CoreTBA has revolutionized the industry by integrating the seven essential steps of lens production into a single compact unit, with a significantly smaller footprint than traditional solutions.

With Alpha CoreTBA and Omega CoreTBA, innovation takes another step forward, distributing the functions across two separate machines. This configuration makes it possible to double productivity thanks to continuous, uninterrupted operation and offers laboratories greater modularity, allowing them to scale production capacity and configure the system according to their operational needs.

A new generation of efficiency

The technology developed by MEI eliminates the need to use consumables associated with lens blocking, such as protective films, alloy and resin, overcoming one of the historically most complex steps in processing. The elimination of blocking and block removal operations makes it possible to reduce the footprint, simplify maintenance, lower energy consumption and optimize the entire production process.

Layout flexibility is further improved thanks to integration with the EzLine modular transport system, while operational continuity is ensured even during tool changes and calibration procedures.

The absence of blocking steps also makes it possible to significantly reduce lead time, accelerating the transfer of lenses to subsequent processing operations. Power mapping by transmission is performed immediately after polishing, enabling continuous quality control, constant collection of process data and machine self-calibration before production tolerances are exceeded. The result is greater process stability, a reduction in rejects and the maintenance of the high-quality standards that characterize MEI solutions.

Quality remains at the heart of the entire process.

With Alpha CoreTBA and Omega CoreTBA, MEI once again confirms its ability to anticipate the evolution of the sector, continuing along a path of innovation that has helped transform block-less production from a pioneering insight into a new benchmark for the optical industry. A vision that continues to translate into solutions capable of increasing productivity, efficiency and sustainability, supporting laboratories in addressing the challenges of a constantly evolving market, which seeks quality, speed and reduced production costs.