HEBRON, Ky.—Carl Zeiss Vision is planning a major redesign of its operations center here that would significantly expand the facility’s capabilities and the company’s work force.

In addition to serving as Zeiss’ main operations and distribution center, the Hebron, Ky. facility houses its national customer service team, dispensing tools and instruments business, engineering and quality departments and a finishing lab. Zeiss plans to significantly expand the lab, converting it to a full service facility that finishes, surfaces and coats lenses, according to Barry Lannon, director of manufacturing enablement for Zeiss.

“We’ll be changing the layout and installing state-of-the-art technology to offer a higher standard of service, including rapid turnaround for Rx jobs,” Lannon told VMail, noting that the lens maker plans to add 190 employees. “Our primary focus will be to promote Zeiss premium products and processes, but we’ll continue to offer our current portfolio of products and services. The goal is to grow our ECP business.”

Although the project is still in an evaluation phase, Lannon said Zeiss hopes to kickstart it within the next four to six weeks, with a targeted completion date of summer, 2017. He said the lens maker will spend approximately $2.5 million on building and improvements, $6 million on equipment and $1.5 million on other start-up costs. Carl Zeiss Vision’s corporate headquarters is located in San Diego.