RAMSEY, Minn.—Vision Ease is shifting polycarbonate lens manufacturing from its plant in Ramsey, Minn. to its Jakarta, Indonesia factory, according to a spokesperson for its parent company, Hoya Corp. “The focus of priorities in the Ramsey, Minn. facility is changing from manufacturing to an Advanced Technology Center focusing on R&D, process development and pilot plant capability,” the spokesperson told VMAIL. “In addition to a Technology Center, Ramsey serves as a strategic distribution facility along with lens processing capability. In about a year, polycarbonate manufacturing will be transitioned to the Jakarta, Indonesia facility.”

Polycarbonate lenses represent a major portion of Vision Ease’s business.

The moves are in line with strategic objectives announced by Hoya when it acquired Vision Ease and its parent company, Performance Optics, along with South Korean lens maker, Daemyung Optical, in August, 2017. They are part of Hoya’s long-term “polycarbonate optimization” project providing increased economies of scale, according to the spokesperson.

Following the fire that destroyed the Jakarta facility in November of 2009, the plant was reconstructed from the ground up as a purpose-built, state-of-the-art poly facility with capacity for growth. Production will be strategically moved to Jakarta over time to avoid customer disruption, the spokesperson said.

The Ramsey plant will produce premium film-based products such as photochromic and polarized lenses. “As we evolve the Ramsey facility, roles may be transitioned to new areas of focus whenever possible as we look to leverage employee skill sets,” the spokesperson said.