Optical manufacturers have continued to feel the effect of flooding in Thailand.
Lens manufacturer Hoya has been forced to close its Patmanthui operation on staff safety grounds - shortly after shutting its main Rx facility in Ayutthaya.
In response, the manufacturer has increased production capacity in Europe by 50 per cent. Around the clock production is now in place across many of its European labs, and an immediate €15m investment has been pledged to increase product availability. The company said supply issues with European freeform lenses would be resolved shortly.
Martin Batho, managing director of Hoya Lens UK, said: 'We are fully committed to doing everything we can to minimise disruption for our valued customers. Our other Asian facilities in Vietnam and China are taking over some production from Thailand, ensuring that the temporary closure of Patmanthui facility does not affect the supply of stock lenses to the UK market.'
Essilor, which also has manufacturing facilities in the affected region, has fared better. 'Our production facilities are on higher ground and have escaped flooding,' said Kurt Schranz, manufacturing and operations director for Essilor. 'However, the site has been forced to close on health and safety grounds as commuting had become an issue for staff. In response, we have absorbed the plant's output into our European sites, with the majority coming to our UK facility in Thornbury.
'The most important aspect for our UK customers is that there are no delays to orders, as we have increased production capacity in Europe,' said Schranz, who added that the Thai plant had gradually started work again and was expected to be fully operational by November 4.
Rodenstock said its production facility in Thailand was secure and there had been no impact to services in the UK, but gave no further details.