Proclear boosts six-month figures

Sales in the eye care division increased 54 per cent to &\#163;6.7m, with sales of Proclear lenses up 78 per cent to &\#163;6.2m. The company stated that sales had benefited in particular from the US Food and Drug Administration-approved claim that Proclear lenses 'may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms related to dryness during lens wear'. The company, which has an own-label PC lens agreement with Specsavers, aims to produce all its cast moulded lenses at its US plant in Norfolk, Virginia, by the end of 1999. It plans to install three new cast moulding lines by mid 2000, aiming to reduce per unit manufacturing costs. Biocompatibles is developing a Proclear monthly toric product, expected in mid 2000, and an extended wear lens is also under development. - Switzerland's Satis Vacuum has signed a deal with Paris-based ultrasonic cleaning systems specialist FISA to jointly manufacture and distribute a new ophthalmic lens cleaning system. Under the agreement, the new system, the T 40 ACT, is being made in Milan by FISA to Satis' specifications. Satis says it signed the deal to meet growing demand in the area of lens cleaning and pre-coating preparation, especially for latest-generation substrates. The T 40 is equipped with a robot that identifies the different types of substrates used in lens manufacture and handles them accordingly. Pictured below, FISA chief executive Daniel Guerinat (second left) shakes on the new deal with Satis Vacuum chief executive Rudolf Suter, watched by Satis' director of international sales Hans-Peter Eigenmann (left) and FISA sales manager Peter Van den Bosschelle.