Shamir sets up Altra-France

Israeli lens maker Shamir Optical Industry has announced the formation of Altra-France, a new company to establish and operate a laboratory and sales and distribution platform.

The total investment is estimated to be up to €5m.

Altra has signed an agreement with one of the leading retail optical chains in Europe with more than 700 outlets. The agreement, which commences in January 2006, does not include a minimum buying commitment by the chain.

Giora Ben Zeev, president and chief executive of Shamir, said: ‘The European market is one of the largest and fastest growing markets for spectacle lenses.