UltraVision shuts contact lens facility

UltraVision, the international contact lens company which has a major presence in the UK, has closed its disposable lens facility in Quebec 19 months after it opened.
The Canadian facility failed to obtain alternative sources of finance after one of its long-term investors pulled out. UltraVision International, which is based in Leighton Buzzard, reported that the decision had been taken to close the St Hubert site Ôfor an indeterminate periodÕ from July 3.
The board of UltraVision Corporation Ð which bought the UK business formerly known as Igel International in 1999 Ð is now evaluating scenarios for the restructuring of the business. Around 120 staff in Canada have lost their jobs as a result of the closure.
Stephen Hill, managing director of UltraVision International, said that the UK business and sister company in Australia would continue to trade as normal. ÔThe closure of the Canadian plant is of course a sad occasion as many of our colleagues have lost their jobs,Õ he said.
ÔHowever, as the manufacturing facility in Canada did not supply disposable lenses to UltraVision International, this closure has no impact on our operations here. So itÕs business as usual for us and our customers.Õ
He said UltraVision International remained profitable, and claimed the business was Ôcurrently experiencing double digit sales growthÕ.
UltraVisionÕs Canadian venture opened in November 2000 as a state-of-the-art contact lens manufacturing and research facility, with the aim of producing 150 million lenses per year to compete in the disposable lens market. It had also received Canadian government financial support.
Earlier this year US optical news site visionmonday.com reported that the company was about to increase production from St Hubert, and had announced a Ônew direction and missionÕ during International Vision Expo East.