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Founded Larsen Equipment Design in late ’81

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Founded Larsen Equipment Design in late ’81

Milestones

Sold first polisher and was urged to attended CLMA Conference.
1982
1983
Gained customers Bausch & Lomb and Wesley-Jessen mid-year which provided growth to market for independent CL manufacturers.
Analyzed lateral vs. radial polishing mechanics; led to development of the radial arm polisher.
1984
1985
Adopted “Reduce variation and variables in process”; led to Bridge Technology for multi-spindle polishers which eliminated 15 position variables and made the process immune to tool height variations which gave predictable results. Entered Precision Industrial Optics market with Six Spindle Radial Arm polisher. User results to 1 /10 wave form accuracy.
R&D collaboration with key progressive CL labs; helps CL industry.
Becomes involved in unique local design projects, result: stay focused on CL industry.
1986
1993
Free-form lathes (OTT, Variform) drive the CL industry to demand an effective polisher. LED develops the “Bladder Polisher” using a completely different approach, which results in a fundamental improvement to the industry for all existing BC designs and opens the possibility for exotic and large diameter designs. Makes “specialty lenses” part of regular production. This technology is eventually adopted by the spectacle industry.Introduces the Static Blocker which gives control of the blocking process to the labs; reduces operator influence. Makes toric lens production easier. Makes labs more aware of the house-keeping aspects of CL manufacturing.Blocking tooling and lathe collets become more closely scrutinized.
Autoblocker in limited release with relay operating system. Results in “hands off” operation with a reduction in CL rejects.
1998
1999
Awarded CE machine compliance, resulting in continued sales in Europe, but more importantly, improving the components and operator interface of LED products.
Introduction of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) controlled Autoblocker with Pitch dispenser; further reduction in rejects and 90% reduction in pitch consumption.
2000
2001
Polymer Technology Corp retains Larsen Equipment to solve water soluble blocking compound problem on spin blockers; leads to development of “Wax Thickness Control” on the Autoblocker yielding constant blocking compound thickness regardless of variations in Center Thickness: less wax, less rejects.
Initiative to standardize blocking tooling results in Solid 12.7 precision ground tooling (now widely accepted).
2003
2005
With precision blockers and tooling available, process control becomes a real possibility. Transfer blocking is known with some labs practicing it (still many not to this day). Transfer blocking is the key to good optics and lathe turned edges.
Founded Larsen Equipment Design in late ’81

Milestones

1982
Sold first polisher and was urged to attended CLMA Conference.
1983
Gained customers Bausch & Lomb and Wesley-Jessen mid-year which provided growth to market for independent CL manufacturers.
1984
Analyzed lateral vs. radial polishing mechanics; led to development of the radial arm polisher.
1985
Adopted “Reduce variation and variables in process”; led to Bridge Technology for multi-spindle polishers which eliminated 15 position variables and made the process immune to tool height variations which gave predictable results. Entered Precision Industrial Optics market with Six Spindle Radial Arm polisher. User results to 1 /10 wave form accuracy.
R&D collaboration with key progressive CL labs; helps CL industry.
1986
Becomes involved in unique local design projects, result: stay focused on CL industry.
1993
Free-form lathes (OTT, Variform) drive the CL industry to demand an effective polisher. LED develops the “Bladder Polisher” using a completely different approach, which results in a fundamental improvement to the industry for all existing BC designs and opens the possibility for exotic and large diameter designs. Makes “specialty lenses” part of regular production. This technology is eventually adopted by the spectacle industry.Introduces the Static Blocker which gives control of the blocking process to the labs; reduces operator influence. Makes toric lens production easier. Makes labs more aware of the house-keeping aspects of CL manufacturing.Blocking tooling and lathe collets become more closely scrutinized.
1998
Autoblocker in limited release with relay operating system. Results in “hands off” operation with a reduction in CL rejects.
1999
Awarded CE machine compliance, resulting in continued sales in Europe, but more importantly, improving the components and operator interface of LED products.
2000
Introduction of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) controlled Autoblocker with Pitch dispenser; further reduction in rejects and 90% reduction in pitch consumption.
2001
Polymer Technology Corp retains Larsen Equipment to solve water soluble blocking compound problem on spin blockers; leads to development of “Wax Thickness Control” on the Autoblocker yielding constant blocking compound thickness regardless of variations in Center Thickness: less wax, less rejects.
2003
Initiative to standardize blocking tooling results in Solid 12.7 precision ground tooling (now widely accepted).
2005
With precision blockers and tooling available, process control becomes a real possibility. Transfer blocking is known with some labs practicing it (still many not to this day). Transfer blocking is the key to good optics and lathe turned edges.
Our

Patents

1984
Six spindle later polisher
2000
“Bladder Polisher”
2003
Free-Form Spectacle polisher
OUR HAPPY Clients

READ WHAT SAYS

"I wanted to thank you personally for providing the best in service and innovative manufacturing equipment. Through my transitions from contact lens to corneal inlay and IOL manufacturing you have made my life easier. Having equipment that withstands the test of time and is constantly updated to meet my demands and that of the industry has been a great asset for me. Thank you for all your hard work and support for over 20 years."

Troy Miller
VP Operations - AccuLens, Inc.

"Larsen Equipment Design has been my source for production equipment and supplies since 1987. A very knowledgeable and supportive resource for process analysis and solutions for GP contact lens polishing and blocking systems. We’ve had a great relationship over the many years we’ve been doing business together and am very comfortable reaching out to them for any of my related manufacturing needs."

Greg Goodhart
ABB / Concise

"Thanks Eric for meeting my Equipment needs but also for your advice and help my manufacturing process. Your expertise in analyzing a quality process is so helpful."

Ken
Quality Contact Lens

"Honestly, most of the Equipment and Processes required to be a top tier lens manufacturing lab today have come from Larsen Equipment Design. The “go to” guys in this industry!"

Simon Alderson
Mark Ennovy
FAQ

Frequently Asked Question

How has the consolidation of the industry affected your business?

A In the US, I have seen that happening since the early ’90’s. Interestingly, most of the labs that were purchased had our equipment. I wonder if that was a selling point. Through the ’90’s most of the purchased labs were kept open, so we continued to support and up-grade the machinery. I see that as a testament to the original designs and utility of our products. Early in the next decade, many of these labs were closed and the equipment moved to a central facility to be put into production. So, again we continued to support and up-grade them. Over all, our company continues to grow with about 90% of our revenue coming from CL and IOL’s. We enjoy close business relationships with labs and have a quality group of distributors and agents around the world. Our agents and distributors understand the need for good communication between us and the users to ensure that the labs get the best performance form our products and services.

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QUICK LINKS
Call
800-789-5121
Write Us
erik@larsenequipment.com
Locate Us
1117 NW 52nd Street
Seattle WA 98107
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