Essilor SRF Optics, a joint venture between Essilor International SA, France and SRF, Chennai, is planning to set up a string of laboratories in the country. According to Xavier Fontanet, CEO, Essilor International, the company plans to set up 13 such laboratories, of which 11 would be on franchisee basis.

The company is in the process of strengthening the network of laboratories as well as manpower by way of training opticians to reach the targeted goal in the smaller towns in the country.

The company currently has two self owned laboratories in Bangalore and Delhi with 12 franchise laboratories. The company's manufacturing facility is in Bangalore that also serves as a processing unit. This facility produces the readymade and blanks types of lenses.

Fontanet maintained that the Delhi and Bangalore centre were part of the Essilor's global network of sites of technical excellence. He further maintained that these centres would now offer the latest Crizil technology on lenses which integrates anti-scratch, anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings in the factory designed process. "The technology will ensure optimum compatibility not only between the lens and coating layers but also among the layers themselves.

The company currently has a 40 per cent market share in plastic lens segment in the country, which is growing at a rate of 25 per cent per annum. The joint venture has so far invested Rs.50 crore and plans to attain full capacity utilisation within five years. The company introduced an array of photochromatic, tinted and high index lenses for special applications.

Fontanet maintained that the reason behind the company's investment of US$ 12-15 million in its Indian operations was to develop quality lenses at a reasonable cost given the high duty structure in the country.