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A Correspondent

Clean Coat and Anti Reflection Coating System being done on a machine at GKB Hi-Tech Lenses plant, Goa

CARL Zeiss, Germany-based optical manufacturer, has tied up with GKB Hi-Tech Lenses Ltd, Goa, in a joint venture to set up their first ophthalmic lenses manufacturing unit in Goa.

This joint venture, launched in January, has already introduced its only branded optical lenses, which are laser engraved for its mark of quality.

The joint venture is equipped with a capacity of 1,000 prescriptions per day. All Carl Zeiss lenses have 99.9 pc vision with anti-reflection coating.

Carl Zeiss is a $2.1 billion company, which manufactures lenses used in surgical instruments used by ophthalmologists and other surgeons.

Best of cinematography cameras and microscopes use Zeiss lenses. They are fitted in Sony and Nokia cameras.

They are also used in planetarium and astronomical telescopes. Carl Zeiss also makes some of the world's best binoculars used for night vision.

GKB Hi-Tech Lenses, Carl Zeiss' joint venture partner, is already an exporter of ophthalmic lenses and it is now going to manufacture glass lenses for Carl Zeiss to be exported to Germany.

GKB Hi-Tech Lenses' retail wing, GKB Optolabs, has the largest chain of company optical showrooms in India, with more than 80 outlets in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Coimbatore, Kochi, Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli and Goa.

GKB Hi-Tech Lenses plans to achieve a turnover of over Rs 250 crore by the end of 2008.

It has 17 fully equipped manufacturing units in major towns in the country to cater to daily needs of more than 8,000 opticians. The company employs over 1,000 people throughout the country.

GKB Hi-Tech Lenses' manufacturing facilities at Tivim Industrial Estate, Mapusa, is spread out over an area of 1,50,000 sq. ft.

According to Dr Michael Kaschke, member of the board of Carl Zeiss, development of cutting edge optical technology has been the key factor for its success.

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