SCHNEIDER: Pioneering Innovation
Pioneering the freeform idea in the ophthalmic business, SCHNEIDER had the vision to manufacture individual lenses on freely definable mathematical descriptions. What initially looked like one of many other developments turned out to be SCHNEIDERs main business focus during the last 20 years “Fascination for Innovation” – the slogan clearly reflects SCHNEIDER’s focus on inspiring customers by developing innovative technological solutions. In 1986, after eight years working for the German machine building company Heyligenstaedt, Gunter Schneider founded the SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG. Starting from scratch, his visionary nature paved the way for early success and company growth. Pushing the introduction of CNC technology in precision optics soon offered the opportunity for SCHNEIDER to join the ophthalmic business as a second main market. Fast rough cutting and cribbing Fast rough cutting and cribbing Pursuit of innovation Innovations have a high priority at SCHNEIDER. The innovation processes are lean and efficiently organizsd in order to implement good ideas as quickly as possible. This is vital for the company, as Gunter Schneider reports: “For us, short development cycles are crucial to secure our position as a leading innovator in the long term.” In fact, on June 27 last year, SCHNEIDER was honored as one of the most successful think tanks in Germany. The company’s motive has always been very clear in terms of working as a reliable partner with their customers to help them optimise the efficiency of their business as well as propagate their growth. Taking the first step In 1994, SCHNEIDER received the request from one of its customers to manufacture atoric lenses with CNC machinery. This initial assignment triggered the vision to develop machines with the capability to produce individual lenses on freely definable mathematical descriptions offering the best visual comfort. By making this vision a reality, the freeform era started. SCHNEIDER was able to produc
n 1994, SCHNEIDER received the request from one of its customers to manufacture atoric lenses with CNC machinery. This initial assignment triggered the vision to develop machines with the capability to produce individual lenses on freely definable mathematical descriptions offering the best visual comfort. By making this vision a reality, the freeform era started. SCHNEIDER was able to produce machines which substituted all previous machines and methods for lens production. “It’s just a file” became Gunter Schneiders slogan for the HSC 100 development – the first freeform generator on the market. Pioneering the freeform idea quickly revealed various difficulties in the previously unexplored domain. For instance, one need was high-speed technology in the form of highly dynamic motors and controllers. However, SCHNEIDER took it up as a challenge and developed all core components with demands beyond existing limits also themselves.
n 1998, SCHNEIDER celebrated the world premiere of the HSC 100, the first freeform generator, at the SILMO show in Paris. This initiated the general paradigm change towards freeform machining. Two years later, SCHNEIDER presented the first adaptive-tool polisher at the Vision Expo West in Las Vegas. Since then, many pace-making technologies were developed that enabled cutting-edge positions for many customers worldwide.
n 1998, SCHNEIDER celebrated the world premiere of the HSC 100, the first freeform generator, at the SILMO show in Paris. This initiated the general paradigm change towards freeform machining. Two years later, SCHNEIDER presented the first adaptive-tool polisher at the Vision Expo West in Las Vegas. Since then, many pace-making technologies were developed that enabled cutting-edge positions for many customers worldwide.