SDC Technologies Acquires Ophthalmic Lens Processing Equipment Maker Coburn Technologies

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo: 4183; President & CEO: HASHIMOTO Osamu) is pleased to announce on November 9th, 2022, that its specialty coatings division SDC Technologies, Inc., headquartered in California, USA, (President & CEO Richard Chang) has acquired Coburn Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Connecticut, USA (President Alex Incera) a developer, manufacturer, and a distributor of eyeglass lens processing equipment, to become a 100% owned subsidiary of SDC.

Vision Care Materials Business, Mitsui Chemicals Group |
Expanding solutions business through broadening the range of technology for coating and lens process.

As a leading manufacturer of ophthalmic lens materials, Mitsui Chemicals provides lens manufacturers worldwide with a variety of refractive indices and properties, including the MR™ series high-refractive index lens materials. Mitsui Chemicals has intensified its position in the field of coating materials essential for ophthalmic lens, following several key acquisitions including SDC Technologies in 2008, and SDC’s acquisitions including FSI Coating Technologies permanent anti-fogging coating materials; acquired to the group in 2010; UV-curable hard coatings material producer, LTI Coating Technologies acquired in 2014 and fully integrated into SDC in 2017; and hydrophobic and anti-reflective coating expert COTEC® acquired in 2020. Together these complementary technologies provide a complete end-to-end solution of products that contribute to the long life and high functionality of ophthalmic lenses.

The addition of COBURN, which has a 65-year history of manufacturing and selling equipment and consumables for the ophthalmic lens processing laboratory, to the Mitsui Chemicals Group, will enable new technological advancements that combine the strengths of materials and processing equipment to address social issues, such as digitization, automation, and eco-sustainability. This acquisition further supports Mitsui Chemicals Vision Care Materials Business initiatives to continually focus on contributing to improve the health and comfort of the people's eyes around the world by providing high-performance, high-quality products and services that drive innovation in ophthalmic lens.

■ Company Profiles

	SDC Technologies, Inc.	Coburn Technologies, Inc.
Head office	California, U.S.	Connecticut, USA
Representative	Richard Chang	Alex Incera
Established	1986	1954
Composition of shares	Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc.): 100%	SDC Technologies, Inc.: 100%
Business	Manufacture, sale and research of hard coatings, anti-fog coatings and coating equipment	Ophthalmic lens processing and coating equipment, manufacture, sale and research of various consumables and optometry equipment
Main applications	Eyewear, IT, Mobility	Eyewear
Offices	USA, Singapore, China, U.K.	USA, Singapore, China, India, U.K.

SDC: Comments from President and CEO Richard Chang

With the addition of COBURN, which boasts outstanding technical capabilities and a proven track record in the field of lens-processing equipment, we are very excited to see various synergies with SDC's coating materials, equipment, and lens-processing technology as we expand the SDC Group's portfolio and accelerate its global expansion. As a total solution company, SDC will grow together with everyone in the ophthalmic lens industry.

COBURN: Comments from President Alex Incera

The partnership with SDC is strategically ideal in terms of expanding our product portfolio and enhancing our solutions. Combining the automated processing equipment that COBURN excels in with SDC's innovative coating materials can provide new value to lens processing labs and ECP offices around the world. We are proud to be part of the Mitsui Chemicals Group, whose corporate culture is deeply focused on innovation and customer satisfaction.

■ Reference: SDC Technologies news release

https://sdctech.com/sdc-technologies-acquires-coburn-technologies