HOYA Vision Care Company, a key player in the global market for ophthalmic lenses, is proud to announce a global premiere: Yuniku, the world's first 3D tailored eyewear that is designed entirely around the optimal vision of the wearer. Yuniku is the result of a highly successful partnership with Materialise, leading provider of 3D printing software and services, and collaboration with Hoet design studio, pioneer in innovative eyewear designs. The 3D tailored eyewear, launched today, is a Silmo d'Or nominee in the Equipment category at Silmo 2016 in Paris.

HOYA Vision Care Company, a key player in the global market for ophthalmic lenses, is proud to announce a global premiere: Yuniku, the world's first 3D tailored eyewear that is designed entirely around the optimal vision of the wearer. Yuniku is the result of a highly successful partnership with Materialise, leading provider of 3D printing software and services, and collaboration with Hoet design studio, pioneer in innovative eyewear designs. The 3D tailored eyewear, launched today, is a Silmo d'Or nominee in the Equipment category at Silmo 2016 in Paris.

Regular frames and lenses can be customised only to a certain degree. The frame and fitting are a given, and lens parameters have to be adjusted to suit them, providing the best possible - though not always ideal - vision experience. Yuniku, by contrast, uses a revolutionary vision-centric approach. It begins by assessing the wearer's visual needs and facial features. Advanced software calculates the ideal position of the lenses in relation to the eyes, and then designs the frame based on those unique parameters. 3D printing allows us to further tailor the frame according to the visual, comfort and aesthetic needs of the customer.

The range features an exclusive selection of frame designs, colours and finishes. These are complemented by a choice of a premium progressive, single vision or indoor lens solution.

"Yuniku is an exciting step forward in custom eyewear. By capitalising on advances in 3D printing technology, we have removed the limitations posed by traditional spectacles," says Jon Warrick, Vice President Global Marketing. "For the first time, wearers can enjoy the ultimate in optical performance, without compromising on style or fit."

"The greatest impact and reach comes from those few innovations that transform entire supply chains, introduce new business models, increase operational efficiency, and greatly improve customer experience. I am proud to say that Yuniku is a prime example of transformative innovation," adds Alireza Parandian, Global Business Strategist - Wearables, Materialise.

"For us it was an obvious continuation of implementing 3D printing in eyewear design," says Bieke, daughter of Patrick Hoet and director of the design office. "Yuniku refers to the unique facial anatomy of each person, but also to the unique design of the frame. The frame design is a very important factor to consider. After all, you don't make a first impression twice!"

How does Yuniku work?

The Yuniku concept is fully integrated, ensuring seamless customisation, production and delivery. Customers are involved throughout, offering maximum opportunity to interact and create their own unique eyewear.

In store, the customer's facial features are scanned and their visual needs are recorded. Based on the collected data, the optimal wearing parameters are defined and fixed and an automatic sizing recommendation for the frame is made. This ensures not only optimal vision but also the most comfortable frame fit, because each frame can be customised to suit every unique face.

Frame design, colour and finish can all be chosen to match the customer's individual style. A virtual image of what the customer will look like in the selected eyewear is displayed on the screen, ensuring complete satisfaction with the end result.

Innovative technology on an open platform

Yuniku was developed in collaboration with the most qualified partners. The proprietary methods for lens optimisation and frame customisation, which make Yuniku such a transformative innovation, are described in pending patent applications. To design the base frame collection, HOYA and Materialise collaborated with Hoet design studio, well known for its bespoke Theo brand. As Yuniku is an open platform, further branded frames, from both Hoet and other designers, will be added to the collection.

Yuniku

Yu-ni-ku is Japanese for 'unique'. It is actually the phonetic, Western spelling of the Japanese word for unique. It stands for dynamic, intuitive and innovative; for one of a kind. An innovative power that knows how to meet the needs of its time, allowing it to capture the collective unconsciousness.

Note to editors

About HOYA

Founded in 1941 in Tokyo, Japan, HOYA is a global med-tech company and the leading supplier of innovative high-tech and medical products. HOYA is active in the fields of healthcare and information technology providing eyeglasses, medical endoscopes, intraocular lenses, optical lenses as well as key components for semiconductor devices, LCD panels and HDDs. With over 150 offices and subsidiaries worldwide, HOYA currently employs a multi-national workforce of over 34,000 people.

About Materialise

Materialise incorporates more than 25 years of 3D printing experience into a range of software solutions and 3D printing services, which together form the backbone of 3D printing technology. Materialise's open and flexible solutions enable players in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, art and design, and consumer goods, to build innovative 3D printing applications that aim to make the world a better and healthier place. Headquartered in Belgium, with branches worldwide, Materialise combines the largest group of software developers in the industry with one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world. For additional information, please visit: http://www.materialise.com

About HOET

With more than 25 years of experience in (eyewear) design, being founders of the brand THEO for which HOET introduced the first laser cut frames and chemical etched frames, the HOET design studio is a synonym for evolution and innovation. The studio is also pioneer in bringing custom made 3D printed frames to the optical market. Essential to their design process is extensive research, thorough knowledge of materials and the talent to adapt old techniques and shape them into new ones.

Website: http://www.yuniku.com / http://www.hoya.eu