Founded in 1916, United Lens Company has been under the same continuous private ownership since its inception, and has a long history of growth and diversification. Since its modest beginnings as a producer of molded spectacle lens blanks, United Lens has achieved sustained growth, and continues to expand its role in the Optical Industry. During World War II, the Company was called upon by the U.S. government to produce molded lens blanks for the many instrument applications under development at that time.

During the post-war era the then-new Instrument Division, under the direction of current Chairman and CEO, Albert DiGregorio, grew rapidly and very quickly became the Company's predominant business. In the mid-1970s, expansion in the instrument optics field continued with the establishment of the Optical Fabrication Division, an operation which performs close tolerance surfacing and shaping of flat precision optical elements, and thin-film vacuum coatings.

The late-1970s saw the advent of another new division, aptly named Service Center. The Service Center specializes in precision machining of optical glass and other materials, and services the customer who demands not only high quality products and service, but requires faster delivery.

Today

United Lens Company's Optical Fabrication Division manufactures finished mirrors, prisms, windows, and other flat optical components. We also apply Thin Film Coatings to finished substrates produced by us, or supplied by customers. Our surfacing technology ranges from conventional single spindle and planetary machines to high-speed single and double sided grinders and polishers. Coating chambers are equipped with sophisticated computerized controls to maintain consistent high quality results; and to ensure that product exactly meets customer specifications, components are tested using state-of-the-art interferometers and spectrophotometers.

 Our Service Center produces precision-machined blanks and components in optical glass, fused silica, quartz, and other materials. Materials may pass through any number of operations including cutting, edging, surface grinding, centerless grinding, wafer sawing, computer controlled multi-axis machining, ultrasonic drilling, curve generating, and rod grinding and polishing. Advanced metrology equipment is used to to ensure that components conform to customer specifications. To support this division's quick delivery schedules, a substantial inventory of fine and precision-annealed optical glass is maintained in stock at all times. Extensive in-house glass annealing capacity ensures that material will always be available when needed. Meticulous testing in the refractometer laboratory ensures precise index of refraction and dispersion values are achieved.

The Molding Division produces custom optical glass pressings that are supplied worldwide to companies that manufacture finished optics used in a wide variety of applications.

Production quantities range from a single piece to hundreds of thousands, in sizes that vary from as small as four millimeters to as large as 600 millimeters in diamenter. Vast molding and annealing capabilities and an extensive inventory of literally hundreds of types of optical glass make standard delivery times of three to four weeks possible.

United Lens Company has a long tradition of service to the Optical Industry, and our commitment is ongoing. As new technologies and materials become available, we will continue to provide our customers with the same high quality service and products to which they have become accustomed.