Nikon 1.74 and Essilor

**Optical Enigma** · 08-12-2006, 02:55 AM

Question:

I have been told that Nikon and Essilor are two different companies, and that Essilor is simply distributing Nikon product in the US. Is anyone privy to the nature of the relationship between Essilor and Nikon?

**Chris Ryser** · 08-12-2006, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Optical Enigma

Question:

Is anyone privy to the nature of the relationship between Essilor and Nikon?

As far as it looks like, they are happily married.

**impact500** · 08-12-2006, 05:51 AM

Nikon and Essilor are two distinct companies. However, they have a 50 - 50 joint venture that forms the key distribution for Essilor in Japan. The JV is also a key factor in Canada and the UK. I believe there are labs in Canada and a manufacturing facility in Japan that are under the JV. In the US, sales of Nikon product to WalMart is likely a major element in the JV.

These are amateur comments and may be wrong.

Mike Schaus

**Pete Hanlin** · 08-14-2006, 11:37 AM

As previously mentioned, Nikon and Essilor are seperate companies which share distribution channels in some areas.

In the US, Essilor distributes Nikon products- in Canada, Nikon maintains its own distribution channel.

There are also areas of shared technology- each company sharing information related to its area of expertise. Some of these areas have resulted in joint ventures for research and/or manufacturing.

Expertise in high index materials has been an area in which Nikon brings a lot to the table. Development of coatings for those materials has been an area in which Essilor has contributed technology. The result- better ophthalmic products!