Gerber Coburn Adds Kappa CTD Finishing
System to Highly Popular Product Family

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. – Gerber Coburn is pleased to announce the launch of its newest finishing system, the Kappa CTD. Earning two consecutive SILMO Product of the Year awards, the Kappa CT Tracer and Blocker (2004 award) and the NEW Kappa CTD Edger and Drill (2005 award) integrates the most critical process functions into one simple to use, top-of-the-line versatile system.

Developed to meet the requirements of the most challenging practices, Kappa CTD’s system design and technology enables practice managers to reduce non-value added steps and deliver the highest quality lenses to the market at the lowest cost of ownership, said Debby Corriveau, product manager, Gerber Coburn.

“The Kappa CT Tracer and Blocker has elevated layout and blocking to a new level with its intelligent Centering Technology. What used to be the most complicated part of the finishing process has now been reduced to a simple touch of a button. Its powerful software and unique design allow Kappa CT to accurately locate the lens’optical center, bifocal segment, or fitting cross in just a few seconds, then automatically re-align the image on the prescribed axis and present it in the doctor’s view. This feature combined with controlled process viewing results in a more comfortable and precisely fitted eyewear pair, stated Corriveau.”

Corriveau went on to explain, “Besides the centering, blocking is also automatic. Once the lens is placed on the blocking station, Kappa CT’s computer-controlled blocking arm automatically grasps the lens blocker adapter while the motorized suction head ensures that the lens-blocking adapter is placed in its required position and axis for mounting. With this feature, even the most fragile lenses will not be damaged, thus reducing breakage.”

“However, the most exciting element to this system is not Kappa’s capability to process all materials, edge polish bevels and flats with unmatched speed and accuracy, but its ability to locate and drill holes and notches for drill mounts. It literally takes seconds to identify the drilling coordinates. Operators simply place the lens in Kappa CT’s centering chamber, then the tracer takes a photo of the demonstration lens and the drill holes—the zoom mode is used to confirm the positions and diameters of the drill holes. We’ve even made it really easy to manage the drilling process. The Kappa CT tracer retains 200 bar codes fully dedicated to the drilling function, drill-hole positions and diameters—operators only need a single entry to associate with several frame styles,” announced Corriveau.

“Once mounted, the lens’ drilling angle is automatically adjusted so that it is perpendicular to the front surface; however, the lens can be adjusted via an easy to use customization program. And in order to preserve the lens’ integrity, a specific drilling mode is related to the different materials. By combining various parameters such as feed and rotation, the drilling operation is optimized. This function accommodates the unique characteristics of the different lens materials,” added Corriveau.

Corriveau went on to say, “What Kappa CTD really represents is endless possibilities for practices. The Kappa CTD edger can accommodate through and non-through holes, straight or angled notches, vertical, horizontal or angled oblongs and up to 10 combinations per lens are allowed—with extreme diameters down to 0.8 coming soon! With these capabilities and combinations, Kappa CTD delivers a considerable number of mounts, and if drill mounts need customization, then operators can choose unique edge cuts or engrave one-of-a-kind creations.”