Menicon anniversary: 70 years

Happy Birthday!

70 years Menicon

Kyoichi Tanaka was only 19 years old when he set out to develop the first Japanese contact lens in 1951. Equipped with determination, modest tools and using his own eyes for the first prototype test, he managed to produce a functioning contact lens after six years of work. This laid the foundation for the company that would later be called Menicon. In the years since then, Menicon has grown into an international group that is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2021. By Rebekka Nurkanovic

Menicon today offers a broad product portfolio that enables contact lens specialists to successfully correct almost any refractive error with contact lenses: Flat pack daily disposable lenses, silicone hydrogel monthly disposable lenses, custom soft lenses, high-quality form-fitting contact lenses with innovative designs and materials, keratoconus lenses, Ortho-K lenses, plus care products and accessories. The range is rounded off by Menicon's Easyfit fitting program. Decades of experience in research and development and high quality standards have gone into this innovative and high-quality

Kyochi Tanaka and the wife of a U.S. military officer, 1951. product range. By constantly improving its technologies and quality assurance systems, Menicon has been able to achieve many goals. Today, all Menicon products are manufactured in the company's own production facilities in Japan, Singapore, The Netherlands, Great Britain and France.

FROM ONE-MAN BUSINESS TO MAJOR CORPORATION

Founder Kyoichi Tanaka was working in an optician's store when he first heard about contact lenses from the wife of a US Army officer. He had never seen a contact lens but his interest was piqued and he decided to develop a contact lens himself. He set to work in 1951, researching and testing, and in 1957 he succeeded for the first time in producing a working contact lens. He then founded Nippon Contact Lens Co. Ltd, the predecessor of Menicon. Over time, Menicon succeeded in inventing methods to bond and polymerize materials, design innovative products, develop new manufacturing methods and build its own production facilities with fully automated production processes. Thus, the company developed Japan's first oxygen-permeable form-stable contact lens. In 1995, Menicon established a new research and development center. From the very beginning, all processes at Menicon have been carried out internally: From material development to product designs, manufacturing, distribution and sales. After many decades of experience, the company began to apply the findings to other fields: veterinary ophthalmology,

Kyoichi Tanaka, Founder of Menicon

environmental biotechnology and life science. One example for veterinary ophthalmology is the Meni-One X, an intraocular lens for dogs, which was released in 2020. With the increasing prevalence of myopia worldwide, Menicon has also designed the Bloom Myopia Control Management System, a full-service myopia control concept. Dr. Hidenari Tanaka was appointed president in 2000, succeeding his father. At the time, the Japanese economy was deteriorating and the market was flooded with daily disposable contact lenses from global companies. Menicon decided to offer a monthly flat rate lens replacement service called MELS Plan that has now become one of the company’s pillars with 1,3 million plan members in Japan. From a small company with only two products in the beginning, Menicon has developed into a globally active company with a high profile within the industry. For example, Menicon has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Nagoya Stock Exchange since June 2015. The capital available from the IPO was invested in the construction of a new manufacturing facility for daily disposable lenses. Menicon now operates in more than 80 countries and has 16 business offices in Japan and 13 overseas. The high-quality Menicon products are manufactured in a total of eleven production facilities. The company generates approximately $770 million (2019/FY 63) and employs around 3,500 people worldwide.

BY CONSTANTLY IMPROVING ITS TECHNOLOGIES AND QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS, MENICON HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE MANY GOALS.

Dr. Hidenari Tanaka, President & CEO of Menicon

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

On the occasion of its 70th anniversary, Menicon announced that it has renewed its vision of Miru. "Miru" means to see, but it is also about having fun and enjoyment through the five senses, as well as being empathetic. With this new vision of Miru, Menicon aims to make everyday life richer and filled with laughter through all the senses, not just the sense of sight, the company says. Menicon also stated that it plans to continue their commitment to sustainable development by providing safe vision products, developing environmentally friendly products and implementing sustainable measures in its factories. “We are so proud to be celebrating this milestone 70th anniversary. Menicon manufactures specially controlled medical devices, so our top priority has always been the safety of our customers' eyes,” said Hidenari Tanaka. “Challenge, safety, end-user first philosophy and high-quality products remain the cornerstone of Menicon’s continued growth and success. These principles are why we are able to celebrate such a significant anniversary.” The company’s achievements will be celebrated through special promotions from April 2021 to March 2022. Further information and a video of Menicon’s 70-year history can be found on the company’s website: www.menicon.com n