Rodenstock GmbH (German pronunciation: [ˈʁoːdn̩ʃtɔk]) is a German manufacturer of optical lenses and eyewear. The company, which was founded by Thuringian Josef Rodenstock in 1877, is headquartered in Munich. As of 2023, it has a workforce of approximately 5,000 people, with sales offices and distribution partners in around 85 countries.
History
Founding years (1877–1920) The company was founded in Würzburg, Germany by Josef Rodenstock under the name Optisches Institut G. Rodenstock in 1877. The company produced barometers, ophthalmic lenses and frames, scales, and various measuring instruments in its precision mechanics workshop. In 1880, Rodenstock developed his first patented products, the "Diaphragma lenses", and two years later he exported them to Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and Russia. From 1883 onwards, the company was based in Munich, and a grinding shop was established in Regen in 1898. In 1899, Rodenstock started production of the first sunglasses with UV protection. In 1886, he acquired the Rodenstock company grounds at Isartalstraße (today's Dreimühlenviertel). When Josef's son Alexander Rodenstock joined the company in 1905, Rodenstock's entire production was moved to Munich.
Entering camera lens and defence production (1920–1953) In the 1920s, Rodenstock began mass production of camera lenses for a large number of major camera manufacturers. Due to high demand for these lenses, the company stopped production of its own cameras. Between 1930 and 1939, Rodenstock established representatives and offices in all major markets worldwide.
During WWII, Rodenstock manufactured armaments such as binoculars and optical prisms for tanks. The company also continued to manufacture eyeglasses, as those were deemed militarily important and indispensable. After the war, Rodenstock once again focused on its core competencies, particularly the fields of ophthalmic lenses and frames.
Large-scale family-run German company (1953–2000) Alexander Rodenstock's son Rolf Rodenstock took over the company in 1953, starting the rise of Rodenstock to a world-renowned major player in the optics industry. Since 1954, the company has increased its investment in public advertising in addition to ads in trade magazines for opticians and ophthalmologists. In 1955, the company produced 5 million ophthalmic frames. Rodenstock continued to manufacture other optical devices, such as projection lenses for slide projectors (Splendar). In 1968, the company introduced the first photochromatic glasses in Europe, and from 1975 onwards, it produced the first plastic ophthalmic lenses in the world. Between 1972 and 1983, the network of foreign sales corporations was further expanded. As early as 1950/51, Rolf Rodenstock co-founded the optical precision mechanics factory Industria Optica Rodenstock – Chile S.A; not as a subsidiary of Rodenstock in Germany, but rather as part of a private investment. Only later did Optische Werke G. Rodenstock KG gradually take over the Chilean manufacturer. It has been the market leader in the field of ophthalmic lenses and frames in Chile ever since. In 1983, Randolf Rodenstock joined the group of shareholders at Optische Werke G. Rodenstock as a personally liable partner (general partner), leading the company together with his father Rolf Rodenstock. In 1989, Rodenstock shifted the majority of its Munich production capabilities to its newly established serial production facilities in Thailand, and its production facilities in Ebersberg were moved to Malta. Between 1988 and 1989, revenues decreased by 10% from its previous €700 million. 1991 saw the introduction of the R logo and trademark.
Between 1995 and 1996, the company built a new production facility for prescription lenses in Klatovy (Czech Republic). The Rodenstock Präzisionsoptik precision optics division, which includes the production of lenses for analog view cameras, enlargers, and digital view cameras with high-resolution digital camera backs (e.g. the 1997 Apo-Sironar digital) was spun off in 1996 as Rodenstock Photo Optics, a new company and in 2000, it was acquired by Göttingen-based Linos Photonics AG.
Rodenstock GmbH (2000–2010) In 2002, the remaining business segment Eyewear was transferred from Optische Werke G. Rodenstock into the newly founded corporation Rodenstock GmbH. Due to considerable business difficulties in the US, the company faced a severe crisis in 2003. In the same year, investor group Permira bought into Rodenstock with a 49% share. In 2004, Permira increased its ownership share to 85%, the Rodenstock family still held 10%, while the management held the remaining 5%. Under Permira, comprehensive restructuring measures were implemented. In 2006, Permira sold its 85% share in Rodenstock to investment company Bridgepoint. In the same year, the company began tapping new market segments for opticians with its service terminal. Also in 2006, Linos Photonics was acquired by Qioptiq Group, based in Luxembourg, in 2006; the merger was completed in 2009. Since 2009, Rodenstock has offered portfolios for progressive lenses. In June 2010, the German Federal Cartel Office imposed fines totaling €115m on the ZVA (German Association of Opticians and Optometrists) as well as several manufacturers of ophthalmic lenses as the result of illegal cartel agreements.
Rodenstock Precision Optics changed from being a brand of Qioptiq to Excelitas Technologies, a private equity firm, in 2013 after Qioptiq was acquired by Excelitas. These independent entities still operate with the same stylized "R" logo.
Rodenstock Group (since 2010) 2012 saw the introduction of Eye Lens Technology, a type of ophthalmic lens that considers astigmatism adjustments as well as Listing's law for close proximity, thus taking full advantage of the spectacle wearer's eyesight. After 126 years next to the river Isar, Rodenstock moved its headquarters to Elsenheimerstraße in the west of Munich. In 2018, Rodenstock introduced the DNEye Pro technology to the market. In, 2020 Rodenstock announced "B.I.G. VISION FOR ALL", a new company philosophy in which Rodenstock measures each eye based on thousands of data metrics. This data is then used for the production of so-called biometric ophthalmic lenses. In March 2021, Apax Partners acquired the Rodenstock Group.
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