Hyper-tech eyewear by Univet

Based in Rezzato and headed by engineer Armando Portesi, Univet specializes in “personal eye protection devices” and “optical systems for surgery and dentistry”.

After selling Eltec (ticketing systems), which he had established, to a multinational, at the end of the 90s Portesi decided to debut in the optical sector. “I believed it to be an interesting sector, I had some contacts, and after a brief experience in Milan, I set up Univet. There were no eyewear producers in Brescia so in one way the area was wide-open, but on the other hand, it didn’t have the know-how typical of the districts”.

At the start, the company made more or less everything, then it began to focus on two categories: sunglasses for third parties and factory or laboratory eyeglasses, technically known as “personal protection devices” (ppd). In the “sun” sector, it also worked for some prestigious fashion houses and began to produce 300,000 pairs a year. In 2004, things changed because of that well-known phenomenon called China. Low-cost products invaded the market and Univet had no alternative but to change its strategy and go back to protection devices, but this time aiming at elements that China can’t provide: research, development and technology. That was the beginning of some of the hi-tech products like the “Medical” and “Laser” range which joined the classical “Safety” range.

Univet now produces over 5 million pairs a year, its turnover in 2008 was in excess of 9 million euro (slightly higher than 2007) and its export share is about 40%. “We export to over forty countries, mainly in Europe”, Portesi explained.

All the articles are designed at the 3,000-square-meter facility in Rezzato, which has 50 employees, a research and development unit, a laboratory for preliminary controls, and test and certification equipment. Standard products are produced in Taiwan, but those with higher added value are made entirely at the Brescia facility and include the “jewels in its crown” mentioned earlier: magnifying eyeglasses for doctors and dentists and laser eyeglasses. These are frequently “made-to-measure” articles produced in Italy only by Univet, one of the six or seven producers, worldwide. “With laser in particular we compete with the world’s number 1 and it’s a challenge to the latest technology” Portesi underscored.

Source: Il Giornale di Brescia