Optikon captures foreign markets

Twelve patents, seven of which are international, have been set up thanks to investment in research and development that represents 9% of billings every year. However, Optikon’s most important asset is not just its turnover (13.1 million euro according to the 2008 financial statements), primarily it is its innovative technologies that guarantee a substantial presence in the international markets that now provide the company with around 60% of its billings.

Optikon works on two types of products: diagnostic and surgical.

Optikon has consolidated many historic patents that it has owned for some time now, such as equipment for topographically mapping the eye, with a level of definition that is ahead of its time, worldwide, or the "minimal stress" equipment used in surgery to minimize the impact of operations for removing cataracts. This type of operation is carried out by using ultrasonic needles, but excessive exposure can be dangerous for patients. “With our technology”, Orefice said, “a suitably low ultrasonic level can be set at the start of surgery and kept constant to avoid risks”.

According to the company’s forecasts, thanks to these innovative products 2009 should close with a slight increase compared to 2008. What is certain is that the orders keep coming in, mainly from abroad (India, South America,
Korea and Russia in addition to countries in the West, of course), and that a good part of its income will continue to be invested in research and development. Currently, in the Rome-based company’s annual reports, this item is about 1.2 million euro (not including around 30,000 euro a year for maintaining the patents). And 14 of its 93 employees work on R&D every day.

Source: Il Sole 24 Ore Roma