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Gentex Optics history
Gentex Optics company history timeline
In the first half of 1988 sales of the motorized mirrors took a downturn.
In 1989 the company also began to cultivate international markets.
About 3.36 percent of new 1989 cars carried the optional mirrors.
In September 1990 Gentex and Donnelly announced they would settle their patent dispute by becoming partners.
Adopted Shareholder Rights Protection Plan, 1991
Foreign sales made a strong contribution toward 1992's increase in sales, as the company expanded into Germany, Japan, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Korea, and Brazil.
During 1992 employment at Gentex increased from 375 employees at the beginning of the year to 541 at year-end.
1992 Crizal®… tried and tested transparency
In September 1993 Gentex introduced the first convex mirror, which is used for the passenger-side exterior mirror in the United States, with full-range (gray scale) dimming.
By 1993 Gentex had brought suits charging that Donnelly's products infringed on three other Gentex patents.
1993 Varilux Comfort®, for optimal comfort
The Compass Mirrors would be made available on 1994 luxury vehicles.
The new system would debut on the 1995 BMW 700 series and was worth about $3 million in annual revenue to Gentex.
By 1997 the company was making high-volume shipments of this difficult-to-manufacture product along with a new thin-glass exterior mirror introduced in 1997.
In 1997 Fred Bauer received Michigan's Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
In May 1998 Gentex also established a warehouse facility in Weinsberg, Germany, to provide logistics for local parts distribution.
In May 1998 Gentex began offering NVS Mirrors directly to consumers.
Gentex announced a two-for-one stock split at its annual meeting in 1998.
2003 Varilux® Ipseo®, personalized progressive lenses
2006 Varilux® Physio®, high-resolution vision
2007 A Foundation for social action
2008 Scientific partnership with Institut de la Vision Equipping professionals
2009 Major player in reading glasses Innovation: a driver of growth First steps into e-commerce
2011 Essilor launches the construction of its Center for Innovation and Technology (CIT) Europe Optifog®, anti-fogging technology Reading glasses: a source of growth
2012 Varilux S Series™: a high-end progressive lens Crizal® UV and E-SPF®: for better UV protection
2013 Essilor signs a partnership with the University of Wenzhou Crizal® Prevencia®: protecting the eyes from harmful blue-violet light A Group driven by a mission
Crizal® Prevencia® was voted one of Canada’s products of the year in 2014.
2014 Transitions™ joins the Essilor Group Essilor grows presence in sunwear and online A new visual identity
The partnership celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2015.
2017 Essilor and Luxottica Varilux® X series™ Essilor and FIA partnership
2020 Crizal® ROCK™ Coating
Essilor launched the Stellest™ lens, a new generation of ophthalmic lenses to combat the progression of myopia among children, in 2020.
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Gentex Optics may also be known as or be related to GENTEX OPTICS INC., Gentex Optics, Gentex Optics Inc and Gentex Optics, Inc.