Super
Systems was founded in 1923 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Leonard L. Gilman, father of
the present owners, Donald and Leonard Jr, O.D. The company occupies a 14,400
square foot manufacturing facility in Oakley, Ohio, a northeastern suburb ten
miles from downtown Cincinnati. The company, until
the mid 1980's was solely a manufacturer and wholesaler of prescription lenses
and frames to Optometrists and Opticians. Since the mid 1980's the company shifted
its focus to selling optical equipment and supplies. The change was mostly precipitated
by the shift of lens fabrication from the wholesale level to on-site fabrication
by another Cincinnati company, Precision LensCrafters. LensCrafters, Pearle Vision
and other imitators redefined the eyecare experience and the eyewear delivery
system which forced wholesale labs and the independents to re-examine their businesses.
Initially, the company's new focus was in remanufacturing
and selling edging equipment and other lab supplies. While the company experienced
success in adjusting its business focus, it could see the impact that the Super
Opticals were having on their customer base. The Optometrist and Opticians that
Super Systems was serving were now seeing their valued customers walking into
a LensCrafters store and receiving eye care from a store Optometrist, and at the
same time having their prescription filled "in about an hour". A
need was identified and the company began the task of designing a smaller, more
affordable and easier to operate method of grinding prescription lenses to enable
the independent to compete with the Super Opticals and retain their customer base.
In conjunction with an optical engineer from England,
the company introduced the Fast Grind system, which allows the independent to
grind lenses in their office without the large expense in equipment and space
that is required with traditional surfacing methods. Fast Grind requires only
5 sq. ft. (28" x 27") of space, costs under $25,000 and is computer
guided to eliminate the need for experienced personnel. Dispensing only 1 or 2
pair of bifocals each day can justify the investment in Fast Grind. Hundreds of
Independents have experienced higher profit levels and renewed patient retention
with the implementation of Fast Grind.
Fast Grind
is now installed in over 36 Countries around the world including Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, England,
Fiji Islands, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama,
Philippines, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Salvador, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand and Trinidad.
|