[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]A new multipurpose hub for the European business of contact lens manufacturer Menicon Co., Ltd. (head office: Nagoya, Japan; CEO Hidenari Tanaka) has begun its first full year of operations at Emmen, NL (140 km. NE of Amsterdam), following a Dec. 9, 2013 grand opening attended by dignitaries from the Netherlands and Japan.

The new facility now crafts and distributes made-to-order lenses to customers across the continent and beyond. Combining in a single 4,675 square-meter structure the production, distribution, R&D, marketing and management functions of business units Menicon Holding BV (MHBV) and NKL Contactlenzen, the facility creates an eco-friendly and efficient base for 100 staff in Menicon’s European operations.

In cutting the opening ribbon, Menicon CEO Hidenari Tanaka was assisted by Mr. Cees Bijl (Mayor of Emmen) and Mr. Yutaka Kikuta (Minister of Japan’s embassy in the Netherlands). Addressing the 120 invited guests, Dr. Tanaka noted that the realization of this new facility marks the successful integration of Menicon and NKL, which had been a “formidable competitor” prior to its acquisition by Menicon in 2006.

“Since then we have achieved great synergistic results throughout Europe,” Tanaka said. “Now, this magnificent facility embodies the promise of even greater future accomplishments in the region.”

In keeping with its dedication to clear vision for people across the continent, the new glass-clad structure is remarkably transparent. And the glass cladding is equally remarkable for its environmental performance: adjustably admitting abundant natural light, yet well insulated against cold and heat. Other structural features, such as groundwater heat pumps and an innovative approach to harvesting waste heat from climate control, contribute to power consumption 45 percent lower than comparable conventional structures. This translates into a 35 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, consistent with norms under the European Sustainability Programme. What is more, this eco-achievement is in line with Menicon’s own 2009 commitment “To be a world enterprise that is friendly to people, animals, and the environment”.