The ORAFOL Precision Technology Center recently celebrated the grand opening of its expanded facility, increasing the footprint at the company's Park Centre Drive location from 28,000 square feet to 76,000 square feet. The center is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ORAFOL Gmbh, a German company that produces a wide range of reflective and specialty optical products. ORAFOL acquired the Precision Technology Center in 2011 when it purchased Reflexite.

The Precision Technology Center produces specialty tooling used in the manufacture of microstructured optical films and plastic lenses. Most of the tooling goes through precision cutting and electroforming processes. These tools are shipped to ORAFOL and Reflexite facilities around the world, including the Reflexite Energy Solutions facility on Lee Road in Rochester.

"When ORAFOL purchased Reflexite, there was an immediate need to increase our capacity to produce precision tooling," said Bryan Parks, President of ORAFOL Precision Technology Center. "With ORAFOL's worldwide presence, the decision to expand this facility is a testament to the expertise and excellence of our local workforce."

Dr. Michael Foley, CEO of ORAFOL–owned Reflexite Energy Solutions agreed. "Rochester is second to none when it comes to optics and precision manufacturing infrastructure," said Foley. "When it came time for Reflexite to expand our tool making capabilities the choice to build more facilities here in Rochester seemed quite obvious."

The 48,000 square foot addition will house new machinery and specialized processes to make the tooling used to manufacture specialized microstructures that have a wide variety of uses, including the reflective tape used on school busses and tractor trailers, reflective safety vests and traffic cones, concentrator lenses used to produce electricity from sunlight, and lighting diffusers and brightness films used in computer display applications.

"The team at OPTC has a great deal of trade knowledge built up with a high amount of seniority and tenure amongst the workforce," said Dr. Holger LoClair, CEO of ORAFOL. "We are willing to invest here because we have confidence in the team and we see a bright future for the Orafol group with continued and growing demand for their products."

"Across New York, businesses large and small are making new investments that create jobs for our residents and help fuel our state's economic recovery," said New York State Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy. "The optics industry is one of the economic cornerstones for the Rochester area, and ORAFOL's expansion will build upon the region's capacity to be a leader in producing high tech, quality products that are sold worldwide. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State is once again a place that is open and friendly to business, and the state is proud to stand with ORAFOL today for this exciting announcement."