1963
1963 | Milestone
FOUNDATION OF THE COMPANY
BY HANS SCHNEIDER
Foundation of Hans Schneider Werkzeugschleiftechnik
1980
1980
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION SITE
QUOTSHAUSEN, GERMANY
1986
1986 | Milestone
START OF OPTICAL ENGINEERING BY GUNTER SCHNEIDER
THE TODAYS COMPANY WAS FOUNDED
1988
1988
FURTHER COMPANY EXPANSION
FOR OPTICAL MACHINE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
Extension of the production building to fulfill the growing demand of the optics machine manufacturing industry.
1991
1991
FILLING A MARKET NICHE IN THE OPTICS INDUSTRY
Read an early article about the beginnings of the SCHNEIDER company in the regional press from back in the day.
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1992
1992
ENTERING THE EYEGLASS OPTICS BUSINESS
1996
1996
START OF COLLABORATION WITH QED TECHNOLOGIES, USA
1996
INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Opening of a first subsidiary in Rochester
(New York, USA).
1999
1999
SCHNEIDER OPTICAL MACHINES GROWS
LARGER PRODUCTION AND OFFICE CAPACITIES REQUIRED
Construction of another building for administration, development and assembly of optical machines.
2001
2001
SCHNEIDER ACHIEVES A WORKFORCE OF 100 EMPLOYEES
2005
2005
NEW ASSEMBLY LINE ESTABLISHED
FOR OPTICAL MACHINES
Opening of the new assembly line for optical machines for the ophthalmics industry at the Breidenbach site.
2006
2006
INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION TO BANGKOK
OPENING A BRANCH OFFICE
Thailand office opened in Bangkok.
2006
SCHNEIDER ACHIEVES A WORKFORCE OF 200 EMPLOYEES
2009
2009
THE MODULO IDEA IS BORN
INTELLIGENT LENS MANUFACTURING
To overcome the problem that individual heterogeneous machines with pre-planned job routing produce in an unintelligent way, the vision was born to increase machine intelligence and developing a highly automated production system, independent on individual's skill level.

The Modulo idea was born.
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2010
2010
US SUBSIDIARY MOVES TO TEXAS
GRAND RELOCATION AND REOPENING
As the first subsidiary, established in the 90s, SCHNEIDER US is the address for expert assistance in both precision optics and ophthalmics. Originally based in Rochester, NY, the offices moved to Texas in 2010.
2011
2011
SCHNEIDER GOES ULTRA-PRECISION OPTICS
SCHNEIDER now offers machines for the manufacturing of metal optics, precision optics components, infrared optics, prototypes of synthetic lenses and mold inserts for replications of synthetic optics.
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2011
FIRST EVER "DIGICON" CONFERENCE
LAB PROS MET FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
First ever SCHNEIDER Digital Lens Processing Conference "DigiCon" attracts lab professionals with exciting presentations on groundbreaking new technologies as well as live demonstrations, exclusive classes and hands-on workshops.
2012
2012 | Milestone
MODULO - THE NEW ERA IN FULLY-AUTOMATED LENS PRODUCTION
SCHNEIDER LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
SCHNEIDER launches its groundbreaking Modulo Line at MIDO, premiering what is called Industry 4.0 in ophthalmics. The first fully-integrated system for automated lens production features cognitive machines that manage the production flow fully self-sufficiently...
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2012 | Milestone
NEW SCHNEIDER HEADQUARTERS
INAUGURATION IN FRONHAUSEN (GERMANY)
The new facilities provide room for further extension serving as a new base for driving innovation and to serve customers even better.
2013
2013
SCHNEIDER GOES COATING
COATING DIVISION LAUNCHED, INTRODUCING NEW HARD- & AR-COATERS
Opening of a dedicated SCHNEIDER coating division, run by experts in the field, extending the product portfolio by cutting edge hard coating and AR-coating solutions.
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2013
ACQUISITION OF OPTICAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
TEAM HENRICH & KRALL
Acquisition of optical equipment manufacturer Team Henrich & Krall, known for its expertise in cleaning solutions. Adding automated solutions for deblocking, tape-stripping (powered by Insomec), cleaning, and tinting. SCHNEIDER is now a full solution provider to the ophthalmic industry.
2015
2015
SCHNEIDER ACHIEVES A WORKFORCE OF MORE THAN 400 EMPLOYEES
2015
INDUCTION INTO HALL OF FAME
OF VISION COUNCIL'S OPTICAL LAB DIVISION
Gunter Schneider inducted to Hall of Fame of the Vision Council's Optical Lab Division. The award recognizes individuals who have had a direct hand in helping to move the Ophthalmic industry forward.
2016
2016
NANO LINE - SURFACING FOR SMALL LABS
LOW INVESTMENT COSTS AND MINIMAL SPACE
Premiere of a new line designed specifically for startups and partner labs features the full range of generating, polishing, hardcoating and anti-reflective coating systems to produce high quality freeform lenses at very low investment costs and minimal space requirements. It works with minimal environmental requirements, and comes with lens design software on board.
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2017
2017
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BLOCKING
ECO-FUSE TECHNOLOGY (EFT) INTRODUCED
Introduction of Alloy-free blocking technology that is more sustainable and environmentally friendly applied in thin film blocker CCB Modulo and removed by automated deblocker and tape-stripper DTS Modulo.
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2017
ACQUISITION OF W&L COATINGS
Acquisition of W&L Coating Systems GmbH specialized in extraordinary advanced vacuum based coating technologies.
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2017
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH WITH MARVEL MATERIAL
W&L COATING SYSTEMS SETS MILESTONE
SCHNEIDER subsidiary W&L Coating Systems (sets milestone in vacuum thin film coating) developes machine for the industrial production of atomically thin layers of graphite called graphene.
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2017
ACQUISITION OF LOKSCHUPPEN MARBURG AREA
TRANSFORMATION OF A LOST PLACE
The industrial monument will become an exciting and unique place for Marburg and the region - a place full of visions.
There are 5 years of construction ahead, leading to the grand opening in 2022.
2017
LARGEST MACHINE MANUFACTURED IN THE COMPANY HISTORY
SCG 1500: SURFACING CENTER FOR EXTREME OPTICS
Final completion of the high-tech surfacing center for highly-sophisticated machining of extreme macro-optics of up to 1500 mm for the aerospace industry.
Read local press article
2018
2018
LAUNCH OF VIRTUAL SERVICE MANAGER CMMS
COMPUTERIZED MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
CMMS - Launch of virtual service manager serving as a source of intelligence on how to do maintenance and troubleshoot at the best level, thus increasing upkeep and efficiency. It provides maintenance plans, step-by-step guides, parts packages and virtual service assistance.
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2018
SCHNEIDER NAMED ONE OF THE 1000 COMPANIES
TO INFLUENCE EUROPE 2018
2019
2019
GERMAN INNOVATION AWARD WINNER 2019
SCHNEIDERS MODULO LINE WINS GERMAN INNOVATION AWARD
SCHNEIDER was honored with the German Innovation Award for the invention of the Modulo Line – the first fully automated Industry 4.0 ophthalmic lens production system among 695 international submissions from companies like Samsung, Bosch or Deutsche Telekom.
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2021
July 2021 | Milestone
11 INNOVATIONS
...IN 11 MONTHS. SCHNEIDER LAUNCHES THE BIGGEST LAUNCH CAMPAIGN IN ITS HISTORY
SCHNEIDER launches the biggest launch campaign in its company history in July 2021.
The Modulo story continues. SCHNEIDER's vision of the lab of the future is crystal clear: It is digital, powerful, cost-efficient, sustainable and high-quality. And it is what labs need to be successful, tomorrow and beyond.
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July 2021 | Milestone
MODULO - THE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR YOU
GUNTER SCHNEIDER SHARES HIS VISION
“Fascination for Innovation” is part of our DNA. A system that features all the elements to produce a lens, fully integrated and interlinked to work together as one. An intelligent system, featuring all the know-how to facilitate smart decision making...
The vision
2022
2022 | Milestone
LOKSCHUPPEN MARBURG OPENS
A PLACE FULL OF VISIONS
A place full of visions opened in May 2022: LOKSCHUPPEN MARBURG. Event space, restaurant, deli, bar and café, coworking & founder hub and a startup community location.
Website
June 2022 | Milestone
DigiCON 2022
THE LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FINALE
DigiCON marked the grand finale of the launch campaign in the company’s history: 11 new and groundbreaking innovations, revealed one by one over 11 months.
SCHNEIDER inaugurated at DigiCON 2022 the new era of lens production history: Ultimate all-in automation and the Power-Lab of the next Decade.
Experience DigiCON

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