Luxexcel is a Dutch technology company that revolutionised the eyewear and optics industry by pioneering 3D-printed prescription lenses. Based in the Netherlands, the company, founded in 2009, is known for developing its proprietary Printoptical Technology. It enables the production of high-quality, fully customisable optical lenses directly from digital designs, without the need for polishing or traditional moulds. In 2022, the company was acquired by Meta (formerly Facebook) to strengthen its AR hardware ambitions.
The Luxexcel logo is testament to the company’s transition from a disruptive startup to an acquisition by Meta and a leader in the smart eyewear industry. The article delves into the evolution of the Luxexcel logo, among other details of the company.
The Genesis of the Luxexcel Logo (2009 – Present)
The company’s name, “Luxexcel” (derived from “lux” for light and “excel” for excellence), in lowercase, is visually represented in a modern sans-serif logotype. It communicates clarity and forward-thinking values. Although the letters are designed in blue, the top right glyphs of the letters’ “x” were rendered in orange. Below the logotype was written the tagline “3D printed lenses” in orange.
The Elements of the Luxexcel Logo
Font
The Luxexcel logo uses a sans-serif font with clean, modern, and bold letters. Further, the letters are evenly spaced and maintain simplicity with no decorative flourishes or serifs.
Colour
The logo employs a colour palette of blue and orange against a white background. Here, all letters are rendered in blue, but for the top right glyphs of the letter “x” in orange.
The History of Luxexcel
The reputable 3D eye care brand, Luxexcel, was founded in 2009 by Richard Vrie in Goes, the Netherlands. The initial focus of the company was on developing patented 3D printing processes for prototyping and manufacturing lenses and optical products. This was particularly applicable for areas such as LED lighting, industrial optics, automotive, and aerospace markets.
At the core of Luxexcel’s early breakthroughs was its Printoptical technology. It was a 3D printing process that formed lenses from liquid polymers using droplets and UV curing. And unlike conventional lens manufacturing, which involves cutting or layering material, Luxexcel’s method creates smooth, precise surfaces ideal for high-quality optics. This unique approach garnered the company substantial patent protection and early attention from the global optics industry.
Around 2015–2016, Luxexcel’s strategy evolved; that is, the company narrowed its focus to address the prescription eyewear market. It capitalised on the global demand for vision correction. Its technology enabled on-demand 3D printing of prescription lenses and opened new possibilities for manufacturers to offer integrated smart eyewear and more personalised designs.
By 2020, Luxexcel was producing 3D-printed prescription lenses destined for “smart” applications. These lenses could embed optical elements, sensors, LCD displays, or even holographic films to serve cutting-edge AR (augmented reality) and wearable markets.
This period saw significant partnerships, such as collaboration with WaveOptics, a waveguide manufacturer later acquired by Snap, the parent company of Snapchat. These alliances positioned Luxexcel at the forefront of the AR/VR revolution by providing the crucial component of prescription and smart lenses for the next generation of wearable devices.
In December 2022, Luxexcel was acquired by Meta (Facebook’s parent company) as part of Meta’s strategic push into the smart eyewear and AR marketplace. The acquisition brought Luxexcel’s advanced lens-printing and smart eyewear expertise directly into Meta’s Reality Labs division. This further integrated Luxexcel’s technology into high-profile projects like Project Aria and the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses.
Luxexcel’s legacy lies in revolutionising lens manufacturing through digital, additive processes. Its innovations support improved access to personalised prescription eyewear as well as the integration of advanced electronics, display elements, and connectivity for the burgeoning smart glasses and AR markets.
Interesting Facts About Luxexcel
- Luxexcel was founded in 2009 in the Netherlands, and it is widely recognised as the world’s first company to successfully 3D print prescription lenses, and that too, without the need for polishing. Its technology allows for complete customisation and integration of advanced components within the lens itself.
- Its proprietary “Printoptical Technology” enables the direct printing of complex optical structures, such as freeform lenses, prisms, Fresnel arrays, microstructures, and textured surfaces, from CAD designs. This was a game-changer for LED optics and earned the company the 2012 Enabling Technology Award from Frost & Sullivan.
- Luxexcel’s optics set a new benchmark. Its internal light transmission neared 96.9%, which rivalled and sometimes surpassed injection-moulded optics.
- Its VisionPlatform, combining hardware, software, and specialised materials, matured to support daily commercial shipping. Over 5,000 3D-printed lenses have been produced in ISO-certified facilities across the USA and Europe in just 12 months.
- Luxexcel secured over $10 million in equity funding in 2017. It got strategic contributions from firms like KLA-Tencor, SET Ventures, Munich Venture Partners, and PMV.
- One of the most innovative feats of Luxexcel involves embedding smart components, such as waveguides, LCDs, projectors, and holographic films, directly into the lens material during the printing process. This integration allows smart eyewear to incorporate vision correction seamlessly and removes the need to wear prescription glasses beneath AR devices.
- Luxexcel collaborated with WaveOptics to create modules that combine a 3D-printed prescription lens, waveguide, and projector into one advanced optical component. This further pushed the boundaries of consumer AR eyewear.
- The company also worked with Vuzix to produce 3D-printed prescription inserts for the Vuzix Blade AR smart sunglasses showcased at CES 2018.
- In partnership with the U.S.-based non-profit IFB Solutions, Luxexcel provided free customised, 3D-printed eyeglasses to 17 schoolchildren in Winston-Salem, NC. In fact, VisionEngine printers can produce up to four lenses per hour, thereby offering a scalable and inclusive solution to vision care.
- In December 2022, Meta (formerly Facebook) acquired Luxexcel to bolster its augmented reality ambitions. The two companies had already collaborated on Meta’s Project Aria AR glasses. Meta expressed excitement about deepening the partnership, although financial details were not disclosed.
- Luxexcel’s printed lenses met ophthalmic standards such as ISO, ANSI, and FDA specifications. Their Printoptical innovations also earned the SPIE PRISM Award in the additive manufacturing category for optics and photonics.
Finally
The Luxexcel logo reflects the philosophy of the company: clarity, innovation, and partnership in the optics industry. Its logo shows the journey of the company from a tech startup to a Meta-backed driver of AR eyewear.