Nagoya, Japan, 22 March 2011.  Menicon Singapore, a subsidiary of Menicon Co., Ltd., Japan's first and largest contact lens manufacturer, has opened its new R&D and manufacturing facility. Located at International Business Park, the 6,000-square-meter facility is the company's first manufacturing facility in the world producing daily disposable contact lenses, and will also house Menicon's first R&D center in Asia outside Japan.

The new US$97 million dollar facility, which will feature quality control systems and unique state-of-the-art manufacturing technology developed by Menicon, was officially opened by Mr. S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Education, on March 2. Menicon is dedicated to all areas of the contact lens business including material development, lens design and the manufacture of contact lenses and care solutions. The new facility will expand Menicon's capacity and competitiveness for the supply of daily disposable lenses to global markets.

Speaking at the official opening, Dr. Hidenari Tanaka, CEO, Menicon Co., Ltd., said, "The opening of Menicon Singapore's manufacturing and R&D facility will propel Menicon into a global contact lens manufacturer and strengthen our position as a global vision care company. Singapore's economic and social stability, pro-business policies, competitive production costs, leading-edge medical technology, outstanding human resource capabilities and advanced industrial development were key factors behind our decision to set up this facility as the company forges ahead with global business expansion."

Menicon Singapore Overview:

Location: 8 International Business Park, Singapore 609925.
Site area: Approximately 6,000 square meters.
Production item: Daily disposable soft contact lenses.
Start of production: March 2011.
Investment capital: USD 97 Million (approx. 8 Billion JPY).
Number of employees: 79.