| Featured Clearfield Manufacturer - Smith Optics |
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| Thursday, 05 July 2012 | |
 Ask any skier, snowboarder, motocross racer, mountain biker, surfer, skate boarder or soldier how important high-performance equipment is, and they’ll assure you hands down that quality is everything. It can mean the difference between life, serious injury or death. Eyewear that ensures visibility and protects your eyes, motocross goggles with roll-off film instantly removing dust and dirt, helmets that can mean the difference between walking away or carried from a crash, and military-grade eyewear that can withstand a .22 caliber bullet - top quality is what Smith Optics is all about.Technology has transformed Smith Optics from its humble beginnings back in the 60s, to their current status as the number one ski goggle manufacturer, and number two in helmets. Robyn Marrelli, Smith Optics’ Executive Assistant to the President, describes this evolution as ‘from the dark ages to state-of-the-art.’ “Our company was founded by Dr. Bob Smith, an orthodontist by trade, in 1965,” explained Marrelli, who works at Smith Optics’ headquarters in Ketchum, Idaho. “He created the first-ever goggle featuring a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam. He made the goggles by hand, using dental tools, foam and glue.” Fast forward four decades and Smith Optics is a world-wide company, adopting innovative, competitive and cost effective principles to make their products. No more dental tools for them! All 1.3 million goggles/per year are manufactured in their Clearfield facility, and all of their products are shipped from Clearfield, including their eyewear, helmets, tees, hoodies, beanies and more. Their manufacturing facility, with 220 employees, uses state-of-the-art lasers to cut their lenses, and when they renovated the Clearfield facility six years ago Smith Optics upgraded work conditions, process flow, and research and development capabilities. As a result, in 2009, they were awarded Utah’s Manufacturer of the Year for Innovation and Technology Commercialization by Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). This award recognized Smith Optics for its outstanding organization and manufacturing achievements on several different levels. Catering to action-sports enthusiasts, Smith Optics sponsors grass-roots athletes, as well as top names in biking, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding and wakeboarding, as well as sports events. Smith Optics is dedicated to keeping ahead of the curve in products and sports fashion and use their teams’ input for new product introductions, as well as in the development process for performance testing and coloration selection. “We know what the hot sports fashion trends are two years before it happens,” explained Amy Forkell, Smith Optics’ Human Resource manager in Clearfield. Smith Optics designs and prints all of the graphics on their products. “For instance, goggle styles have been getting bigger and bigger; and neon colors are the big trend this year.” So, outside of quality and function, it’s just as important that you look cool while wearing Smith Optics products! In addition to manufacturing, Smith Optics’ Clearfield facility houses their Consumer Relations and Call Center, Engineering, warehouse and shipping departments. And, while most of us wouldn’t be concerned whether our eyewear was ballistic-rated, Smith Optics does. They are one of four providers to the federal government of military-rated eyewear. “We have a sophisticated testing lab and certification center specifically for our military-grade products,” explained Forkell. Part of the testing/ certification process includes shooting a .22 caliber projectile 670 feet/second at a polycarbonate lens. When demonstrated, the projectile barely makes a dent in the lens. The same care that they give to their military-grade products is also shown in their stringent inspection process for all of their products. “We stand behind our products, which come with a lifetime warranty,” explained Marrelli. “We are a good company, with good people. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our employees - we work hard and we play hard!” Smith Optic’s product innovations over the years have included the Fog-X anti-fog coating, Perforated Membrane Technology (PMT) lens ventilation system, patented Turbo CAM (Constant Air Management system), patented Regulator adjustable lens ventilation system, patented Roll Off’s film advance system for motocross, patented ODS (Ocular Docking System) prescription insert and patented Slider series sunglasses, the most innovative interchangeable lens sunglass available*. Bob Smith sold Smith Optics to the Melin Group in 1981, and in 1996 Melin sold Smith Optics to the Safilo Group, the world’s second largest eyewear company, based in Italy. Safilo produces such designer brands as Carrera, Dior, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Juicy Couture, Tommy Hilfiger and more. Smith Optics is a company that believes in supporting the local community. In addition to sponsoring events, they are generous with product donations to local schools, have participated in the PARC Pallet Car race in Clearfield for the past three years, they have red shirt day on Fridays in support of the military, and are a big supporter of the “Best Friends Animal Shelter” in Kanab. They also donate supplies for Project Ghost, a military care-package program; provide internships for Davis County engineering students; and support the Youth Impact program in Ogden. For a complete listing of Smith Optics products, which are distributed through specialty and sporting goods stores, as well as online, visit their website at *www.smithoptics.com. |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 July 2012 ) |
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