EssilorLuxottica will acquire an 80% stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a Germany-based company specialising in diagnostic solutions, digital surgical technologies and healthcare IT for clinical ophthalmology. Heidelberg Engineering will continue to deliver the “same solutions and expertise their customers have come to expect”, while pursuing a “vision for creating a shared care system spanning from research to home monitoring”.
Founded by Dr Gerhard Zinser and Christoph Schoess in 1990, Heidelberg Engineering brings extensive technological and scientific expertise in optical coherence tomography (OCT), real-time image processing and analytics, large-scale data analysis and digital surgical navigation, to serve medical professionals, scientists and researchers across a broad range of ophthalmic areas.
With a presence in over 100 countries, for more than three decades Heidelberg Engineering has been a reference in early detection of sight-threatening conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Francesco Milleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul du Saillant, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at EssilorLuxottica said the acquisition will “bolster” EssilorLuxottica’s presence in the med-tech space.
Together, we are strongly positioned to significantly advance patient care and improve clinical outcomes
“Heidelberg Engineering, with its commitment to research and development, rooted in excellence, shares our core values. By harnessing the full spectrum of our Group’s capabilities in the optical industry, from logistics to manufacturing to global distribution, we are dedicated to fostering their long-term growth while enhancing the doctor and patient experience,” he said.
Christoph Schoess, co-founder and Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering said the agreement will “significantly advance patient care and improve clinical outcomes”.
“Innovation and quality have been key drivers for Heidelberg Engineering ever since Gerhard Zinser and I founded the company 35 years ago,” said Mr Schoess. “Our mission has always been to develop products that provide comprehensive, accurate, and clinically relevant information to aid ophthalmologists in achieving better outcomes for their patients. Our future goals include enhancing image quality through higher resolution, expanding the applications of imaging technologies, and integrating AI solutions into the growing HEYEX Healthcare IT platform. We are delighted that EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in eye care, embraces our vision for creating a shared care system spanning from research to home monitoring. Together, we are strongly positioned to significantly advance patient care and improve clinical outcomes.”
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
