FDA Approves New Paragon Contact Lens Manufacturing Facility in Phoenix
The FDA has approved Paragon Vision Science’s newly-constructed contact lens manufacturing site in suburban Phoenix, paving the way for the company’s ongoing domestic and global expansion.
The Gilbert, Ariziona facility will produce advanced ortho-k products such as Paragon CRT for use in the United States. The new site is more than double the size of the company’s current plant in nearby Mesa, Arizona. The Mesa location will continue to fabricate lenses for global markets after U.S. production is transferred to Gilbert over the next several months.
“Our investment of time and funds into the Gilbert manufacturing facility is central to Paragon’s ability to meet unprecedented demand for our pioneering ortho-k design,” Rich Jeffries, President of Paragon, which is part of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare, said in a company news release. “This new facility will also help us maintain our exceptional product quality and satisfaction ratings, which are driving our growth worldwide.”
The Gilbert facility has been outfitted with new manufacturing and packaging lines, and the company expects to add a fourth production shift as well as expanding its quality team. The enlarged footprint and employee base will enable near-term double-digit capacity growth, with the ability for future increases.
In keeping with CooperVision’s commitment to sustainable practices, the site incorporates an environmentally responsible cooling system, as well as other features such as energy-conserving LED lighting and a drinking water filtration system that will encourage refillable water bottle use.
Paragon recently announced that its dedicated practice management and account management teams in Northern California, Southern California, New York/New Jersey, Houston/Dallas and Phoenix were fully operational. The teams support eye care professionals to more fully integrate Paragon CRT and other contact lenses into their practices, including customized clinical educational experiences for individual practitioners and staff with a focus on hands-on collaboration.