SANANTONIO -- If you ve bought a pair of glasses from Visionworks, chances are that eyewear was made in Schertz. The facility just outside San Antonio is a testament to the company s desire for their product to be made in America.
Helping people see the world more clearly is the mission of HVHC, Inc., the parent company of Visionworks, formerly Eyemasters.
When CEO David Holmberg was making plans for a new manufacturing and distribution facility, advisors told him he would be better off doing it outside the country.
When we first started to do this, Holmberg said, all the consultants told us we should do it overseas, you know, that we should do it in China or Mexico, anyplace but the United States.
Holmberg had a different vision. HVHC leased out 140,000 square feet in Schertz and filled it with employees like Mike Hernandez who worked his way up from an entry level job to managing 150 people.
There are still manufacturers and companies out here that understand and know the importance of keeping everything domesticated, inside the country, centralized here, Hernandez commented.
In 2009, the company answered naysayers by investing $30 million in a sophisticated system for mass customization.
Each pair of glasses is a custom pair, explained Brian Gamble, HVHC Quality Assurance Manager. It s unique for each customer. Each prescription is unique. There are people here 24 hours a day. Keeps us busy.
The company is convinced that South Texas is a good choice. It s in between both coasts with a ready and willing workforce and a friendly business environment. It took only ten months to plan and build the facility which employs almost 600 people in good-paying, steady jobs.
It s not only an investment in technology, but brainpower. Their record for taking raw lenses and turning out glasses is more than 7,000 in one day.
I think it s very important for all of us that we invest here in the United States where we have the opportunity to, Holmberg stated, and be patient in doing it so that we can build our manufacturing capability again.
This year more than two million pairs of lenses and eyeglasses will be manufactured in South Texas and distributed to more than 500 Visionworks retail stores all over the country. Most of those customers will never know that their eyewear was made in Schertz, Texas.
HVHC, Inc. just opened its new corporate headquarters in downtown San Antonio.
