Angénieux Factory Tour Full Itinerary 12/21/2023, 12:00:00 AM

In 2021, we were fortunate to be able to visit the Angénieux factory in the village of St. Heand in France. Not only did they open all their doors to us, but we were also able to videotape all the work behind each of their lenses. 

We could see firsthand how the process, which can take up to 9 months, involves dozens of people, including designers, optical department, mechanics, assembly, quality control ... precision machinery and craftsmanship together to build some of the best lenses in the world. 

Surely after watching these videos, the next time you get your hands on an Optimo 12X, Optimo Primes, Type EZ, Optimo Anamorphic or any of the Angénieux lenses, you will better appreciate all the savoir-faire behind them. 

Lights, cameras... action!

TEASER+ WELCOME INTRO:

OPTICAL DESIGN DEPARTMENT:

The visit to the Angenieux factory begins with Chantal Germanin, Head of Engineering Discipline of Angenieux. She will explain to us how the department is composed and what aspects are considered when planning and designing lenses.

Bruno Coumert, Head of Optical Design Department, explains how to conceive the optical design of a lens from his office in Angenieux. Bruno has got a prestigious SCI tech award from the Academy in Hollywood in 2009, for the development of lightweight lenses.

OPTICAL MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT: 

We are now out of the design department and fully into the factory, where plans become lenses. Damien Nemane, Head of the optical, mechanical and coating production department shows us the different lenses, both aspherical and spherical, which are manufactured in the factory and are the centerpiece of the lenses. 

MECHANICAL MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT:

We entered the mechanical department. Alexandre Sapountzis, Methods Technician in charge of methods and problem-solving, will introduce us to the steps involved in the mechanical development of a lens and the personnel involved in this stage, which we will go through one by one. 

ASSEMBLY LINE:

Yvan Fournier is going to give us a detailed tour of the assembly department, where the assembly and calibration of the different product lines takes place, among which we will see the Optimo Ultra 12x, Optimo Ultra Compact and the Optimo Primes. This department is composed of about 40 technical specialists with extensive experience and training to achieve the highest quality standards that symbolize Angénieux.

SALES TEAM:

After having gone through the entire factory and the process of creating a lens, from its initial design to the final adjustments, Davy Terzian, from the Angénieux sales team, is going to present part of the Angénieux lens range and some of its strengths.