Redington Partners with GENERA Mission Eyewear to Scale 3D Printed Eyewear in India

According to SME Street, India’s Redington Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Austrian industrial 3D printing company GENERA | Mission Eyewear. As the exclusive distributor and go-to-market partner for GENERA in India, Redington is now moving into the emerging market of on-demand 3D printed eyewear in India, targeting optical brands and eyewear manufacturers across the country.

Redington Expands Its 3D Printing Portfolio

Redington already operates a dedicated 3D printing division in India, distributing HP 3D printers and Zeiss 3D scanners, and running Visuali, an on-demand parts manufacturing service. With operations across more than 40 markets and a network of over 75,000 channel partners, Redington brings an established distribution infrastructure to this new venture. The addition of GENERA’s eyewear-specific solutions marks a further expansion of its additive manufacturing portfolio into the consumer goods sector.

What the Partnership Covers

Under the agreement, Redington will not only distribute GENERA’s solutions across India but will also provide consulting, application development, and workflow integration services throughout the value chain. The goal is to enable Indian eyewear manufacturers and optical brands to confidently scale 3D printed frame production.

“Our partnership with GENERA strengthens Redington’s commitment to bringing next-generation 3D printing technologies to Indian manufacturers and brands,” said Ramesh KS, Vice President of Digital Printing at Redington Limited.

“At GENERA | Mission Eyewear, we are driving a fundamental shift in the eyewear industry. Our technology enables the on-demand production of premium frames — precisely optimized for the unique geometry of every face in-store, while remaining scalable for large-volume manufacturing,” said Dr. Klaus Stadlmann, CEO of GENERA | Mission Eyewear.

What the Partnership Covers for 3D Printed Eyewear in India

GENERA is an Austrian company that has focused on the digitalization of eyewear manufacturing since the launch of its G2/F2 system in 2018. Its Mission Eyewear platform, launched in 2024, is built around the G1/F1 DLP 3D printing and post-processing system, which allows opticians to print high-quality frames on demand directly in their stores. Combined with Henkel’s Digital Acetate material, the system produces frames in a wide range of colors including transparent and translucent finishes, with a fully automated workflow that requires minimal manual intervention. For industrial-scale production, GENERA also offers the G3 All-in-One System and the A2 Automation Module.

Dr. Stadlmann has described the vision behind Mission Eyewear as bringing to the eyewear industry the same digital transformation that has already taken place in dentistry — shifting from centralized mass production to decentralized, on-demand manufacturing at the point of sale.

AM Insight Asia Perspective

India’s eyewear market was valued at approximately USD 10.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 19.6 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. The numbers are compelling — but the ground reality is more nuanced. Around 80% of India’s optical retail market remains unorganised, dominated by small independent stores. Rural India, home to nearly 890 million people, has severely limited access to optical stores; one estimate puts the ratio at just one store per 70,000 people nationwide. Since GENERA’s model depends on in-store 3D printing, deployment will almost certainly be concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas where organised optical retail already exists.

That said, India’s urban consumer base alone represents a substantial market. A growing middle class with rising disposable incomes, increasing screen time, and a shifting view of eyewear as a fashion accessory — rather than just a medical device — creates genuine demand for premium, customised frames in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. The question is whether 3D printed eyewear can be positioned and priced to capture that demand at scale. AMIA will continue to monitor how this partnership develops on the ground.