Swarovski expands manufacturing facilities, receives additional ISO quality certification

Shooting Industry, Feb, 2004

At a time when many European optical companies are announcing production cutbacks or reductions in labor force, Swarovski Optik, KG, Absam, Austria, is expanding. The company announced the addition of 46,500 square feet in new manufacturing facilities as an expansion to its existing factory headquarters in Absam.

"The new production hall, which took two years to build with an investment of over 6.5 million euros, will provide the optimum environment to manufacture optical products of the highest quality," said Gerhard Swarovski, managing director. "This new facility is the latest example of advanced manufacturing technology and will continue to ensure innovative, quality products from Absam."

At the same time, the optics manufacturer was notified that its quality certification, ISO 9001:2000, originally awarded in 2000 for Process-Focused QM Systems, has been extended for three additional years.

The Austrian Chapter of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Net reported, "Taking the company's message of 'Constantly improving what is good,' the process management system was further developed with consistency and great professionalism."

For more information, contact Swarovski at 1-800-426-3089; www.swarovskioptik.com.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]