Crossbows History

Crossbows Optical Ltd., a Signet Armorlite Group Company, was formed in 1987 although ophthalmic products have been manufactured at this site since 1946. With this long history in the industry, Crossbows' personnel have gained a wealth of experience in the manufacture of ophthalmic products and the precision machining and forming of glass.

Crossbows has its own state of the art technology for the design and development of a wide range of advanced glass moulds which are used in the production of plastic spectacle lenses. These include progressive, aspheric and atoric products which are sold within the group and to other casters throughout the world. Recently Crossbows Progressive expertise has been used to develop freeform software for back surface progressive lenses incorporating the patient's prescription, for use in laboratories.

Crossbows has a reputation for quality and performance with many products manufactured to the customer's own specifications.

Crossbows' factory is situated in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, close to the southern shores of Lough Neagh. It is twenty miles from Belfast and within easy reach from both local airports. The factory currently employs one hundred highly skilled people who operate a wide range of precision machines and equipment.