Brondstater’s Optical America, an independent wholesale laboratory owned by brothers Brad and Kelly Brondstater, relocated on May 1 to new facilities here. The new facility includes a 4,000-sq.-ft. lab which is roughly twice as big as the company’s previous lab in Martinsburg, W. Va. It is located in the eastern panhandle, about 70 miles from Washington, D.C.

The move has enabled Brondstater’s to increase inventory, add new surfacing and finishing equipment, and increase its staff from 14 to 20.

“Steady growth has enabled us to purchase this building, which ultimately will mean better service to our valued customers,” remarked Susie Lesher, vice president, sales. “Improved workflow was one of our goals. We also needed space for increased inventory and some more high-tech equipment.”

Lesher said the lab has computerized all functions, including inventory control and machine interfacing. Each customer service station can electronically locate any job in the shop in seconds. These improvements enable Brondstater’s to better service its customers, she pointed out.

Brondstater’s Optical America is a Certified Quality Zeiss Expert Lab and an authorized distributor for Zeiss, Rodenstock, SOLA, Vision Ease, Pentax, Seiko, American Optical, Younger, Optima, and Signet Armorlite & products, among others. It is a member of the Optical Laboratories Association.

Brondstater’s new address is 5638 Tablers Station Road, Inwood, W.Va., 25428 (phone 800-842-9694; fax 800-522-9694). email can be sent to lab@brondstater.net.