Safilo introduces 100%
nickel-free production
processes
Safilo says developing nickel-free deco- experiments. These have already including precious metal recycling,
rative galvanic finishes was a top priority been tested and are currently in use across industrial water reuse – thus also reducing
to ensure the safety of both consumers all the production lines, from high-end water usage and wastewater production –
and its workers. to middle-segment eyewear products. CO2 emission reduction and the
The company has introduced 100 per cent Thanks to the new galvanic process improvement of workers’ health and
nickel-free production processes at its fa- technology – a first in the eyewear sector safety indexes.
cility in Longarone in northeastern Italy. – metal frames currently manufactured Safilo obtained the highest certifications
“Nickel is a silverywhite metal tradition- at the Longarone facility boast the same in terms of quality, safety and corporate
social responsibility
ally employed in the
– the most recent
galvanic treatment of
being the ISO 50001
eyewear for its sleek,
energy management
gloss finish or used as
system certification
a base coat for other
which is currently
surface treatments.
Although glasses come underway.
in direct contact with This was made possi-
the skin only to a lim- ble thanks to various
ited extent, they are factors, such as
among the accessories energy efficiency,
that may cause nickel the use of sustainable,
allergies or allergic low-environmental
contact dermatitis, impact materials
producing itchy skin
rashes and eczema,” says Safilo.
It is estimated that nickel allergies
affect one per cent of men and 10 per
cent of women worldwide.
Moreover, nickel salts used in galvanic
baths are classified as carcinogens by
inhalation and are, thus, subject to strin-
gent preventive and protection measures
during handling to protect workers from
risks related to exposure to carcinogens.
Safilo developed nickel-free and non-cy-
anide galvanic processes only two years
after the first nickel-free laboratory
24 EYE FOCUS February Digital 2019
features, in terms of sleekness, wear- and
corrosion-resistance as before and are
nickel-free.
and the reduction
of carbon emissions, which are constantly
monitored by external parties on all
the production methods and technolo-
Through quality controls performed on gies used.
a regular basis by the recently restored With approximately 1,000 workers, the
in-house lab, now equipped with the most
cutting-edge technology, Safilo can apply
more stringent and improved qualitative
standards to coating processes than those
imposed under applicable law.
Safilo has also implemented a series of
sustainability, environmental impact and
safety initiatives at the Longarone facility,
Longarone facility is the largest of the
four Safilo plants. The state-of-the-art,
end-to-end facility primarily focuses on
the production of metal eyewear, cover-
ing the entire production cycle and is at
the forefront of technology.