Japanese ortho-k lens maker expands local production in China

Alpha Wuxi in Wuxi National Hi-Tech District, Wuxi, Jiangsu. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Alpha Wuxi, a subsidiary of Japanese orthokeratology lens manufacturer Alpha Corporation, is boosting its operations in China as part of the company's strategy to prioritize its largest market.

Registered in 2020 in Wuxi National Hi-Tech District (WND), Alpha Wuxi is Alpha Corporation's first R&D and production base outside Japan. The company specializes in orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses, which are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea and correct myopia, offering a non-surgical solution particularly popular among children and young adults.

Orthokeratology lenses are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea and correct myopia. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Covering 3,000 square meters and backed by an investment of over 100 million yuan (around $14 million), the Wuxi facility reflects the company's commitment to expanding capacity and better serving Chinese customers.

With fully automated production, Alpha Wuxi is expected to produce 100,000 lenses this year. Since May, its products have achieved complete consistency with those made in Japan in terms of specifications, enabling the increased output to not only meet growing demand in China but also supply the Japanese market starting this June, according to Kasai Akitaka, general manager of Alpha Wuxi.

Localizing production in Wuxi has also greatly reduced delivery times for Chinese customers — from 25 days when shipping from Japan to just seven days from Wuxi — while lowering costs and improving local service. To date, Alpha Wuxi has partnered with more than 1,000 institutions across China.

Board member Shao Jiayan explained that WND's role as a hub for Japanese enterprises, its convenient airport connections, and efficient one-to-one government support were key factors in the company's decision to establish the facility in Wuxi. He emphasized that investing in China enables Alpha to deepen engagement with the country's dynamic market.