Eschenbach Optik
German Quality Building the Future of the Industry
“Silmo Istanbul 2025 clearly demonstrates the transformation from a local optical fair into a highly professional international eyewear exhibition.”
With more than a century of history behind it, Eschenbach Optik stands out not by chasing high fashion, but by staying firmly rooted in precision, quality and reliability. Guided by a clear vision to improve people’s quality of life, the company builds its long-term success on transparency, respect and close, trust-based partnerships across the optical industry. Today, Eschenbach’s diverse portfolio spans eight eyewear brands, including strong house brands and carefully selected licenses. From its latest patented hinge technologies to the launch of the Tom Tailor eyewear license, and advanced solutions for low vision such as Optaro XL, the company continues to pursue innovation with consistency and purpose. Eschenbach Optik remains deeply committed to the values embodied by the “Made in Germany” designation, defined by a strong sense of responsibility, engineering excellence and a long-term approach to value creation. We now proudly present an exclusive interview with Walter Kaiser, Vice President International Sales at Eschenbach Optik, in which he shares insights into the company’s philosophy, global strategy and the new launches shaping the future of the optical world.
Hello Mr. Kaiser, to begin with, we would like to get to know you better. Could you tell us about your professional background and your role at Eschenbach?
My name is Walter Kaiser. I am Vice President International Sales at Eschenbach Optik and have been with the company since 1991. I studied economics, with a professional background in international business. After gaining initial experience in various industries including pharmacy, electronics and float glass, I had the opportunity to enter the optical sector and decided to stay. It has proven to be the right decision.
Eschenbach is a strong brand with more than a century of history. Could you share the core values and industry approach that shape the company today?
Eschenbach Optik has been active in the optical field since 1913. Today, we are the global market leader in low vision devices with the Eschenbach brand, and a major player—by far the German market leader—in eyewear, with six corporate brands and three licensed brands. Our main motivation is to improve people’s quality of life. From an industry perspective, we see ourselves as a true partner to opticians, operating on equal footing and with mutual respect.
You have a broad portfolio. Could you tell us about the key characteristics of your brands and how they complement one another?
Our corporate eyewear brands include Titanflex, Humphrey’s, Brendel, Jos. Eschenbach and Freigeist. Each brand is designed for a clearly defined target group. We offer eyewear for everyone—from children to seniors; from fashion-forward to classic styles; from colorful and bold designs to reduced and discreet aesthetics; and from affordable to premium segments. Our licensed brands—Marc O’Polo, Mini Eyewear and our newly launched license Tom Tailor—are developed in line with the individual positioning and DNA of these well-known brands. What all our frames have in common is a strong focus on wearing comfort. An Eschenbach frame must fit perfectly. High quality and excellent service are non-negotiable for us.
When presenting your portfolio to international markets, what criteria do you prioritize when selecting distributors?
Every Eschenbach distributor must fully understand our philosophy, vision and mission, and be capable of representing them flawlessly in their respective markets. Eschenbach Optik is currently represented in more than 80 countries worldwide, which clearly demonstrates that this approach works.
How do you integrate the feedback from your distributors into your export approach?
We maintain very close relationships with our partners. We meet regularly at exhibitions, visit them in their markets, stay in daily contact and listen carefully. In addition, we work closely with renowned trend scouts. When preparing our strategic meetings, we integrate feedback from our market partners regarding upcoming trends and developments, and incorporate these insights into our internal discussions and decision-making processes.
How do changing market dynamics influence your export strategies? Which factors do you prioritize in your strategic planning?
In general, markets do not change overnight. Disruptions can occur, but they are relatively rare. In the eyewear sector, the time-to-market for a new product is easily one year or more. However, as in the fashion world, upcoming trends can be anticipated to a certain extent. When necessary, we are able to react quickly and flexibly. We never aim for short-term gains; instead, we focus on long-term, stable partnerships. This philosophy is clearly reflected in our strategic planning.
German engineering and innovation are two of Eschenbach’s strongest pillars. How do these qualities translate into your product development and design processes?
The ‘Made in Germany’ label is globally associated with quality and service, and these values form the foundation of Eschenbach Optik’s positioning as a German company. We were among the first to implement industrial quality standards in the eyewear sector. Our R&D engineers are involved at very early stages of product development to ensure the highest quality levels before production begins. Eschenbach engineers are permanently present at production sites to guarantee consistently high manufacturing standards. Every product that enters our inventory follows the same quality procedures. Even after shipping, we carefully monitor perceived quality for each individual item and take corrective action if necessary. While nothing is ever 100 percent perfect, being on equal footing with opticians also means maintaining a service stock for every item to ensure long-term support. We fully understand that no optician appreciates dissatisfied consumers due to frame defects.
Eschenbach Optik embraces a responsible, sustainability-focused corporate mindset. Could you share some of your recent initiatives in this area?
Environmental protection is a key management priority for the future of the industry, and Eschenbach is committed to continuously reducing its carbon dioxide footprint. Achieving CO₂-neutral production and distribution is a long-term process rather than a one-time solution. At top management level, Eschenbach has established dedicated operational teams that meet regularly to discuss and implement incremental steps toward a more sustainable future. Examples include the use of recycled aluminum for temples in our Titanflex collection, the use of Acetate Renew for plastic frames, and replacing plastic protection bags with recycled materials. And these are just a few of many ongoing initiatives.
You are represented in Turkey by Delta Optik. How would you evaluate this partnership and Eschenbach’s position in the Turkish market?
Our partnership with Delta Optik began in 1992 and has evolved over the years from a successful business relationship into a genuine friendship. Delta Optik represents Eschenbach’s values perfectly and has played a key role in the premium eyewear market in Turkey for many years. Turkish opticians highly appreciate the cooperation with Delta Optik and are satisfied customers—just like our more than 40.000 optician partners worldwide.
Eschenbach Optik has recently taken several important steps in both innovation and brand development. Could you tell us more about them?
Eschenbach has recently filed a patent for a new Microtech hinge construction that prevents temples from loosening or unscrewing. This hinge has already been introduced in the Titanflex collection and is now also featured in the first Marc O’Polo frames, offering a clear and visible benefit for consumers. At Silmo Paris 2025, Eschenbach also launched a new eyewear license, Tom Tailor. This brand shows strong growth in the accessible fashion segment for young and young-at-heart consumers, allowing Eschenbach to expand its price portfolio to meet increasing demand for entry-level products. In the low vision segment, we proudly introduced Optaro XL—an app-based camera system for iPads that transforms a standard iPad into a fully functional electronic reading device, including a read-aloud feature. These represent our key innovations for 2025.
How do you assess the development of Silmo Istanbul and its contribution to the global optical industry?
Silmo Istanbul 2025 clearly demonstrates the transformation from a local optical fair into a highly professional international eyewear exhibition. Congratulations to the organizing team—they have done an excellent job.
January 2026