MEI Hosts Tech Days 2026 in Illinois to Showcase Block-less Surfacing and Waste Reduction Initiatives

On October 21–22, MEI Inc. hosted customers and partners at its new Itasca, Illinois headquarters for MEI Tech Days 2026. The event centered on CoreTBA block-less surfacing technology, which eliminates conventional lens blocking, alongside modular Alpha and Omega configurations. Representatives from KITS.COM and Lunetterie New Look shared end-user perspectives on throughput and reliability. MEI also demonstrated ClearXM and SurfXM automated cleaning and inspection systems. A key focus was the Waste Reduction Program (WRP), with illustrative analyses suggesting potential reductions of up to 50% in logistics costs, 70% in exhausted material, and 10% in roughing time, plus a 25% improvement in tool life. MEI explicitly noted these figures are directional and dependent on job mix, blank geometry, and process settings. External speakers from The Vision Council, IOT, and Coburn Technologies addressed market trends, sustainability, and coating complementarity.