Leading shades maker brings to open factory in Rayong
Luxury sunglasses and eyeglasses manufacturer Ray-Ban is reportedly planning to invest 16 billion baht to open a new manufacturing facility in Rayong province, a news source from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) said on Tuesday.
The new 220,000 sqm facility in the eastern seaboard province will be able to produce 50,000 units of lenses, frames and sunglasses per day, according to the source, who added that the factory is expected to create at least 6,000 jobs over the next 3-5 years and help the company expand its Asia-Pacific market.
Ray-Ban’s planned investment in Thailand has been approved by the BOI under the government’s policy to push Thailand as a manufacturing hub for so-called “high-potential” industries and contribute to the country’s sustainable economic growth.
Ray-Ban was created in 1936 by Bausch & Lomb in New York, USA. The brand is best known for its Wayfarer and Aviator lines of sunglasses. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to Italian eyewear conglomerate Luxottica Group for a reported US$640 million.
The group designs and produces sunglasses and eyeglasses for leading fashion brands including Burberry, Dolce&Gabbana, and Chanel.
