EssilorLuxottica to Begin Wearable Eyewear Production in Italy
Tuesday, June 9 2026 | 13 h 42 min | News
EssilorLuxottica will begin wearable eyewear production in Italy, introducing its first smart eyewear production lines at the Group’s Agordo plant in Veneto, with operations expected to start by early 2027.
The initiative, announced in agreement with national trade unions, will initially focus on the historic Agordo facility, where an entire production area will be converted to support the new industrial activities. Production line development is expected to begin in the second half of the year.
Agordo Plant to Support Smart Eyewear Production
The investment in the facility, machinery and workforce is part of a broader agreement between EssilorLuxottica and Italian trade unions aimed at supporting the competitiveness of the Group’s Italian manufacturing network. The company said the initiative reinforces an industrial model based on quality, innovation and the global value of Made in Italy.
The move reflects the growing strategic importance of wearable devices within EssilorLuxottica’s eyewear portfolio. According to the Group, the high technological content of smart eyewear makes the initiative a key industrial choice, designed to strengthen the role of its Italian plants as innovation hubs.
EssilorLuxottica said the project will support the evolution of eyewear toward new user experiences while fostering a solid, competitive and future-oriented manufacturing ecosystem.
Investment Supports Italian Manufacturing Network
Collaboration with trade unions will be an important part of ensuring the efficiency of the production platform and the long-term sustainability of the investment.
“Bringing the production of our wearable devices also to Italy, starting from the Agordo plant, represents a strategic and industrial choice of great significance for both the Group and the local territory,” said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica. “It is an ambitious plan that requires strong capabilities, a robust supply chain and an ecosystem able to support innovation, quality and speed of execution.”
Milleri added that the initiative will require alignment among the company, its people, trade unions and institutions to build an integrated ecosystem bringing together technology, talent and supply chain capabilities.
Union representatives also described the project as a signal of support for advanced manufacturing in Italy. Marco Falcinelli, Sebastiano Tripoli and Daniela Piras, General Secretaries of Filctem Cgil, Femca Cisl and Uiltec Uil, said the transition should be supported by ongoing investment in people, skills development and the quality of work.
National union secretaries added that the initiative supports an industrial policy focused on work, skills and domestic manufacturing capacity, while reinforcing the strategic role of EssilorLuxottica’s Italian plants.
The move further positions EssilorLuxottica’s Italian manufacturing network within the growing smart glasses and wearable technology category.
Click HERE for the press release.
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