Our History
An industrial and human adventure since the 1960s
The story of SOLF Production began in the 1960s in Évreux, Normandy, when a visionary optician, Jean Lempereur, decided to create his own eyeglass frame manufacturing factory. Demanding and eager to satisfy his customers, he found no products on the market that met his quality standards. He then founded a small production unit dedicated to artisanal excellence.
Given its success, the factory quickly modernized and reached a production rate of 30,000 frames per month. By the 1980s, the company's reputation had attracted the attention of France's leading fashion houses, for whom Jean Lempereur designed exclusive eyewear collections.
A new impulse
In 2011, SOLF production moved to new, modern premises, more spacious and better adapted to the growing technical demands of the profession.
Then, in 2014, a new chapter opened with the takeover of the factory by Thierry Bonhomme and Jean-François Lufeaux, two entrepreneurs convinced of the value of Made in France. Determined to revive the French eyewear industry, with Patrice Desmares, a renowned manufacturing expert at their side, they strengthened the team and conquered new markets.
Between 2015 and 2017, around ten brands entrusted their production of acetate frames, combined metal/acetate, to the Évreux factory.
Investments and innovations
The year 2018 marks a technological turning point:
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Extension of the premises
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Commissioning of two new 5-axis digital centers
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Integration of a laser center for cutting and marking
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New assembly line
These investments significantly increase production capacity and prepare the company for a new industrial level.
In 2019, four new batteries of polishing barrels were installed to support the increase in production.
Guaranteed French Origin & ambitious development
In 2020, SOLF production obtained the Origine France Garantie certification, indisputable proof that its cellulose acetate frames are truly made in Evreux. This label is audited annually by AFNOR.
In 2022, with the help of the State and the Normandy Region, the company is undertaking a vast investment plan: strengthening teams, acquiring new equipment, and doubling the production area.
Today
SOLF production is entering a new era with a clear objective: to produce 200,000 frames per year, while maintaining what has been its strength for over 60 years: the demand for quality, passion for the profession and respect for French eyewear expertise.
