Story 3: 2004. Speechless in Paris
“Your lens is better than we can measure”. That’s the sound of a customer compliment from France - and we earned it. Seven days of thrills until the flight of fancy in Paris…The path to the first major order. The breakthrough for the young start-up.
Production of the sample lenses in record time - CEO Sven Kiontke in the workroom
Tuesday: “We look forward to your visit.” The inquiry from a French customer comes unexpectedly, but at the right time. A deal could mean something big. “We need the order,” it flashes through my mind, “and we’ll get it.” The team is in a good mood, euphoric, really psyched. A master plan is needed. We decide to convince the customer with a real sample. Manufactured and delivered in just 6 days.
Thursday: We are restless, 18h days, poor sleep. The material should be delivered today. We prepare everything. Our plan: produce a test lens in record time and present it in Paris in four days. Ambitious. Or unrealistic? The more we talk about it, the more crazy it sounds.
Friday: One side of the asphere was brought to the desired size. We will adjust the other one tomorrow. Good things come to those who wait? We need perfection in a hurry.
Einblick in die erste Fertigungsumgebung
Saturday: The second side of the asphere is finished.
Sunday: Spot landing. The lens is safely stowed away. A leisurely Sunday … no chance. Almost simultaneously, three car doors slam shut. “A cab to Paris …” blares the colleague at the wheel. “Another 16 hours until the rendez-vous,” I grin back into the rearview mirror. On the freeway, my eyes are tearing up.
Monday: Traffic jam on the Paris ring road shortly after midnight. Red lights as far as the eye can see. Should we really fail because of the traffic? “Keep your nerve,” I tell the boys, especially myself. 9 a.m. in Paris. Our asphere is in test department.
Test.
Measuring.
Re-test.
The French team seems irritated. We don’t understand anything in all the mumbling. Then suddenly there is silence until we are told, “Your lens is too accurate. It’s better than we can measure.” Voilà.
Two weeks later:
“Where is the final commitment from the customer?” They wanted to get in touch, as soon as possible. But the message via UPS is a long time coming. It travels misdirected halfway around the world, as if everyone had to know about our triumph: Our lenses are more precise than metrology allows! Finally, a copy of the contract from Paris reaches us. The goal of our dreams: the first major order for our start-up. Joy, pride, we are in each other’s arms. The breakthrough for our asphericon.
Celebration of the first big success with pizza and wine - meanwhile there are the original asphericon cups for that ;)