It is the result of a rewarding commitment. The Centre of Expertise and Services of the German company Leica has launched the first product 100% made in Famalicão. The investment, according to Pedro Oliveira, the company's CEO, was 2.5 million euros; the product is a binocular from the Trinovi range, inspired by the monocular that Leica developed for the Apollo 11 Mission, which, as it is known, led astronaut Neil Armstrong to become the first man to set foot on the moon.
It is a unique piece of technology, already available worldwide, at more than 70 Leica stores, and priced at around 1,100.00 euros.
The Centre of Expertise and Services depends on about 20 young investors and is already working on new products, with prototypes in terms of lenses, lenses and optical products. Leica Famalicão's ambition is to launch new products made in Portugal, probably later this year or in 2021.
In 2013, Leica opened its new premises in Famalicão. Of the approximately 600 workers it employs, 343 have been with the company for more than 20 years and 142 for more than 30. It ended the last financial year with 52 million euros turnover.