Federation of Manufacturing Opticians

The Federation of Manufacturing Opticians is a trade body for manufacturers of ophthalmic examination technology established in 1917. It claims to be the world's longest established optical trade body.[1]

Its members are optical companies involved in aspects of manufacturing, importing and wholesaling of spectacles. It is one of the five representative bodies that make up the Optical Confederation.

FMO has two main income sources – membership subscriptions and surpluses from its trade show, Optrafair – and as a not-for-profits body it ploughs any surpluses back into the sector, supporting a wide range of activities that benefit the sector as a whole and the people who work within it.

The FMO are now part of a wide and complex sector and membership of the Optical Confederation ensures that we can harness the synergy that accrues through true partnership working.

FMO members are companies rather than individuals, and include:

Manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of optical lenses Manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of spectacle frames Manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of optical equipment Manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of contact lenses Shopfitters Suppliers of optical consumables and accessories Service providers for the optical industry Consultants for the optical industry

FMO Goals for the next three years are:

• To communicate effectively with our members and provide the means for our members to communicate effectively with us and with each other on matters of mutual interest
• To promote our members’ products and services to optical practitioners and support staff by all means at our disposal
• To increase membership from all parts of the optical industry
• To work with other optical organisations for the benefit of our members
• To make Optrafair the ‘go to’ optical event in the UK

The FMO own and manage the UK's most popular annual trade fair, Optrafair.[2]