Rudy Project sponsors Australian Open for another three years

Rudy Project was again present in a big way at the Australian Open, the first great tennis appointment of the season. For the fourth year running, the company was confirmed as the sponsor and official supplier of the Australian Grand Slam held at Melbourne Park January 16 through 29, 2006.

Over a thousand umpires, linesmen and ball-boys wore Rudy Project's Kalyos technical sunglasses fitted with the new ImpactX photochromic lenses. These lenses have unique characteristics and are made in Nxt, a material from the optical polymer family in polyurethane patented by Intercast Europe. They are transparent and shatterproof, guarantee excellent optical quality, lightness and long-life. Thanks to the latest-generation photochromic and polarizing technology, these lenses give superior clarity of vision in any weather conditions and images appear sharper and more defined, the rainbow effect is limited and vision comfort is greater.

This important sporting event, watched by over forty thousand spectators every day, was a testing ground for new Rudy Project technologies. 'We have been able to test our products in extreme weather conditions of over 40°C and for hundreds of competition hours', commented Rudy Project president Cristiano Barbazza. 'In tennis, the umpires must concentrate for long periods and follow balls moving at over 200 km/h so there's a considerable amount of eye strain. We have received very favorable comments' Barbazza added, 'from the entire management about the superior optical performance of our ImpactX lenses in Nxt and this makes us very proud'.

Because of this success, Rudy Project has signed an important new sponsoring agreement, thanks to which it will be the official supplier for the Australian Open for a further three years.