INDIANAPOLIS — With the April 8 total solar eclipse quickly approaching, Hoosiers still have some time to score a pair of glasses for the event.
In fact, a Tennessee-based company is hard at work to ensure Hoosiers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's viewing event can watch the eclipse safely.
American Paper Optics is the world's largest 3D optics manufacturer, so eclipse years are a big deal in their warehouse.
"I mean, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Jason Lewin, chief marketing officer.
This year, American Paper Optics is manufacturing 100,000 eclipse glasses for IMS.
"Having 100,000 people together all enjoying it at the same time," Lewin said. "There is that 'kumbaya' kind of moment that we think everybody will love. We are excited."
Lewin says his team has been preparing for the 2024 total solar eclipse ever since the last eclipse in 2017.
"When 2017 happened, we had 45 million glasses for that, but we knew this was coming up," Lewin said. "We knew, based on 2017, that people would be prepping and getting ready. We slowly started building inventory, and then in the last couple of years, it has been really all hands on deck."
However, this year's eclipse is bigger and better, so Lewin's team is making close to 75 million glasses.
"Here's the thing about it: I think a lot of people think that you just put a sheet into a machine and then eclipse glasses come out, but it is a really complex process," Lewin said.
It starts with printing sheets of glasses. Eye holes are cut. Lenses are glued. Eventually, the glasses are stripped, folded, stacked, bagged and shipped.
"Our staff is usually 35 people," Lewin said. "Now, we're closer to 90. It's been great, but it's been hectic."
Lewin says while it's great to be part of viewing events nationwide, it's also beneficial to supply jobs locally.
"That's the positive side to this whole thing too," Lewin said.
When buying glasses for April 8, Lewin says to look for manufacturer details on the glasses, as well as an ISO certification.
"Eclipse glasses are 100,000-times darker than regular sunglasses," Lewin said. "We send them off to an American lab to be tested. They test, first, to make sure they are constructed correctly. Then, the lens is the main thing. You want them to be as dark as possible."
American Paper Optics also makes the eclipse glasses for NASA, according to Lewin.
He says NASA plans to bring an additional 80,000 glasses to the viewing event at IMS.
In all, American Paper Optics will supply close to 200,000 glasses for the racing capital of the world.
"Nobody is rooting for one team versus the other," Lewin said. "It's one thing. Everybody uniting, coming together for that one moment, and that's rare."