Provided herein is an improved spin coating system and a method of using the spin coating machine to produce an optical article. The system includes at least one dispensing arm assembly. The holder assembly is moveable along a substantially vertical axis. The dispensing arm assembly has a base and at least one arm having a first end and a second end and is moveable along a horizontal axis. The at least one arm is operably coupled to the base at the first end and operably coupled to at least one applicator at the second end, and the applicator is capable of being positioned along the substantially vertical axis. The method includes depositing a primer layer onto a lens using the dispensing arm assembly, followed by a hard coating, and drying and cooling the substrate using a drying/cooling station that is positioned substantially along the substantially vertical axis.