In suite of their superior optical and laser properties rare-earth orthovanadate single crystals have not been adopted yet into extensive industrial applications because of crystal growth difficulties. The edge-defined film-fed-growth (EFG) technique was applied successfully for the production of such crystals. At first time 1 inch $LuVO_4$ single crystals were grown by the EFG technique using newly developed die construction of high porous iridium with the application of automatic diameter control system.