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Sumitomo Advances Air-blown Fiber® LAN Technology with the Introduction of the FLEX HP™ Tubing Innovation
Research Triangle Park, NC (March 19, 2002) -Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, a leader in fiber optic product technology and manufacturer of North America's first and only bundled, multi-fiber, air-blown fiber system announced today the introduction of its new FLEX HP (High Performance) tubing for its FutureFLEX® Air-blown Fiber Cabling System. FLEX HP is a new generation of tubing with a thin, built-in layer of patent-pending materials that reduces drag in the inner-tube allowing installers to increase maximum blowing distance for longer installations. The new tubing further reduces consumable material costs and time required for its point-to-point installation for LAN, WAN, and MAN applications.
Flex HP tubing technology allows the maximum length of fiber bundle installed to increase by as much as 50 to 100% ¾ depending upon the application ¾over that of existing tubes. For high-bandwidth LAN applications, a total installation capacity of 342 fibers can be installed within a 19-tube cable. Fiber bundles can be blown in a continuous installation without splicing or intermediate connections. With less friction, the amount of compressed air or nitrogen used during an installation is typically reduced by 40%. At speeds of 100 to 150 feet per minute, two people can install or blow one mile of air-blown cable in 45 minutes; compared with conventional fiber installation methods, which require 6 to 8 people from 2 to 3 days to pull a single mile of cable.
The new tubing will gradually replace all existing tube styles by the fourth quarter 2002, including plenum, riser, general purpose, and outdoor cable product lines. The new tubing is compatible with all new, existing, and active installations, such as the ESPN campus headquarters (CT); Pentagon (DC); MGM Grand Hotel (NV); Independence National Historic Park (PA); Road America Racetrack (WI); McCarran International Airport (NV); Tulsa International Airport (AZ); National Institute of Health (DC); and Atlanta Motor Speedway (GA).
" The introduction of FLEX HP has further validated Sumitomo Electric Lightwave's primary leadership position in air-blown fiber technology," comments Keith Quistorff, Sumitomo's product marketing manager for FutureFLEX. " "Decreasing installation costs, positive customer return on investment (ROI), and the significant benefits of air-blown fiber over conventional fiber, are leading many major industry sectors to consider the air-blown fiber cabling system as the standard for advanced LAN and other enterprise network applications."
Flex HP tubing has been fully tested in FutureFLEX's new aerial cable with full compliance to the Mechanical and Environmental requirements of ANSI/ICEA S-87-640-1999 standards. Test were performed in 2 tube and 19 tube cable structures, using both single-mode and multi-mode fiber. Test results exceeded all requirements of the standards.
About the FutureFLEX Air-blown Fiber Cabling System:
FutureFLEX has become the preferred cabling method among some of the world's most recognized buildings in the automotive; broadcasting and sports; nuclear power; airline; government/military; manufacturing and commercial building development industries because of its many benefits over conventional cable: the elimination of costly dark fiber; ease of future-proofing a network by "blowing" only the fiber that is needed when it is needed; easy installation without any work-site disruptions; direct point-to-point pathways that eliminate fiber splices; and overall cost savings and return on investment. The system utilizes tube cables, fiber bundles in 2-4-6-12-and 18 fiber arrangements for a maximum capacity of 342 fibers, a nitrogen source, payoff stand, motor controls, and blowing head. For more information, please visit our website at www.futureflex.com.
About Sumitomo Electric Lightwave:
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is the North American operation within the global network of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI). Established in 1987, the company is dedicated to tailoring the fiber optic networks of major telecommunications companies through the manufacturing of optical fiber cable, ribbon-configured network solutions, interconnect assemblies, fusion splicers, FTTH products, and its FutureFLEXÔ Air-blown Fiber Cabling System. First to introduce peelable ribbon fiber to the U.S., Sumitomo Electric Lightwave is the industry's leader in ribbon-configured solutions that increase the bandwidth opportunities of its customers.
For more information, please call 800-358-7378, email us at info@sumitomoelectric.com, or visit us at www.sumitomoelectric.com.
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Introduction of the FLEX HP™ Tubing Innovation - 3/19/02
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