EoW January 2012

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EuroWire – January 2012 56
News
Technology
Nextrom, a leader in turnkey
manufacturing solutions for optical
preforms and fibres, and DSM Functional
Materials, a market leader for optical
fibre coatings, have completed trials
demonstrating the latest generation of
high speed draw process technology
combined with state-of-the-art optical
fibre coatings.
Using DSM’s DeSolite® Supercoatings,
the trials at Nextrom’s test facility in
Vantaa, Finland demonstrated excellent
draw performance and resulting fibre
performance at all speeds tested,
including at 2,500m/min – 50% faster
than average production speeds used
globally in the industry.
Process speeds of 2,500m/min were
achieved in the Optical Fibre Drawing
process at Nextrom’s laboratory using
state-of-the-art OFC 20 production
technology.
Using Nextrom’s OFC 20 technology
together with DSM's latest-generation
optical fibre coatings, the draw
technology and material expertise can
be seamlessly integrated into the optical
fibre manufacturing solution.
Fibres drawn had excellent cure levels and
consistent geometry, which are important
parameters indicative of fibre draw
quality.
Testing of fibres manufactured in the
high speed trials exhibited excellent
microbending performance, dynamic
fatigue and strip force results — all
key properties inherent to DeSolite
Supercoatings.
“Optical fibre manufacturers are
challenged with increasing capacity
and efficiency to keep up with market
demand while also balancing telecom
carriers’ heightened attention on
improving both quality and performance,”
said Steve Schmid, global applications
development manager for fibre optic
materials at DSM.
“These trials confirm that advanced
DeSolite Supercoatings combined with
leading fibre draw process technology
from Nextrom can deliver optimal value
for industry demands.”
Nextrom Oy – Finland
Fax : +358 9 5025 3003
Email:
Website:
Royal DSM NV – The Netherlands
Website:
Successful demonstration
of high speed optical fibre
draw process
▲ ▲ The drawing of a 200mm diameter preform