In structural applications, damage tolerance and impact resistance of fibers have become key parameters for composite materials. The fibers are an attractive alternative to conventional metals in heat transfer applications.

Clearfield (News - Alert), Inc, a provider of fiber management solutions for Fiber to the Premises (FTTp) deployments, announced its intent to license Britain's Miniflex products and systems. As a key development partner and supplier of the Miniflex product line for the U.S. marketplace, Clearfield will bring the cost-saving benefits of the Miniflex pushable drop-cable solution and extend its application for multi-fiber deployment.

When integrated with the Clearview Cassette and the Clearview xPAK, service providers can push multiple fiber assemblies directly into the entire FieldSmart fiber management platform. The product will be on display at the FTTH Conference in Las Vegas, Monday, September 13 in Clearfield's Booth #510.

Johnny Hill, chief operating officer for Clearfield, said that beside Miniflex's innovative approach to fiber drops in the last mile, the multi-fiber applications of their solution aligns perfectly with the modular and flexible capabilities of Clearfield's FieldSmart product line.

He explained that integrating Miniflex into the Clearview Cassettes and xPAK Cassettes opens up a range of cost and time-saving alternatives to traditional methods of addressing small-count applications of business class services, cell-backhaul, and consolidation of splice points, demarcation extensions and fiber exhaust. We are excited to bring this unified solution to the market, addressing our customer challenges in building fiber networks.

Speaking about this partnership, Tony Stockman, managing director of U.K.-based Miniflex said that while others in the industry continue to use antiquated drop-cable technology that puts fiber at risk by pulling it through a conduit, the Miniflex solution removes the cost of expensive pulling-eyes and associated installation equipment. Now with Clearfield, this same level of cost-saving precision is extended to multi-fiber environments.

Miniflex teams a high crush resistance microduct with a bend-limiting fiber 3mm mini-duct, delivering fiber to the door while protecting it from micro or macro-bending. There are two elements to the FTTH Solution -- the Tuff Duct microduct and TuffNut QuikClik SC.