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Cable Technology Feature Article

June 25, 2010

OFS, Hengtong Join to Produce Optical Fiber Preforms in China

By Shamila Janakiraman, TMCnet Contributor


OFS (News - Alert), a subsidiary of Furukawa Electric Co. and the Hengtong Optic-Electric Co. announced the formation of a joint venture company in China for manufacturing, marketing and distributing optical fiber preforms required in the production of optic fibers. Hengtong is a specialized wire and cable manufacturer, supplier and communication engineering service provider offering a complete product line-up and specifications for the wire and cable industry in China.
The new company will be named Jiangsu OFS Hengtong Optical Technology Co. Ltd. The joint venture cooperation will enable a broader commercial cooperation between the companies.
Dr. Timothy F. Murray, Chairman and CEO of OFS said, “China is an important market for us as it is the largest optical telecommunications market in the world.  Continual FTTx and 3G rollouts and the supporting optical network are part of the government's long term view for a globally competitive telecommunications infrastructure.”
“This joint venture represents a significant strategic investment in China. OFS and Hengtong Group is an excellent match with a mutual commitment to serve customers in the highly competitive global optical telecommunications industry,” Dr. Murray added.  
The agreement entails that OFS which is a designer, manufacturer and provider of optical fiber cable and related products in the United States will offer the Vapor Axial Deposition or VAD optical fiber preform technology to this Greenfield operation. Hengtong, the Chinese optical fiber and Cable Company will provide its knowledge regarding optical fiber draw and cable manufacturing. The scope of the joint venture is preform manufacture and research and development, said official sources.
“Preform technology represents the core value in the optical fiber industry, and both parties see this joint venture as another important step toward further cooperation to better serve their customers,” said the president of Hengtong, Mr. Gao An Min.
Furukawa designs, manufactures and supplies fiber optic products, network products, electronic components, power cables, nonferrous metals and advanced technology products.
OFS also provides FTTx, optical connectivity and specialty photonics products. The products from the company are suitable for several applications as they link people and machines. The company provides the right optical fiber, optical cable and components for cost-effective transmission between continents, cities, neighborhoods and into homes and businesses of digital consumers.

Shamila Janakiraman is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Shamila’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Alice Straight