CableDataSheet, Cable and Wire Technical Consulting Service

Fiber-optic Cable Makers increase Production Capacity



China companies turning out fiber-optic cables embark on expansion projects to meet the requirements of a dynamic networking environment, and build up the industry's upstream segment. The latter objective constitutes the sector's bid for self-sufficiency to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers for key material preform. At present, most China enterprises source the input from Corning and Furukawa.

Major local player Jiangsu Zhongtian invested $160 million to raise its manufacturing capability to more than 30 million core kilometers. It also allocated $190 million for preform development, which will be able to handle about 400 tons.

Chengdu Putian has set aside about $35.8 million for the establishment of a joint venture, which can churn out 21 million core kilometers annually. For Jiangsu Fasten Group, the plan for 2013 is to boost capacity to 5 million core kilometers per year.

Jiangsu Tongding Optic-Electronic Stock Co. Ltd has been broadening its line in the past three years. By end-2013, the supplier's capability is expected to hit 50 million core kilometers, doubling its 2012 level. The maker is building 15 new drawing towers to match the anticipated rise in demand. For a preform undertaking, it will spend $47.7 million on a factory to start construction this year.

FiberHome and Yangtze Optical are among the fiber-optic cable businesses that have been producing their own preform.

Fueling local efforts is the projected uptick in global FTTx installations, which will hit 85.5 million core kilometers by 2016, a 62 percent jump from 2010.

China accounts for about 50 percent of global output for fiber-optic cables.

source from wire world