Configuration Optimizer for Fiber Optics Secondary Coating Lines
by Jussi Hanhirova, Samppa Orhanen, Mikko Lahti, Maillefer Extrusion
The global demand for optical fiber cables is increasing at a growing rate. At the same time this market has seen very tight competition between the margins. The key to this problem is in increasing the efficiency of cable manufacturing lines. As an optical fiber cable consists of a bundle of buffer tubes, each potentially covering multiple optical fibers, it is evident that to produce one kilometer of optical fiber cable, multiple kilometers of loose buff er tube is required. Thus the need to improve loose tube production is obvious to enhance the overall efficiency gains. In addition to this the buffer tube properties have high impact on the optical fiber cable performance.