FieldShield Now Available for Hardened Connector Environment

Industry's Most Cost-Effective and Easy to Deploy Environmentally Sealed Fiber Delivery Solution

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearfield, Inc. (Nasdaq:CLFD), the specialist in fiber management and connectivity platforms for communications providers, is extending the reach of FieldShield optical fiber to the hardened connector marketplace. These new solutions, FieldShield Hardened Connectors and the FieldShield Multiport SmarTerminal bring together the advantages of hardened connector technology with the ease of use and cost reductions associated with pushable fiber.

Traditional hardened connector technology is bulky and requires the use of flat drop cables, which are stiff and difficult to store. With the FieldShield solutions, the form and fit of the SC connector is maintained, slack storage is integrated within the device, and restoration and troubleshooting is greatly reduced as field restoration is easily performed without retrenching. A dual LC connector version is also available.

"Like other sealed connector technologies designed to withstand the rugged outside plant environment, the FieldShield solution starts with a factory-terminated industry-standard SC or dual LC interface," explains Johnny Hill, chief operating officer of Clearfield. "But unlike the solutions that incorporate the SC interface into a large outer housing at point of manufacture, causing the unit to be heavy and limited to flat drop cables, FieldShield solutions team a standard FieldShield connector with a field-installable, tool-less smart housing that provides a water tight seal. These solutions decrease installation and maintenance time, while providing superior durability and reliability in the drop segment of the network."

FieldShield Hardened Connectors

A field-installed, tool-less housing slips over a FieldShield optical connector on the FieldShield assembly to provide a water tight seal when easily mated to each port of the FieldShield Multiport SmarTerminal. FieldShield pushable fiber connectors slide into the housing and are weather protected by a two-grommet system. Working together to seal the connection to the enclosure, the FieldShield SmarTent provides bend limiting strain relief while handling the cables. When used in conjunction with FieldShield Microduct, the FieldShield drop cable has been tested to meet GR-771 and GR-3120 standards for robust environmental performance.

FieldShield Multiport SmarTerminal

Providing up to 8 ports of OSP plug n'play connectivity at the network access point, the FieldShield Multiport SmarTerminal is configured with factory terminated FieldShield optical cable assemblies, with the feeder configuration pushed or pulled through FieldShield Microduct to a consolidated splice point. Distribution ports are sealed with airtight water-tight caps until service turn up is required. For deployment in a pedestal, flowerpot or vault, this above-grade or below-grade solution is the quickest, least intrusive placement method to deploy fiber, reducing restoration and troubleshooting costs as a cut fiber does not have to be retrenched. 

Restoration and troubleshooting is greatly reduced as a cut fiber does not have to be retrenched as only the cut microduct/fiber needs to be located, route path re-engaged with a simple airtight/watertight coupler, and connectivity re-established with a push/pull of a replacement FieldShield terminated assembly.

Application Environments

Using a snap-on toggle head, the FieldShield SmarTerminal mounts to any horizontal surface. Optimized for deployment below grade with Clearfield's CraftSmart protection vault or flower pot and above-grade in a CraftSmart fiber protection pedestal, the FieldShield SmarTerminal simply and securely snaps into the toggle head without any tools and is easily removable for access or trouble-shooting.

Additional Information and Availability

The FieldShield Hardened Connectors and the FieldShield Multiport SmarTerminal are shipping later this fall. Additional information is available online at www.clearfieldconnection.com/products/terminals/smarterminal.html.

About Clearfield, Inc.

Clearfield, Inc. (Nasdaq:CLFD) designs, manufactures and distributes fiber optic management, protection and delivery products for the communications networks of leading ILECS, CLECs, MSO/cable TV companies and mobile broadband providers. We help service providers solve the Fiber Puzzle, which is how to reduce high costs associated with deploying, managing, protecting and scaling a fiber optic network to deliver the mobile, residential and business services customers want. Based on the patented Clearview™ Cassette, our unique single-architected, modular fiber management platform is designed to lower the cost of broadband deployment and maintenance by consolidating, protecting and distributing incoming and outgoing fiber circuits and enable our customers to scale their operations as their subscriber revenues increase. Headquartered in Plymouth, MN, Clearfield deploys millions of fiber ports each year throughout North America and beyond.

CONTACT: Clearfield PR Contact
         Christy Kemp
         Calysto Communications
         Tel: + 1 404 266 2060 x539
         ckemp@calysto.com

Released September 30, 2013