With Launch of FieldShield StrongFiber, Clearfield Introduces Multiple ISP and OSP Optical Fiber Cable Assembly Innovations

Clearfield Shipping the Industry's First 900um OSP Drop Cable

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearfield, Inc. (Nasdaq:CLFD), the specialist in fiber management and connectivity platforms for communications providers, today announced FieldShield StrongFiber. StrongFiber is OSP rated and is an OSP ready-for in-duct-placement 900um optical fiber cable that delivers exceptional pull strength in a small form factor. Teamed with other elements within the FieldShield product line, StrongFiber reduces the cost of fiber deployment with reduced installation time, material weight and slack storage requirements. FieldShield StrongFiber launches many exciting new innovations in the field of fiber deployment.

"To reduce the cost of broadband deployment, we need to reduce not only the skill and time required for site installation, but also the extent of the pre-engineering required," said Matt Brigham, product marketing manager for Clearfield. "The size and strength of StrongFiber allow for the product to be deployed in any environment without concern for drop lengths chosen. Teamed with other elements of the FieldShield product line, StrongFiber can be used in most environments in place of flat drop optical cable, where conduit or microduct is being used."

Industry's First 900um Drop Cable

Deployed in the OSP, StrongFiber becomes the first 900um OSP drop cable. User may specify standard connectors or FieldShield Pushable Connectors that enable FieldShield StrongFiber to be easily pulled through FieldShield Ruggedized Microduct. Teamed with spooling technology incorporated into Clearfield's SmartRoute Deploy Reel, StrongFiber drop cables of up to 300 feet are shipped on a 4.5" x 1" reel with integrated bulkhead and pre-mated adapter that can be easily mounted into a small form factor fiber management element of choice, from customer wall boxes, demarcation points, pedestals and cabinets to SFU/MDU environments. StrongFiber as an ISP cable reduces pre-engineering and on-site installation time for MDU and Riser deployments.

The high variability of MDU architectures has made FTTp deployments within those structures a challenge. Extensive engineering has been required to ensure proper cable lengths. With StrongFiber, pre-engineering is minimal because the 4.5" SmartRoute Deploy Reel, upon which StrongFiber is shipped, can be mounted at the destination site and the desired length simply pulled from the wheel to the access point. The small form factor of the 900um fiber makes slack storage minimal and easy to accommodate. The exceptional pull strength of StrongFiber makes it craft-friendly and easy for the technician to handle without fear of fiber damage.

A Brief Technical Primer

One or both ends of the StrongFiber cable are terminated with a FieldShield Pushable Connector for transport through FieldShield Ruggedized Microduct. Once the pushable connector has reached its destination, the connector assembly is completed with the supplied connector housings and the connector is mated to the adapter. The remaining slack on the reel is pre-stored with no further slack management required. The terminated end on the reel is pre-tested, cleaned, and mated in a Clearfield factory environment, leaving the technician to simply mate the patch cord to the adapter on the wheel. The small form factor of the cable assembly and deploy reel allows the StrongFiber to be pulled, and slack stored, from the customer demarcation point if the service provider chooses. This reduces the size requirements of the access point (above or below grade) providing for a more aesthetically pleasing solution in the neighborhood. With less cable weight and, therefore, less co-efficient of friction (COF), installations are more timely and with minimal friction as the cable is pulled through bends and turns throughout the route path.

Reduced Patch Cord Pileup

StrongFiber may be used in place of a traditional patch cord for reduced cable pileup within the route path of new or traditionally oversubscribed frames within a central office, head-end, data center or remote hut. With the more than 85% reduction from 3mm patch cords and 69% reduction from a 1.2mm patch cord, StrongFiber greatly reduces chances of micro-bends with reduced weight maximizing the cable radius and bend limiting equipment on any fiber management element.

Superior Fiber Termination Performance and Specifications

Clearfield delivers FiberDeep performance on all FieldShield optical cable assemblies. The FiberDeep guarantee ensures a .2dB insertion loss. FieldShield SmartFiber is a 900um G657 A2 bend insensitive optical fiber cable. This loose-tube construction features mini-Kevlar, providing 18 lbs of tensile strength while allowing movement for thermal expansion/construction through temperature extremes.

Availability

StrongFiber is now shipping, alongside the other elements of the FieldShield fiber delivery system. StrongFiber is fully supported by the FieldSmart fiber management platform and CraftSmart fiber storage and enclosure product line. See Clearfield or a Clearfield distributor of your choice for pricing. A demonstration video is available.

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 Minneapolis, 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 February 6, 2015