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Contact: Karen Ouellette Manager, Communications (860) 465-8777 |
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2001
GENERAL CABLE AWARDED QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LISTING (QPL) FOR BLOWN OPTICAL FIBER TECHNOLOGY FOR MILITARY CONTRACTS
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KENTUCKY, September
24, 2001 —General Cable (NYSE: BGC) the largest supplier of shipboard
wire and cable to the U.S. Navy, has been awarded Qualified Products Listing
(QPL) for Blown Optical Fiber Technology for military contracts. General Cable
is the first and only supplier to receive this important listing from the Defense
Supply Center, Columbus (DSCC) of the Defense Logistics Agency.
Included in the listing are General Cable's leading edge Blolite™Blown
Optical Fiber Technology in singlemode fiber (MIL-PRF-49291/7-02), multimode
fiber (MIL-PRF-49291/6-05) and a seven-tube multiduct cable (MIL-PRF-85045/25-01E
& S). Utilizing pneumatic installation of optical fibers through pre-installed
plastic tube cabling, Blown Optical Fiber Technology offers inherent features
and benefits designed to revolutionize shipboard network cabling installation
to expedite the Navy's Information Technology (IT-21) strategy.
Qualification of Blolite Blown Optical Fiber Technology is granted under the
current issue of the subject Military Specifications as a result of successfully
completing the required qualification testing. During the years without QPL,
General Cable manufactured, tested and complied with all of the standards and
specifications as stated in the current Qualification Reference. Currently seven
U.S. Navy carriers and three amphibious assault ships have General Cable's Blolite
Blown Optical Fiber Technology installed.
"This Qualified Products Listing for our Blolite Blown Optical Fiber Technology
enables the military to standardize on emerging technologies and provides a
future-proofing data communications solution on U.S. Navy ships," said Chris
Pegge, director of military market development for General Cable. "Achieving
this listing for our products is a hard-earned distinction, and a tribute
to all the people behind our products."
"This technical approval to military standards means fiber optic products,
which pass our own rigorous testing and meet our own high standards at General
Cable,
are automatically qualified and trusted to meet or exceed the most demanding
military specifications and requirements," Pegge comments. "It is hard-earned
distinction, and a tribute to all the people behind our products."
"Under the technical guidance of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, this process
has taken over two years to conclude," added Bob Brunelle, senior product engineer
for General Cable. "We would like to commend Newport News Shipbuilding (NYSE:
NNS) for their major contribution to our joint efforts on technology modifications
to our commercial blown optical fiber system in order to meet the rugged
requirements for shipboard environments. We would also like to thank our
network of certified
installers throughout North America for their participation in the success
of
the overall BOFT military program."
"General Cable's involvement in Blown Optical Fiber Technology for U.S. Navy
shipboard application is born out of our extensive experience in military fiber
optic cable development and with our original partners - British Telecom and
Corning Inc. - for blown fiber technology in the early 1980s," concluded Pegge.
"Today, General Cable is proud to offer the industry's widest array of cabling
solutions for military, shipboard and aerospace applications. This is the
result of generations of leadership by General Cable in designing and engineering
wire
and cable products to military specifications and requirements."
General Cable (NYSE: BGC), headquartered in Highland
Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing
and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products
for the communications, energy and specialty markets. The Company offers competitive
strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution
and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. Communications wire
and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control
applications. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution
and power transmission products. The Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific
cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative
and renewable sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical
industries, mining, industrial automation, automotive, marine, military and
aerospace applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry,
and other key industrial segments. Visit us at www.generalcable.com
For further information or inquiries regarding
The Blolite System, contact General Cable at 800-338-0901.
Blolite is a trademark of BICC plc and is used under license.
Release No. 0356
09/24/01
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