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Contact: Karen Ouellette Manager, Communications (860) 465-8777 |
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2001
GENERAL CABLE AWARDED MIL-STD-790 PRODUCT ASSURANCE PROGRAM CERTIFICATION FOR IN-HOUSE QPL (QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST) TESTING OF FIBER OPTIC CABLING PRODUCTS AND COMPONENTS
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KENTUCKY,
September 17, 2001— The largest cable supplier
to the U.S. Navy, General Cable (NYSE: BGC) has been approved to MIL-STD-790
for military cables, one of very few cable manufacturers to receive this product
assurance program certification, by the Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DSCC)
of the Defense Logistics Agency.
Under the MIL-C-85045 product assurance program
requirements, the MIL-STD-790 certification authorizes General Cable to submit
test results on any fiber
optic cabling system products and components from its inspected manufacturing
facilities in Willimantic, Connecticut and Jackson, Tennessee - without requiring
outside independent lab testing verification - demonstrating that new products
meet QPL (Qualified Products List) specifications. The MIL-STD-790 certification
also stipulates that for any testing requiring capabilities not available in-house,
General Cable is authorized to outsource those tests to subcontractors that
were likewise inspected and approved. While subject to periodic reaudits and
possible "drop-in"audits, as well as termination at any time if warranted,
there is no time limit on the MIL-STD-790 certification.
Including all conventional
and custom fiber optic cable constructions, authorized QPL testing will include
all components of General Cable's leading-edge Blolite® "blown
optical fiber technology" (BOFT), including innovations developed in joint
efforts with Newport News Shipbuilding (NYSE:NNS). Utilizing pneumatic installation
of optical fibers through pre-installed plastic tube cabling, blown optical
fiber technology offers inherent features and benefits - including quick and
easy "disaster recovery" and restoration of fiber optic data communications
networks - designed to revolutionize shipboard network cabling installation
to expedite the Navy's Information Technology (IT-21) strategy.
MIL-STD-790
Product Assurance Program Certification
" This MIL-STD-790 certification is the culmination
of many years of complex and highly detailed procedures, beginning in the early
1990s," according to Chris Pegge, Director, Military Market Development of
General Cable. These efforts were initiated when these manufacturing facilities
were part of the former BICC Brand-Rex, now incorporated within General Cable.
" 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."
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. 091701
09/17/01
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