 |
| Main Menu | News By Date | News By Supplier | News By Category | About Us |
|
FIBER OPTICS MAKERS CAN CUT COSTS WITH RIGHT-SIZED RAW MATERIAL SUPPLY SYSTEM
Properly aligning fiber optics production requirements with gas and chemical supply systems can significantly cut costs for hard-pressed manufacturers, a BOC fiber optics expert told attendees at an industry conference. Art Shirley, Ph.D., director of technology and commercialization for BOC’s fiber optics solutions team, says producers need to bring their supply systems in line with volume and quality needs. "The cost of the raw materials needed to achieve low optical losses, high purity gases and chemicals, doesn’t fall in line with falling fiber prices. Producers need to make sure they’re getting the best value from their suppliers," Shirley said. For example, liquid delivery of atmospheric gases may be the best option for optical fiber plants that produce less than 1 million fiber kilometers a year. But for plants that produce more than 10 million fiber kilometers a year, an on-site air separation plant may be the more cost-effective option, Shirley said. Likewise, the supply of hydrogen, which is used in the draw and preform process, also depends on the quantity needed, Shirley said. "A fiber manufacturer who only draws fiber may choose compressed gas, liquid or a small on-site hydrogen generator to meet his fairly modest needs. But a manufacturer who is drawing and making preforms would need substantial amounts requiring a large on-site or pipeline supply," he said. Shirley says helium is a special case, not only because it is in short supply, but because the amount required is not a linear function of the amount of fiber produced, but also increases with draw speed. So for large volume producers, helium recovery and recycling have become extremely important as a way to control costs.
|
| ©2008 New Materials International |