CORNING, Manchester — Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) has launched a new cable product family that further enhances its fire safety leadership and to comply with revised, stricter EU guidelines.
In summer 2019, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) published revised safety guidance for exposed cables in railway tunnels, urging that all cables should fulfil Construction Products Regulation (CPR) characteristics of low flammability, low fire spread, low toxicity and low smoke density. In January 2020, the B2 classification was reconfirmed as general minimum fire safety requirement for this application.
In response, Corning has introduced the FREEDM™ B2 Gel-free Loose Tube Steel Armour Double Jacket Indoor/Outdoor cable family, developed to provide the backbone for optical cabling infrastructure in railway tunnels in EU and also globally.
The cable family has already been rolled out in Central Europe and proven itself to be effective in major urban networks within the region.
“New technological advances and changing consumer habits mean that it is critically important to regularly review and update fire safety governance. Even more important is the capability and hardware availability to implement those changes,” said Matthias Nitschke, Director of Product Line Management for Corning Optical Communications.
“We have moved quickly and effectively to develop and deploy our CPR B2-certified cable portfolio, which ensures that connectivity infrastructure in large scale rail networks can now reach the most stringent EU fire safety specifications. In addition, Corning’s EMEA test lab and manufacturing facility are now CPR System 1+ certified in collaboration with a notified body. This enables us to have end-to-end capabilities on flame retardant cables – from materials science, to manufacturing to now testing and certification of CPR cables.”
The FREEDM™ B2 class cables provide a number of benefits for railway operators and installers, including:
• Completely gel-free cable construction, which saves time for installation and supports the burn behavior in the event of fire by creating less hazardous waste, along with low flammability, low fire spread, low toxicity and low smoke density.
• Armoured cable allowing higher protection in demanding environments.
• Range of fibre counts from 12 to 192F.
• Versatility in a number of environments including indoor/outdoor, duct/buried, pulled applications.
• Water blocking technology for indoor/outdoor application, creating a moisture barrier.
• Easily identifiable cable printing and CE labeling on the cable jacket to provide full customer transparency in regards to the cable’s CPR-evaluated performance.
Corning provides a wide portfolio of B2 cables addressing requirements across multiple applications with high fire risks, such as hospitals, schools, hotels, high-rise buildings, tunnels, government or public buildings and data centres.
More information on flame retardant cables is available on Corning’s website here and a full list of CPR certificates is available here.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.
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About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, with a more than 165-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.
Corning's capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning's markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display technology, automotive, and life sciences vessels. Corning's industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.
