OREANDA-NEWS. In order to respond to the consistently high demand for optical fiber cable, Furukawa Electric Group has enhanced its Russian optical fiber plant and has begun preparing to establish a new base in Africa. Furukawa Electric Group is also working to increase production capability at its optical fiber manufacturing bases, in order to contribute to global high speed/high capacity communication.

Background

Recently, increased communication traffic and the worldwide need for optical fiber cables have both continued to transition at a high level. As growth in China—which has until now propelled the market—slows, demand is expected to increase in both emerging nations (such as in the Middle East, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and South America) and in developed nations including the United States of America and those in Europe.

Content

The OFS Russia opening ceremony
The OFS Russia opening ceremony; from left to right: Russian Ambassador Chikahito Harada, Governor Alexey Gordeev, Masao Yoshida (Chairman, Furukawa Electric), Timothy Murray (CEO and Chairman, OFS), Vladislav Kalashnikov (General Manager, OFS Russia).

After establishing its Columbian base in August of last year, Furukawa Electric Group doubled the optical fiber cable production capability of OFS Russia (Voronezh), and held an opening ceremony in March of this year. In order to respond to increasing demand in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) regions, Furukawa Electric Group has begun preparing to establish a new production base in Africa.

Furukawa Electric Group has also launched a series of measures to improve its international competitiveness in the optical fiber industry. Improved production processes at its Mie Works (Kameyama, Mie) location have increased capability by 20%, and production process improvements at US OFS (Georgia) are underway. Furukawa Electric Group will continue efforts toward realizing cutting-edge optical fiber plants that offer high productivity and can withstand fluctuations in demand; for example, it will double production capability by enhancing production line at India BFFO (Goa).

About Furukawa Electric Group

Furukawa Electric (TSE; 5801, ISIN; JP3827200001) Group started business in 1884, when its copper-smelting facility and wire manufacturing factory was established. Since then Furukawa Electric has become pioneers in the latest technologies by addressing diverse technological issues. Furukawa Electric has released products in a number of areas, including telecommunications, electronics, automobiles, and construction, with the three types of materials it works with at their core, namely, optics, plastics, and metals. Many of these products have attained the top global market share, and all of its products have contributed to society in numerous business areas. Furukawa Electric reported consolidated revenues of JPY 931.8 billion (approximately USD 9.3B) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.