At the 2017 Cabling Innovators Awards ceremony, held September 25 at the BICSI Fall Conference and Exhibition, 18 Gold level awards were handed out. Here is a bit of detail about each of the Gold level honorees.
AFC Cable Systems’ MC Luminary Multizone. This cable can replace up to three traditional luminary cables or three power and three control cables. It is designed specifically for use in daylight-harvesting applications and complies with the non-residential indoor lighting requirements of the California Title 24 Energy Efficient Standards.
AFL’s ROGUE OTDR with aeRos Workflow Management. The ROGUE OTDR modules plug into ROGUE modular mainframes and integrate with AFL’s aeRos cloud-based Workflow Management system. Significant time and cost savings are achieved when a ROGUE OTDR is used with aeRos. The aeRos browser software allows network project managers to create a project, define fiber groups to be tested, specify common characteristics, identify the number of connections in each fiber, and configure OTDR, OLTS/ORL, and/or connector inspection test setups.
AFL’s FOCIS Flex2 Fiber Inspection System. AFL bills FOCIS Flex 2 as the world’s smallest, fastest self-contained fiber connector inspection probe. Its ultrafast auto-focusing system auto-centers, captures and analyzes the optical fiber endface, displaying pass/fail results on the built-in screen with a single button push.
Belden’s 4K Ultra-High-Definition Media Cable. Designed specifically for optimal performance in 4K HDBase-T transmission, the 2183P and 2183R cables from Belden are shielded and deliver 4K content over 100 meters in a unique, small, sleek design.
Clearfield’s FieldShield YOURx Platform. A next-generation hardened optical fiber terminal, test access point, and drop cable options join the FieldShield fiber protection system. The YOURx enclosures are designed to ensure every service provider has the freedom of choice to match drop cable technology with the needs of their environment and first-cost priorities.
Comtran Cable’s VITALink CI Free Air Cables. Classified as both CI and CIC, the cable can be used with or without conduit, making VITALink extremely versatile. The conduit-free solution is particularly beneficial in riser and horizontal installations, and no conduit equals no fill restrictions. All cables in the line are wet-rated and sunlight-resistant, requiring no special tools, termination kits or training.
Corning Optical Communications’ ALTOS binderless FastAccess technology. This technology enables up to 70 percent faster cable access and reduced risk of buffer tube damage compared to traditional methods. The all-dielectric gel-free cable is designed for outdoor and limited indoor use for lashed aerial and duct installations.
Corning Optical Communications’ EDGE8 solutions. EDGE preterminated solutions address density, network uptime, speed, simplicity, and a clear migration path to meet future requirements. EDGE8 was inspired by the optical technology roadmap, which clearly indicates that transmission speeds ranging from 10 to 400G will be based on either 2- or 8-fiber connectivity solutions. The Base-8 design ensures 100-percent fiber utilization.
Corning Optical Communications’ ALTOS Lite with FastAccess technology. These armored, gel-free cables are designed for outdoor direct-buried installations, enabling up to 60 percent faster cable access and reduced risk of buffer tube damage compared to traditional methods. FastAccess technology, combined with a protective thin film around the cable core, simplified removal of the cable jacket and buffer tube access.
DINTEK Electronic Ltd.’s TechBench. With TechBench, the installer mounts the bench on the front of the cabinet, thereby requiring less excess cabling. Once the termination is completed, the installer can simply remove the TechBench down to a new location in the cabinet to continue terminations at other panels.
Panduit and Frontera Consulting’s Mission CEED project. The Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED) is a dynamic co-working facility in the City of Mission, TX, managed by the Mission Economic Development Corporation. CEED’s cabling infrastructure not only enables the technology in the building to serve its occupants, but also to serve as a teaching tool for the program. To support that learning, the cabling infrastructure was left exposed through much of the facility.
Panduit’s Angled Termination Solution. The new 45-degree angled wire cap is a simple idea that delivers a huge impact. The angled wire cap helps improve cable routing in confined spaces like modular furniture, raceway, and wall outlets with conduit. The wire caps meet channel and component performance requirements when used with any Panduit UTP TG-style jack body, and are available in Category 5e, 6, and 6A performance levels.
Patchbox. The namesake product of Patchbox GmbH revolutionizes patching and cable management in network cabinets. The patented, fully modular system provides the user with the exact cable length needed. Its pulley system is integrated into cassettes, which allows it to automatically pull back unneeded cable length. Patchbox comes ready to install.
Siemon’s LightBow Fiber Termination System. The LightBow Termination System features a patent-pending low-cost, lightweight termination tool that is designed to dramatically reduce termination time and increase reliability. LightBow is a direct result of listening to customers, offering a single-step termination, universal LC/SC capability, and superior endface protection.
Specified Technologies’ EZ-Path Retrofit Device. Designed to restore the ratings for overfilled cable sleeve penetrations, the EZ-Path Retrofit Device features a built-in fire and smoke sealing system that can attach either to the sleeve or the barrier surface. Its square shape allows cable exit or entry from multiple directions.
Superior Essex and Platformatics’ West Baden Springs Hotel project. PowerWise 1G 4PPoE cables were used in this project that re-lit the historic West Baden Springs Hotel. The cables are specifically designed to mitigate temperature buildup, offer exceptional energy efficiency and ensure performance, up to 1 Gigabit Ethernet, over the system’s lifetime. It is capable of transmitting 60 Watts of power with 97 percent power efficiency while supporting 1 Gig.
Tripp Lite’s 3-Phase Automatic Transfer Switch PDU. This PDU combines the speed of solid-state switching with the efficiency of electromechanical relay switching, to create a 3-phase rack ATS solution up to 17.3 kW. For high-density, clustered environments, this solution delivers high reliability, high efficiency and substantial cost savings while opening the door to new server design possibilities.
Viavi Solutions’ SmartClass Fiber MPOLx MPO Optical Loss Test Sets. It’s the industry’s first dedicated optical loss test set (OLTS) that can perform all the tests for a Tier 1 (Basic) certification using MPO fiber connectivity. The MPOLx provides a source and power meter that integrate essential MPO test capabilities together to ensure a fast and reliable workflow when testing and certifying network links with native MPO connectivity.
