Revolutionary “ARCMasterTM” specialty fibre fusion splicer perfect for Factory, Manufacturing, R&D, and Laboratory Environments

15th September, 2010 – Surrey, UK: Fujikura Europe Ltd. (www.fujikura.co.uk), the world leader in fusion splicing technology, today announced that it will be demonstrating the new FSM-100P ARCMaster fusion splicer at the ECOC 2010 event in Turin in September.

The new fibre optic fusion splicer was recently launched globally, in conjunction with the FSM-100M. Both new specialty fibre fusion splicers offer a host of innovative technologies to address the rapidly expanding splicing needs for factory, manufacturing, laboratory, and R&D applications. The technologically superior splicing machines incorporate multiple pending patents.

“The 100M and 100P series splicers further position Fujikura as the dominant player in the specialty splicer market and we are looking forward to exhibiting the 100P in Turin,” said Stephen Rackstraw, European Business Development Manager at Fujikura Europe Ltd. “The ARCMaster series, so called because of the unique capabilities to control the plasma zone of the fusion ARC, is adaptable for a variety of specialty splicing needs, reliable, and consistent in performance, while providing a real value. We will be demonstrating how these capabilities will revolutionise the way users splice various types of specialty fibres: LDF, low contrast PM, holey / micro-structured, etc at ECOC.”

Fujikura’s new “ARCMaster” splicers are engineered with a robust set of features that offer customers technology and reliability not available elsewhere:

- Patented “split v-groove” clamping system – This revolutionary design accommodates optical fibre ranges from 60um to 2000um for cladding or coating without changing v-grooves or fibre clamps.
- Dual PM alignment technologies – To properly align and splice the ever increasing and technically challenging variety of PM fibres, Fujikura developed IPA which is a new alignment technology. The FSM-100P includes both traditional PAS alignment as well as the new IPA technology, and it provides users with the most comprehensive capabilities on the market for splicing PM fibre. IPA also enables accurate PER estimation for all PM fibre types.
- “Plasma Zone” fibre positioning – “ARCMaster” splicers incorporate multiple fibre and electrode positioning techniques in order to provide unprecedented versatility for splicing LDF as well as heat sensitive or small diameter fibres.
- Special arc calibration technology – This calibration technology facilitates an easy transfer of high end splicing applications from R&D to production by ensuring consistent performance and enables full exploitation of “Plasma Zone” capabilities. 
- Improved splice loss estimation technology – Combining the best features of both cold and warm splice imaging, these new generation splicers offer unprecedented accuracy for splice loss estimation.
- Zero degree fibre holder position – For splicing LDF fibres with minimal core angle, the fibre holders are horizontally positioned relative to the v-grooves. This is important for minimising higher order modes in double clad fibres. LDF splicing performance is also enhanced by the capability to mount the fibre holders in reversed orientation.
- Enhanced sweep arc technology – Increased travel range for “sweep arc” provides improved MFD matching capability and the ability for reshaping non-circular fibres in preparation for splicing.
- Production friendly design – A low profile design that eliminates fibre catch points, the dimensions of both splicers are consistent with the most popular production splicing work-benches in use today.
- Internet firmware updates – An industry first! Customers can now upgrade firmware as new capabilities become available from Fujikura. Upgrading is as simple as connecting a USB cable to your splicer.

The need for Accurate, Reliable, and Consistent splicing is expanding to new applications beyond telecommunications. Today splicing is used for fibre lasers, sensors, medical applications, and research and development. These entirely new “ARCMaster” fusion splicers from Fujikura have been developed to provide the ultimate in performance and flexibility for a variety of customers and markets.

ECOC is the largest European optical communications event and ECOC 2010 will be taking place in Turin in September. The conference runs from 19-23 September, while the exhibition runs from 20-22 September. For more information visit www.ecocexhibition.com