UV curing for optical fiber, cable and wire

Optical fiber manufacturers use high-speed UV curing processes during fiber drawing, coloring, ribboning, and final fiber optic cable fabrication. Also used for wire and cable marking.

Optical fiber coating with UV light

Fiber optic manufacturing processes take advantage of UV curing’s fast speed (up to 3,400 meters/min) and process consistency for curing coatings and inks.

UV-curable coatings provide protection, flexibility and strength to the fiber as it is drawn. UV inks color code the optical fibers and protect the fibers against decomposition caused by cable gels, particularly in the case of multiple-fiber cable production. Ribbon matrix material, a UV-curable polymer, encapsulates multiple optical fibers to create ribbon cable.

Finished fiber optic cables, as well as other types of wire and cable, use UV inks for labeling and marking identification on jacketing. The jacket is the outer sheath, usually plastic or rubber based, that protects the wire or cable core and facilitates installation. High-speed inline marking provides branding and specifications for the wire or cable.

Your advantages with UV solutions:

  • High production speeds
  • Reduced downtime
  • Reduced waste
  • Higher quality and more durable optical fibers and cables
  • More durable marking identification on wires and cable jacketing

UV curing applications for optical fiber, cable and wire:

optical fiber cable structure
  • Coating during optical fiber drawing
  • Fiber optic coloring for identification
  • Encapsulating multiple optical fibers within a UV-curable polymer matrix for ribbon cables
  • Up-jacketing of fiber optic cable
  • Pultruded composite, FRP, strength member rod curing
  • Curing inks and coatings on wire, cable and other linear products – especially suited for inkjet marking identification on jacketing