Furukawa Electric to Expand Fiber Production Capacity to Meet Global Demand

TOKYO and NORCROSS, GA — Furukawa Electric announced plans to nearly double its 2016 optical fiber manufacturing capacity by 2019 and to increase its optical fiber cable manufacturing capacity as well, thereby creating over 400 jobs over the next two years.

Between 2014 and 2016, Furukawa Electric increased its global fiber production capacity by 20 percent and planned to achieve another capacity increase of 20 percent by 2018. However, in order to meet the strong customer demand for optical fiber and optical fiber cable, the Furukawa Electric board approved $150 million capital spending for further expansion in production primarily in the U.S. and Europe through the optical fiber and cable operations of OFS, its wholly owned subsidiary.

Worldwide Need for Fiber Grows
"The proliferation of hyper-scale and edge data centers, 5G wireless, and FTTH, along with the greater digitization of communications in business, are creating the need for fiber in the network around the world," said Timothy F. Murray, head of the global optical fiber and cable business of Furukawa Electric and CEO of OFS. "Furukawa Electric is responding with greater capacity as we foresee this demand continuing into the next decade with communication traffic estimated to increase during this period. Furukawa Electric will continue to serve its global customer base and to contribute to growing communication solutions in the market through a company-wide effort."