Optical Cable Corporation , headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, manufactures fiber optical cable

Optical fiber

An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...

. The company's cable is largely used for telecommunications and is sold both in the US and seventy other countries worldwide, notably China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

. OCC also manufactures military land tactical fiber optic cable for the U.S. military.

History

Founded in 1983 by Robert Thompson, OCC designs and manufactures reliable, rugged and innovative cable products. OCC was at the forefront of the development of tight-buffered, tight-bound cable technology that met the U.S. military requirements for tactical field use. A number of industry standards are based on designs OCC pioneered. OCC’s cables use unique and advanced cable-jacket technologies that meet and often surpass the most rigorous industry standards.

As OCC grew, the company applied these technologies and manufacturing of the tight-buffered cable process to designing fiber optic cable for a variety of industrial and enterprise markets. OCC currently employs a worldwide network of distributors for its range of products.

Since 1996, OCC has been publicly traded (NASDAQ GM: OCC) and now serves virtually every business sector, with customers in more than 70 countries.

Acquisitions

In recent years, OCC has acquired two companies to transition the company from a cable provider to an integrated company offering a complete suite of connectivity solutions.

Located just outside of Asheville, the North Carolina facility offers patented technologies and a full range of fiber optic and copper data-communication connectivity products. Acquired on June 2nd, 2008, the business formerly known as SMP Data Communications develops products to enhance connectivity and networking.

On November 1st 2009, OCC acquired Applied Optical Systems, a facility that manufactures specialty fiber optic connectors and connectivity solutions for military and harsh environment applications.

These new acquisitions allowed the company to broaden its scope, creating a single source of integrated solutions. Today, OCC’s product offerings include fiber-optic and copper cabling as well as connectivity components designed for commercial, specialty and harsh-environment applications.

Recognition

• Listed on the NASDAQ Global Market (ticker symbol OCC)
• ISO 9001:2008 registered, and its Roanoke and Dallas facilities are MIL-STD-790F certified
• The second-largest manufacturer of multimode fiber optic cable for North American enterprise market
• The premier manufacturer of ground tactical fiber optic cable for the U.S. military and its allies
• The holder of more than 19 active U.S. patents and 32 active foreign patents for enterprise connectivity cross licensed to another 50+ and has 28 licensees (all competitors)
• 2008 Exporter of the Year (Information Technology/Telecommunications), according to ThinkGlobal, publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export-promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• The recipient of numerous certifications, recognitions and awards from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Patent Office, the Commonwealth of Virginia, Start-it magazine and the NewVa Corridor Technology Council.

In addition, the company offers a broad range of Mine Safety and Health Administration–approved cable. OCC’s complete line of cabling systems and connectivity products are USA made and sold internationally—offering tough cabling solutions and exceptional connectivity to customers around the globe.

Solutions for the industry

OCC’s products are available for almost every application in commercial, government, industrial, mining and military markets worldwide. OCC’s products are widely selected for installation by:

• Aerospace Prime Contractors
• Industrial/Manufacturing Facilities
• CATV
• Insurance Companies
• Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH)
• Colleges and Universities
• Military
• Financial Institutions
• Petrochemical/Oil/Gas Facilities
• Governments—Federal/State/Local
• Telco
• Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
• Utilities
• Mining
• Security
• Transportation
• Data Centers
• Office Buildings
• Broadcast

OCC Today

Through the years, OCC has grown from being a cable provider to becoming a source for total solutions by adding products that simplify connectivity and speed installation. OCC now offers fiber optic and copper cabling, as well as connectivity components designed for commercial, specialty and harsh environment applications.

OCC’s quality-management system and manufacturing facilities in Roanoke, Asheville, and Dallas are ISO 9001:2008 registered, and the Roanoke and Dallas facilities are certified by the U.S. Department of Defense as MIL-STD-790F.

OCC’s products are applicable for intense environmental and mechanical stress —from extreme temperatures to dust, chemicals and vibration—even in mining applications where installations that stretch for miles are not unusual.

Today, the company manufactures a line of tight-buffered fiber optic and copper cable products, fiber optic and copper connectivity components, and harsh environment equipment, addressing applications, including commercial and residential structured cabling, data communications, LANs, telecommunications, video transmission, cable TV, traffic signaling and military tactical communications.