Fibercore to Showcase Specialty Singlemode Fibers for Sensor Manufacturers and Biomedical Applications at OFS-21

OFS-21 Conference, Booth: 39, 17^th – 18^th May 2011, Ottawa Convention Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Fibercore, a UK based global market leader in the design and manufacture of specialty optical fibers will showcase its range of singlemode fibers for sensor manufacturers and biomedical applications at OFS-21, which takes place on 17^th and 18^th May 2011, at the Ottawa Convention Centre in Ontario, Canada.

Visitors to booth 39 will learn how Fibercore’s high strength, high Germania, bend-insensitive singlemode fiber and their PS range of photosensitive products are ideally suited for distributed sensing applications including hydrophones and structural health monitoring, as well as ‘downhole’ sensors for oil wells. Also on show will be the company’s erbium-doped fibers, IsoGain™ and MetroGain™, which can be used in the sensors' ASE (Amplified Spontaneous Emission) light sources.

For delegates focused on biomedical applications the booth will feature Fibercore’s new all-silica SM-SC singlemode fibers. For use at shorter near-UV wavelengths these fibers deliver minimal photodarkening and provide a compelling alternative to conventional germanosilicate cored fibers. Meanwhile, specialists in confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography will be interested in the benefits of the company’s high-performance 125µm HiBi fibers and HB-Z polarizing fiber.

Managing Director of Fibercore, Dr Chris Emslie comments: “OFS is a very natural venue for Fibercore to showcase its products. Fibercore’s Bow-Tie PM fiber, was originally conceived as a sensor fiber and now lies at the heart of most of the Fiber Optic Gyroscopes manufactured in the World today – more than 65,000,000 metres at last count. The innovations in Zing™ single-polarisation fiber, HB-C fused-coupler fiber and our IsoGain™ ASE fibers simply extend and support both FOG and other interferometric fiber sensor technologies. Add-in high-strength, truly bend-insensitive fibers for the growing fields of down-hole and acoustic sensing and OFS 2011 is shaping-up to be a very exciting place to be.”

OFS-21 is celebrating its 21^st International conference since its inception in 1983. The event embraces all research into guided wave optics for instrumentation, sensing and imaging, and its applications in physical, chemical and biological measurement. As a world-renowned and unique technical forum, the conference’s scope extends from relevant theory and fundamental science to the engineering realisation and commercial aspect.

OFS-21 takes place on 17^th and 18^th May at the Ottawa Convention Centre. For more information about the event visit: http://ofs21.org/.

Fibercore To Demonstrate Bow-Tie Fiber Splicing Made Easy At OFC/NFOEC 2011

Booth: 1409, 6th – 10th March 2011, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Fibercore, a UK based global market leader in the design and manufacture of specialty optical fibers, today announced that it will be hosting two presentations at OFC/NFOEC 2011, including a splicing made easy masterclass for its bow-tie polarization-maintaining fiber. The company will also be exhibiting its CATV and FTTx products, as well as providing a market update on the success of its fiber product range.

OFC/NFOEC 2011 is the largest global conference and exposition for optical communications and networking professionals. It takes place between 6th – 10th March 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

On Tuesday 8th March at 13:00, Fibercore will present a masterclass entitled ‘Splicing Fibercore's Bow-Tie PM Fiber Quickly and Effectively with the Fujikura ARCMaster PM Splicer’. Fibercore will also be joined in this Masterclass by another industry leader in fiber optic products, Fujikura, who will demonstrate how Fibercore’s wide range of HiBi (Bow Tie) Polarization Maintaining fibers can be spliced with ease.

The following day at 12:00, Fibercore will present ‘Zing™ Polarizing Fiber in the Marketplace’. During this session, Fibercore’s Dr Andy Gillooly will reveal to delegates how Fibercore’s latest polarizing fibers (launched last year) are now successfully being used in various diverse applications from gyroscopes and current sensors through to fiber lasers.

Managing Director of Fibercore, Dr Chris Emslie comments: “OFC is the major international exhibition for the full spectrum of optical fiber technology and applications and Fibercore has supported the event for almost 30 years. This year we will be demonstrating the ease with which our fibers can be spliced and are looking forward to meeting many existing customers and prospects to talk to them about our latest products, particularly the market success of Bow Tie fibers. With well over 1,000,000 metres shipping every month, Bow-Tie is now the most successful and widely-used PM fiber on the Planet.”

The company will also be taking part in the FTTx Resource Center where it will be exhibiting its CATV and FTTx products.

For more information regarding OFC/NFOEC 2011 and to register for the event visit: http://www.ofcnfoec.org/.

H.I.G. Europe acquire Fibercore Ltd from Cisco

H.I.G. Europe, the European arm of global private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, today announced that funds advised by H.I.G. European Capital Partners LLP have acquired Fibercore, Ltd. (“Fibercore”), a UK based global market leader in the design and manufacture of specialty optical fibers, from Cisco.

Founded in 1982 and based in Southampton, England, Fibercore provides a wide range of specialty optical fiber products to customers globally within the aerospace, defence and telecommunications industries. Fibercore has a strong specialist manufacturing heritage and has won four Queen’s Awards for Enterprise including Innovation, Sustainable Development and International Trade. Fibercore’s products are central to the navigation and stabilization systems used on platforms as diverse as long-haul airliners, business jets, helicopters, satellites and space exploration vehicles developed for companies and government agencies in Europe, America and Japan. Fibercore’s specialty optical fiber is also a critical component in power amplifiers providing the next generation of high speed video and data transfer across the internet. Fibercore has been a leader in its field for over 20 years and its blue chip customer base includes global multinationals across the US, Europe and Asia.

H.I.G. Europe teamed with Fibercore management, headed by Chief Executive Officer Chris Emslie, to complete the transaction and will work closely with management to support and help implement the company’s growth strategy. Fibercore’s plans include continued global leadership through product innovation and high quality service delivery, helping increase both its geographic penetration and expansion into other related and developing markets.

Matthias Allgaier, Managing Director at H.I.G. Europe, commented:

“We are very pleased to announce our investment in Fibercore and our backing of Chris Emslie and his team in the management buyout from Cisco.The business is a global industry leader in this highly specialised field, its reputation achieved through a combination of strong blue chip customer relationships and a wealth of scarce in-house manufacturing and development expertise.Fibercore is a genuine UK export success story and we look forward to supporting the business in its continued international expansion.”

Chris Emslie, CEO of Fibercore, commented:

“With H.I.G. Europe, Fibercore has found an investor with deep financial resources and global reach. We have been impressed with the H.I.G. team, their dynamism and approach and welcome them as partners for the next stage in Fibercore’s expansion.”

Alastair Mills, Director at H.I.G. Europe, further added:

“We look forward to working with Chris and his team to continue to grow a phenomenally successful business and global innovator in the field of specialty fibers.The long tenure of Fibercore’s customer relationships and unparalleled market position provide the perfect foundations for its future development.”

The Fibercore investment marks H.I.G. Europe’s tenth new deal investment in the last 12 months and fourth since the start of 2011.

About Fibercore

Founded 28 years ago, Fibercore is a leading innovator, designer and manufacturer of specialty fiber serving more than 200 customers across the world. Products include specialty fiber for the Aerospace, Defence and Telecommunications industries – the business is a global market leader. The Company’s operations are headquartered in Fibercore House, a custom built Southampton based facility. Fibercore has 4 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. Capital is a leading global private equity investment firm with more than GBP 6 billion of equity capital under management. Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, New York, and San Francisco in the U.S., as well as affiliate offices in London, Hamburg and Paris in Europe, H.I.G. specializes in providing capital to small and medium-sized companies with attractive growth potential. H.I.G. invests in management-led buyouts and recapitalizations of profitable and well managed manufacturing or service businesses. H.I.G. also has extensive experience with financial restructurings and operational turnarounds. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. invested in and managed more than 200 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 50 companies with combined revenues in excess of GBP 5 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com.

Contacts

H.I.G. European Capital Partners LLP
Matthias Allgaier, +44 (0) 207 318 5700
Managing Director, H.I.G. Europe
mallgaier@higcapital.com
F +44 (0) 207 318 5749
http://www.higeurope.com/

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