Ksaria wins lockheed Martin contract for automated cable assembly

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, April 18, 2003

Ksaria announced that it has been awarded the first phase of a multi-year, multimillion dollar contract by Lockheed Martin to develop automation equipment for the manufacture of fiber optic cable assemblies and patch cords. Acting under a 2002 directive by the US Department of defense to apply advanced technologies for building future military systems, Lockheed Martin will look to Ks aria to develop automation equipment for the manufacture of optical parts used in Navy air, land, sea and other DoD systems.

Lockheed chose Ksaria because it is the only company with the proven automation expertise, technology, and processes for manufacturing fiber optic cable assemblies and patch cords. The Ksaria/Lockheed Martin relationship is managed by the Navy's Manufacturing Technology Program Office (MANTECH). The MANTECH Program was instituted by the DoD to motivate industry to develop and implement cost saving manufacturing processes and equipment which contribute to the affordability of military systems. The application of fiber optics in these systems provides many technical advantages over traditional copper cables. Therefore, the ability to manufacture fundamental optical fiber assemblies and patch cords quickly, affordably, and without error is of strategic importance.

The prevalent method for manufacturing fiber optic assemblies and patch cords is a highly manual process that comes with a built-in degree of human error that is simply unacceptable for use in fail-safe military systems. Ksaria's fully automated manufacturing capability for fiber optic assemblies and patch cords virtually eliminates errors, which results in increased reliability of the part and system in which it resides.