EoW March 2007

corporate news

The next generation NextGenPCF consortium has launched the European Union Research and Development project for Next Generation Photonic Crystal Fibres. The consortium, comprising leading European industries and research institutes, aims to advance the state- of-the-art in photonic crystal fibre technology, and utilise the new fibres in key biomedical, telecom and sensing applications. The project, launched as part of the EU ‘Information Society Technology (IST)’ programme started on 1 st June 2006 and will run for three years. Photonic Crystal Fibres – optical fibres incorporating silica/air microstructure – were largely invented in Europe and have, over the past few years, re-defined what an optical fibre is, dramatically enlarging the available design space and enhancing the performance capability. The next stage of the development will involve specifying designs and processes for industrialisation, while continuing to find and develop applications. To enable this to happen, NextGenPCF brings together an international con- sortium of 18 partners, integrating key European industrial and academic groups and SMEs, from raw material developers

to final users. It aims to incubate key devices in three fields of applications: for photodynamic therapy and wideband sources for cytology Telecom : easy-to-install, low-cost fibre for indoor wiring, and high performance discrete Raman amplifiers Sensors for the environment : methane detection in mining and landfill monitoring NextGenPCF – France Fax : +33 1696 35950 Email : pierre.sansonetti@drakacomteq.com At a glance . . . Borouge and Borealis, one of the leading providers of value creating plastics solutions throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe, celebrated Borouge’s fifth year of production. At a press conference at ArabPlast 2007 in Dubai, the two companies highlighted Borouge’s success and outlined its vision for the future, with Harri Bucht, chief executive officer, stating that the five-year production milestone at Borouge’s plant in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, is an extraordinary success for such a new facility. Biomedical : Raman laser

Eight to receive award Eight people will collect the prestigious Charles D Scott Distinguished Career Award at the Wire and Cable Manufacturers’ Alliance (WCMA) awards dinner in Connecticut, USA, on 21 st April. The award was established in 1985 in memory of Charles Scott, founder and president of Northeast Wire. He was known and respected by his industry peers for his contribution and leadership as a company owner and advocate of the wire and cable industry. The WCMA was established in 2004 as the successor organisation to the Wire & Cable Clubs of America, and is a corporate membership organisation for manufacturers of conductor, insulated wire, cables, fibre optic cables, and connectivity products with an established manufacturing base in North America, as well as industry suppliers and service providers. This year’s receipients are: Dennis Baughman, supply chain manager, Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company; Robert Canny, vice president operations and president specialty products, Belden; Kevin Cassidy, production and purchasing manager, Amphenol Spectra Strip; Dennis Chalk, vice president and general manager, Exane Products, Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp; Joe Dellagala, former vice president operations and engineering, Mohawk division of Belden; David DiMartino, director of sales, IWG High Performance Conductors; Tom Guida, senior staff engineer, Underwriters Laboratories; and Robert Meserve, vice president, New England Wire Technologies.

WCMA – USA

Fax : +1 860 873 3281

Email : mrcdm@snet.net

Website : www.wcmainc.org

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EuroWire – March 2007