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January 10, 2020
One of the hot button topics in fiber optics is the discussion around collapsible ribbon. In the industry we hear all the time that this technology can double your density - and in most cases, it can and more. Collapsible ribbon is individual 250µm fibers that are partially bonded to each other at intermittent points. This design allows for highly efficient ribbon splicing and easy individual fiber breakout, allowing more flexibility from a splicing standpoint. In this article, I will explain two different splice tray types to establish how collapsible ribbon can double or more than double the splicing density of your splice closure.
The COYOTE® HD Dome Closure is a high-density splice closure with two different splice tray types - deep profile (around 1.10" in depth) and thin profile (around 0.55" in depth). Its maximum flat ribbon capacity is 1728 Ct., whereas its maximum collapsible ribbon capacity is 3456 Ct. The reason this is achievable is because with flat ribbon technology you require a deeper splice tray to route and overlap the ribbon matrices to properly store enough slack to reach a splice machine - these flat ribbon matrices are only flexible in one direction. With collapsible ribbon technology, we can take this same approach and reduce the splice tray depth by half, but keep the splice tray count identical. We can efficiently double the splice capacity because collapsible ribbon technology keeps a ribbon matrix, but it also can be compacted and routed like individual fibers - flexible in any direction.
PLP's COYOTE HD Dome Closure with Corning's Flat RocketRibbon Cable - Deep Profile Tray
PLP's COYOTE HD Dome Closure with OFS's RollableRibbon Cable - Thin Profile Tray
Another example brings us into even smaller splice trays. If you have ever spliced in a COYOTE® Dome Closure or Legacy Product such as the RUNT, PUP, 6"x22" or 8.5"x22", you most likely have utilized these splice trays: Catalog Number: 80806033 (Standard Profile, Short, 12 Ct.); Catalog Number: 80805514 (Standard Profile, Long, 36 Ct.). Traditionally, these splice trays were designed for single fusion splicing.
Catalog Number 80813610 (Standard Profile, Long, 144 Ct. Collapsible Ribbon)
With the release of collapsible ribbon technology, we can now splice single fusion and ribbon in these splice trays. At PLP®, we have engineered additional splice trays to pair with this technology and increase our splicing density. Catalog Number: 80813622 (Standard Profile, Short, 96 Ct. Collapsible Ribbon, 24 Ct. Single Fusion) and Catalog Number: 80813610 (Standard Profile, Long, 144 Ct. Collapsible Ribbon, 72 Ct. Single Fusion). Not only have we doubled the single fusion splice capacity, but now these splice trays are collapsible ribbon compatible.
If you have any further questions about how PLP® can help with your collapsible ribbon needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to our experienced sales team, or call or email our technical support team at 440.461.5200 or
Written by:
Matt Becker, Market Manager, U.S. Communications Markets
