FAQs    

One of my clients just called, and they have an urgent need for some cable. Can TLC help?

Yes we can. In most cases, we can ship stock items overnight provided we receive a purchase order before 3 p.m. EST. Blind shipments and drop shipments are also possible. Occasionally an item is not in stock. TLC is flexible enough to give favorable lead times. If an order is urgent, it can be processed immediately for an expedite fee.

I have a job that is non-standard. Does TLC have custom capabilities?

TLC has a growing reputation for being able to produce cable that many others cannot. From our many jacket color, compound and dimensional options to non-standard designs to custom print messages to hard-to-find fiber and hybrid and composite cables, TLC’s engineering team will work to devise a solution that is timely and economical. And don’t forget TLC’s 7-10 lead time or our low minimums, among the best in the business!

What’s new in TLC’s product portfolio?

More and more, distributors, cable assemblers and installers are opting for economical and space-saving bare fiber cables. TLC manufactures micro-distribution cable for indoor applications and dry loose tube (no gel) cable for indoor/outdoor applications in fiber counts from 2-72. Armored cable is also being used in an increasing number of jobs. TLC has successfully quoted aluminum interlocking armor on a number of large jobs, and we have several of the more popular constructions in stock.

What trends have you observed in the fiber optic cable business?

In addition to the new products and armored cable referenced above, we have seen dramatic increases in the use of higher bandwidth 10 gig products, and we have seen an increased demand for bend optimized products such as Corning’s XB and Clear Curve fibers. All of these developments point to the world’s ever-growing appetite for more information delivered faster.

We need to connectorize the cable. Do you have any products that can help?

Absolutely. TLC offers a wide variety of outer diameters on our simplex and duplex cables to accommodate the wide variety of connectors available on the market. TLC also produces high quality furcation tubing in all twelve colors to help you terminate bare fiber. In addition, TLC offers pre-made fan out kits for bare fiber and 2mm and 3mm breakout kits for buffered fiber, both in 6 and 12 fibers, and both at costs significantly better than most competitors.

What can you tell me about your fiber?

TLC is proud to offer world-renowned Corning fiber in nearly all of the cable that it produces. If, however, you have a job that requires a different manufacturer’s fiber, or if you have fiber that you would like TLC to upjacket, we can accommodate those requests. TLC also stocks some fibers that Corning does not produce (for example, Mitsubishi Rayon’s SK-40 plastic optical fiber) and some “exotic” fibers like Corning’s PureMode Hi 1060 Flex Photonic Fiber. TLC also offers bare fiber.