AFL honored with Gold and Silver -level awards in Cabling Installation & Maintenance 2017 Innovators Awards program

Zach Huckabay, market manager, enterprise, AFL receives the company's 2017 Cabling Innovators award from Cabling Installation & Maintenance chief editor Patrick McLaughlin (L) and publisher Alan Bergstein (R).

AFL’s FOCIS Flex fiber optic connector inspection solution and ROGUE OTDR with aeRos Workflow Management system were recognized with pair of Gold-level awards during the annual Cabling Installation & Maintenance Innovators Awards program, which recognizes innovative products and systems as well as their uses and applications. The awards were presented on September 25 at the 2017 BICSI Fall Conference (Sep. 24-28) in Las Vegas.

AFL, a leading manufacturer of fiber optic system solutions, received the Gold-level awards by demonstrating “excellent innovation, the benefits of which are clear, and makes a substantial improvement over previous methods employed, approaches taken, or products/systems used,” according to the program's judges.

AFL’s award-winning FOCIS Flex is a handheld, tether-free fiber optic connector inspection device with Bluetooth capability that provides pass/fail results in seconds, pairs easily with AFL’s OTDRs, works in concert with an Android or iOS device, auto saves results internally or externally, works with a wide range of adapter tips, prepares inspection reports, and so much more. AFL’s FOCIS Flex app is available free of charge on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.

“This product shows the expected evolution made possible through the incorporation of available technologies,” one judge noted. “This is a great tool for field fiber connector inspection and proper installation, and will facilitate a practical approach to cleaner connectors and the resulting successful installation.”

“AFL is honored to receive this award as it validates the high level of innovation FOCIS Flex brings to the fiber inspection market,” said Maury Wood, product line manager for AFL’s Test and Inspection Division. “We are committed to driving continued leadership in inspection products for the fiber optic communications industry.”

AFL’s award-winning ROGUE OTDR with aeRos Workflow Management is revolutionizing the way technicians test. ROGUE OTDR modules are part of the ROGUE modular test platform and may be used with either the ROGUE compact cB1 or ROGUE intelligent iB1 base platforms. Quad (850/1300 nm multimode + 1310/1550 nm single-mode) and Dual Single-mode (1310/1550 nm) modules are available. ROGUE OTDR modules are supported by aeRos Workflow Management Solution and the ROGUE LinkMap OTDR App for Android mobile devices.

“Since test setups can be pre-configured, more expert staff can control test parameters, eliminating setup errors in the field and the need for subsequent retest,” explained Michael Scholten, senior product marketing manager for AFL's Test and Inspection Division. “Additionally, automatic wireless transfer of test results to aeRos provides the opportunity for tremendous OpEx savings, as results may be reviewed by expert personnel even before the technician leaves the job site, potentially eliminating follow-up truck rolls.”

“A good example of how the use of technology makes the job easier and more efficient for project managers and their technicians in the field,” one judge noted. “The aeRos Workflow Management capability allows the contractor flexibility in who gets deployed to a jobsite, and what their responsibilities are on that site. It all adds up to projects completed, time saved, and money earned.”

Last but not least, also winning Silver-level honors in the awards program was AFL's Wrapping Tube Cable with Spider Web Ribbons.

Chosen by a panel of cabling and communications system specifiers, designers, integrators and managers, the Cabling Installation & Maintenance Innovators Awards program recognizes the most-innovative applications of cabling and communications technology products and systems within the structured cabling industry. Company and product entrants to the program were judged based on key criteria including: innovation; value to the user; sustainability; meeting a defined need; collaboration; and impact on the industy.

"The judging panel consisted of cabling and communications system specifiers, designers, integrators and managers with vast professional experience," said Alan Bergstein, publisher of Cabling Installation & Maintenance. Bergstein added, “This prestigious program allows Cabling Installation & Maintenance to celebrate and recognize the most innovative products and services in the structured cabling industry. Our 2017 Honorees are an outstanding example of companies who are making an impact in the industry.”

The 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance Innovators Awards Honorees will be featured in the November Issue of Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine, as well as on http://www.cablinginstall.com.