August 25--Liekki is expanding its broad product line of highly doped fibers, optical engines, and simulation software with the offering of custom preform manufacturing services. The company's Direct Nanoparticle Deposition (DND) process provides single-step deposition of extremely highly doped core preforms. DND's nanoparticles also mitigate the onset of clustering and related effects such as photodarkening in ytterbium fibers. Reportedly, DND rapidly directly deposits waveguiding and doping materials simultaneously in a single step. It is particularly effective for large mode area (large core) fibers requiring flat refractive index profiles and/or radially doped profiles. Also, large core/clad ratio preforms can be realized cost effectively.
In addition to conventional round preforms, Liekki's flexible glass works technology allows for manufacturing of other non-circular shapes, such as rectangular preforms. "We have recently upgraded our manufacturing facility, which has resulted in our preform manufacturing process offering significant performance advantages and lower costs when comparing conventional processes. We offered our services on a limited basis and had great success. We felt that it was time to offer our preform services more broadly. We continue to offer the highest performance fibers in the industry. Preform supply allows us to leverage additional volume in our facility," says William Willson, Liekki's vice president markekting and sales.
For more information, visit www.liekki.com.