Future-ready draw tower for high-capacity telecom optical fiber production.
Nextrom OFC 20 is an advanced high-speed optical fiber draw tower platform designed for efficient, stable, and scalable telecom fiber manufacturing. The platform combines robust tower architecture, advanced preform feeding, NIF induction furnace technology, high-speed wet-on-wet coating, 4000 m/min gearing readiness, and low-OPEX process solutions in one integrated production concept.
OFC 20 high-speed telecom fiber draw tower
Designed for the next generation of optical fiber production
High-speed telecom fiber drawing leaves little room for process variation. Draw conditions, furnace sealing, fiber cooling, coating quality, fiber handling, winding, and reel changeovers all need to remain stable as production speeds and output requirements increase. For manufacturers, the challenge is to increase capacity while maintaining fiber quality, uptime, and efficient use of factory space.
The draw process turns the preform into finished optical fiber, making it one of the most critical steps in telecom fiber manufacturing. Controlled heating, stable furnace atmosphere, precise wet-on-wet coating, efficient curing, and reliable take-up are essential for repeatable fiber quality and high-capacity production.
OFC 20 is Nextrom’s high-speed telecom fiber draw tower platform for modern optical fiber manufacturing. Available in both Quad and Dual draw tower configurations, the platform is suitable for large-scale greenfield factories as well as capacity expansion projects. The Quad tower configuration enables more draw lines within a compact, robust tower structure, helping reduce floor space, clean-room volume, utility routing, and ventilation demand.
OFC 20 combines the key process technologies required for high-performance optical fiber drawing in one integrated platform: preform feeding, induction furnace technology, Dynamic Iris sealing, preform hot swap, high-speed coating platform, curing, capstan, take-up, automation, and process control. The result is a complete, future-ready production platform for stable, high-capacity telecom fiber production.
Complete platform from one technology partner
Nextrom delivers OFC 20 from one source, combining equipment technology, automation, process know-how, upgrades, spare parts, and service. With hundreds of optical fiber draw lines delivered worldwide, Nextrom provides the experience and long-term support needed to help manufacturers increase capacity, improve factory efficiency, and maintain consistent high-quality fiber production.
Future-ready telecom fiber draw platform
with stable draw conditions, repeatable coating quality, and scalable production through one integrated platform
low-energy induction furnace
Lower energy use & operating cost. NIF induction furnace technology is designed for efficient high-speed fiber drawing with low furnace power consumption, argon-only process gas, automated pressure control, Dynamic Iris Sealing for uneven preforms, and preform hot swap for continuous production.
high-speed coating platform
Complete acrylate wet-on-wet coating ecosystem for ultra-high-speed drawing. Coating platform combines continuous acrylate delivery, material conditioning, bubble removal, stable viscosity, wet-start capability, and high-speed coating applicator technology for precise, repeatable coating quality at high draw speeds.
helium recovery system
Recover helium and reduce production cost. Nextrom’s helium recovery system is designed for high-speed fiber cooling and can recover more than 90% of helium used in the cooling process, helping reduce operating cost and improve the sustainability of fiber production.
flexible draw tower
OFC 20 is available as a Quad tower for four draw lines or a Dual tower for two draw lines. Both configurations use the same robust tower architecture, supporting new factory projects and capacity expansions. The Quad configuration helps reduce footprint, foundations, utilities, clean-room volume, and ventilation demand.
advantages of the OFC 20 optical fiber draw platform
Built for scalable, high-speed telecom optical fiber production
future-ready platform
OFC 20 is designed as a manufacturing platform for today’s high-capacity production and future speed requirements. Its rigid tower architecture, high-speed capstan, and gearing concept are prepared for platform speeds up to 4000 m/min, giving manufacturers a scalable foundation for long-term telecom fiber production. Future technology upgrades are designed to remain compatible with the current platform concept.
large preform handling
The platform is designed for large-preform operation and long feeding distances. Its adaptable preform feeding system supports different preform sizes and handle types, giving manufacturers flexibility for high-capacity fiber production.
continuous production and high uptime
OFC 20 is built to keep production running efficiently through critical process steps such as preform changes, furnace sealing, acrylate delivery, and reel changeovers. The Dynamic Iris Sealing System actively adapts to preform diameter variation, maintains stable furnace sealing along the preform length, and removes the need to change graphite felt sealing elements. Together with true preform hot swap, it supports 24/7 production and helps reduce downtime during preform changes. DFT 2500 dual take-up enables full-speed reel changeovers up to 3500 m/min with high-capacity 1000 km aluminum reels, supporting stable winding and continuous high-speed production.
energy-efficient UV LED curing
OFC 20 can be equipped with UV LED fiber curing technology to reduce curing energy consumption and support a lower production carbon footprint. Compared with conventional curing technologies, UV LED helps improve energy efficiency while supporting stable high-speed fiber production as part of the complete draw tower platform.
advanced automation and process control
OFC 20 gives operators clear visibility and control over the complete fiber draw process. Process visualization, recipe management, reporting, alarm handling, and production data logging support stable, repeatable operation across shifts and production runs.
Automatic draw line ramp-up helps stabilize critical start-up phases, while open data connectivity improves traceability, line management, and factory-level process transparency.
influences on furnace energy consumption
How a fiber draw furnace can cut your energy costs in half
Optical fiber production is a resource-intensive industry. The drawing process in particular uses significant amounts of electrical power and raw materials like graphite, argon, or helium to produce high-quality fiber.
helium recovery system
Helium recovery system
Helium Recovery System recovers up to 90% of used helium, reducing operating costs, securing process stability, and supporting more sustainable optical fiber production.
Ultra-high-speed wet-on-wet Coating Applicator
Redefining precision for high-speed optical fiber manufacturing
The applicator operates at ultra-high speeds of 3000–3500 m/min, delivering outstanding fiber production throughput while maintaining excellent coating uniformity and optical performance.
nextrom's special experience
unmatched flexibility, unrivaled expertise
upgradability
Nextrom’s optical fiber draw manufacturing solutions are designed for long-term. Existing systems can be upgraded with the latest automation, process control, and hardware developments to support changing production requirements and next-generation fiber designs.
With dedicated lifecycle support, customers benefit from improved performance, enhanced process stability, and extended equipment lifetime, while minimizing production interruptions and enabling continuous process improvement.
process knowledge
Rely on our dedicated experts, backed by multiple years of combined experience to guide you through commissioning and process training. Our tailored setup recommendations minimize tuning time and speed up your production ramp-up. With a proven global track record and hands-on industry know-how, we ensure you get into full-scale production faster, more efficiently, and with unwavering confidence.
references
We deliver proven know-how to jump-start your production, maintain top-tier quality, and preempt operational pitfalls. Industry leaders repeatedly rely on Nextrom, clear proof of our unwavering reliability and superior performance.
local support
Benefit from truly local teams across the US, China, India, and Europe, each offering quick response times, spare part availability, and support in your local language. With experienced engineers on-site, you’ll minimize downtime, optimize productivity, and have peace of mind knowing expert help is always within reach.
find out more about optical fiber manufacturing solutions
Get in touch with our experts and find out more about our solutions
OFC 20 – High Speed Draw Tower
High capacity production
| Preform Length: | 8800 mm |
| Preform Diameter: | 230 mm |
| Process Speed: | 3000 m/min |
| Structural Speed: | 3500 m/min |
| Tower Height: | 38 m |
| Production Reel: | 1000 f-km |
| Annual capacity: | 1,5 M f-km |
NPF – Nextrom Preform Feeding
| Preform total length: | 8800 mm |
| Preform total weight: | 700 kg |
NIF – Nextrom Induction Furnace
Graphite induction furnace
Long graphite life
Excellent fiber strength and diameter control
Argon only
| Nominal sizes: | 150 mm, 200 mm, 230 mm |
| Preform diameter: | 230 mm (250 mm on request) |
HSE – Hot Swap Element
Fast preform turnaround
Reduced downtime
NDI – Nextrom Dynamic Iris
Sealing of uneven preforms
AEI – Automated Exit Iris
Automatic open/close with drop detection
Iris stabilizes environment inside Nextrom Induction Furnace
Provides stable diameter control
NAF 13 – Nextrom Annealing Furnace
Relaxes the stress in the glass to achieve low loss attenuation
CAS – Clean Air System
Class 100
Vertical laminar air flow
FCS – Fiber Cooling System
Efficient helium cooling
NHR – Nextrom Helium Recovery System
Optimized for Nextrom cooling tube
Helium recovery rate from 90 % up to 97 %
STC – Start-up Capstan
Fast initiation of the draw process
Correct fiber diameter for start-up
ACS – Acrylate Coating System
Wet on wet coating
AFU – Acrylate Filling System
Fully automated acrylate filling for continuous draw
Allows for continuous draw
UCS – UV Curing System
Industry standard
LED optional
FSU – Fiber Spinning Unit
For low PMD value of optical fiber
FTC – Fiber Tower Capstan
Structural speed of 3500 m/min
Tension measurement
DFT 2500 – Automatic Dual Draw Take-up
Continuous drawing process
Full speed change over
1000 f-km reel
Benefits of OFC 20 fiber draw platform
- Future-ready draw tower platform for high-capacity telecom fiber production
- Quad and Dual tower configurations for new factory projects and capacity expansions
- Compact tower concept supporting efficient factory layouts, clean-room use, and utility routing
- Robust tower structure for stable high-speed operation
- Flexible large-preform handling for different preform sizes and handle types
- Efficient induction furnace technology with controlled furnace conditions and argon-only operation
- Dynamic Iris Sealing and preform hot swap for high uptime and continuous production
- Continuous acrylate delivery and high-speed coating platform for repeatable coating quality
- High-speed capstan and dual take-up technology for stable winding and efficient reel changeovers
- UV LED curing technology to support lower energy consumption and reduced CO₂ footprint
- Helium recovery system to reduce helium consumption in fiber cooling
- Advanced automation and process control for repeatable production, traceability, and transparency
- Long-term upgradeability with service, spare parts, field support, and technology upgrades from one partner
Solutions for OFC 20
- HDT Q / HDT D – Quad and Dual Draw Tower Frame
- NPF – Preform Feeding System
- NIF – Induction Furnace Solutions
- NDI – Dynamic Iris and Preform Hot Swap
- Preform Handle Sealing Solutions
- Fiber Cooling and Helium Recovery Systems
- Wet-on-Wet Coating Platform
- Acrylate Refilling and Delivery Systems
- Diameter Measurement Gauges
- Non-Contact Tension Measurement Systems
- Capstan and High-Speed Gearing Solutions
- DFT 2500 – Dual High-Speed Take-Up
- UV LED Fiber Curing System
- Fiber Spinning, Annealing and Deuterium Systems
- PSU – Advanced Process Control and Data Logging System
- Service, upgrades, spare parts, and field support
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