Optical Core Technology Ltd, OCT, of Bradford, Yorkshire claims to be the first company to be assembling in volume fibre optic products in the UK, independent of component suppliers. OCT, formed by two ex-STC Defence Systems business managers, Mike Gilmore and Frank Kler, is 33%-financed by venture capital from Investors in Industry, 3i, which put up UKP200,000 for the one-third holding. The company sees 50% year on year growth in its area of the fibre optics industry. IBM and Racal have added OCT to their lists of recommended installers and the company claims there are many others now evaluating them. OCT is producing up to 6,000 cables per month and says it has capacity in its 2,000 square feet assembly plant to process up to 6,000 cables per month, and could quadruple this capacity by June. It assembles fibre optic pigtails, test and patch leads and complete cable assemblies with a four-day turnaround.
