Frost & Sullivan Recognizes RSL Fiber Systems' Optical Fiber Illumination System That Delivers Light Farther & More Safely than Competing Products

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the remote source lighting market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes RSL Fiber Systems, LLC with the 2010 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation of the Year. The company's unique and pioneering fiber optic light delivery and distribution system is the most ideal solution for hazardous or explosive environment requirements, and for safely lighting applications in remote or hard to reach locations.

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Unlike traditional electrical light sources that pose issues such as the generation of significant heat, electrical sparks, and the emission of electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI), the safest alternative for use in hazardous or explosive environments are optical fiber systems. However, traditional remote source lighting systems based on plastic optical fiber often suffer from limited efficiency due to fiber transmission loss and light discoloration.

"RSL Fiber Systems has overcome these challenges with a unique remote source lighting system design that utilizes high-performance proprietary optical fiber cable combined with advanced light coupling technology to give effective light drive distances up to 15 times longer than most traditional plastic optical fiber systems," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Jakub Kwapisz. "To develop this product, the company utilized the interaction of multiple technologies, components, and manufacturing processes."

RSL Fiber Systems has designed and developed proprietary components, light coupling technologies, and optical fiber designs, while also maximizing the manufacturing processes in order to integrate and assemble these unique systems. The critical items of the technology procured from external sources are manufactured under exclusivity agreements solely for RSL Fiber Systems. The company has a number of patents in process for its new, unique technology based on solid state lighting devices.

RSL Fiber Systems' unique technology consists of a combination of illumination system components utilizing high-performance, long-distance optical fiber to safely deliver light non-electrically to a passive, non electrical luminaire in hazardous environments. What differentiates it from competitors is its ability to drive bright illumination efficiently over long distances of up to 1000 feet, or in special applications, even longer.

"An increase of the optical fiber's numerical aperture to 0.48 broadens the geometric coupling angle, introducing over 50 percent more light into the fiber," explains Jakub Kwapisz. "The development and improvement of both the fiber transmission losses and the manufacturability of fibers has helped RSL's system to achieve almost 70 percent higher light transmission efficiency than traditional plastic optical fiber based remote source lighting systems."

In addition, RSL's systems enhance safety by eliminating the need for maintenance personnel to access remote lighting locations; RSL's technology significantly reduces maintenance costs and downtime. The optical cable and passive light fixture (luminaire) can be placed in difficult or dangerous to access locations and will remain maintenance free for years. The remotely-located illuminator components that do require maintenance can be placed in a local control room or maintenance area for ease of replacement.

Specific applications for the system include coal mines, shipbuilding, towers, complex architectures, yachts, refineries, chemical, oil, and gas facilities, offshore oil and gas rigs, first responder applications, and many other industrial possibilities.

In recognition of the unique technology and the high value it offers, RSL Fiber Systems is the worthy recipient of the 2010 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation of the Year in remote lighting systems. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing a technology which significantly impacts both the functionality and the customer value of new products and applications. The award lauds the relevance of the innovation to the industry.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About RSL Fiber Systems, LLC

RSL Fiber Systems, headquartered in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA, was formed as a joint venture between Skyler Technologies and Wire Pro, Inc. in 2001. In 2007, Skyler Technologies took over full ownership of the company and moved its operations to Connecticut into the facilities of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT). In 2009 RSL invested in a new fully-integrated headquarters, operations, R&D and manufacturing facility in East Hartford, Connecticut. The company has given high importance to developing technology, investing millions of dollars in research and development programs. RSL Fiber Systems' research and product development focus is on total illumination systems that maximize the interaction of multiple lighting, optical fiber, and coupling technologies, components, and manufacturing processes. RSL Fiber Systems has designed and manufactured a series of proprietary components, light coupling technologies, and optical fiber designs in order to integrate and assemble these unique systems. RSL Fiber Systems provides advanced lighting solutions worldwide to many industries in the most complex and challenging commercial and military applications. RSL is ready to implement their technology in mining and mine safety, homeland security, energy and chemical, commercial shipbuilding, and many other industries. One of their main achievements was providing remote source lighting applications for the U.S. Navy for shipboard use on the Navy experimental craft "Sea Fighter", the USNS Invincible, and the LPD 17 and DDG-1000 class warships. The company's website is http://www.rslfibersystems.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan