- March 2002 -

March 18th, 2002

Southampton Photonics promotes Dr Steve Norman to Vice President of Operations and Engineering
Recognition of success in setting up new specialty fiber manufacturing facility

California, CA - In-fiber optic components and subsystems vendor, Southampton Photonics (SPI), has promoted Dr Steve Norman to Vice President, Operations and Engineering, in recognition of his accomplishments in bringing SPI’s products from the laboratory into production and his contribution to setting up the company’s new specialty fiber manufacturing facility. This facility has been built to provide Southampton Photonics with the in-house capability to make virtually all types of fibers needed for its high performance optical components and sub-systems.  Based near Southampton, UK, the new facility is fundamental to the company’s business plan, as it gives full control over its manufacturing operation. Prior to his promotion, Steve Norman was director of UK operations, and previously spent over 20 years at Pirelli.

SPI’s products are all based on its Application Specific Fiber Platform which is heavily dependent upon its world-class fiber expertise. Thanks to Dr Norman and his team, SPI now has the most up-to-date drawing facility in the specialty fiber industry, where demand is expected to grow from $239 million in 2000 to $4.38 billion in 2010, according to analysts Electronicast Corp.

“The ability to manufacture specialty fiber was a crucial element of our business plan, right from the start,” said Don Spalinger, Sr. Vice President and co-founder of Southampton Photonics. “The team that brought this project to fruition, led by Dr Steve Norman, is one of the most experienced in the world,” he continued. “As VP operations and engineering, we expect Steve’s enormous experience will continue to prove invaluable in the successful commercialization of SPI’s in-fiber technology.”

Prior to Southampton Photonics
With over 20 years of experience in the commercialization of fiber and photonic products, Norman began his career at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronic Research Center (ORC), doing his early work on MCVD (Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition) technology. Four years later, Norman transferred the ORC’s specialty fiber making processes to Pirelli and led its optical systems technology development team, expanding the work to include the large-scale manufacture and deployment of optical cables.

In the early 80’s, Norman was responsible for integrating and implementing the transfer of VAD technology, a high performance/high productivity fiber-manufacturing process developed in Japan, to Pirelli’s UK operations, establishing a volume production manufacturing plant. The highly successful operation required mastery of the techniques and nuances of two entirely different companies, countries, and cultures, and then identifying, training and building a new manufacturing team.

Norman went on to run the factory before becoming Pirelli’s chief engineer in the UK, where he directed the implementation of many products. During his more than 20 years at Pirelli in optical fiber communications, Norman worked his way up from project manager to Chief Engineer, Telecommunications, and finally Director of Engineering and Quality.

Norman holds a Ph.D. in Optical Fiber Communications Technology and a BSc with Honors in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of Southampton. He is a Fellow of the IEE and was twice awarded the (annual) IEE Electronics Division Prize for the work done at the ORC on fiber technology and single mode fiber development.

About Southampton Photonics
The company manufactures in-fiber optical components and subsystems based on its Application Specific Fiber Platform which allows the manufacture of reliable, high-performance in-fiber components and subsystems in volume. SPI's expertise is in specialty fiber, fiber Bragg grating design and fabrication, as well as amplifier and laser technology. These core technologies form the basis of the company's state-of-the-art components and subsystems, and make optical systems and networks more flexible, powerful and less expensive. Southampton Photonics’ in-fiber technology enables optical networks to transport more bits, over more channels, with greater accuracy, at a lower cost.

For more info visit: www.southamptonphotonics.com

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