Corning’s New EDGE™ Distribution System Accelerates Data Center Cabling Installation by up to 70%

CORNING, N.Y., March 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW), a global leader in optical communications innovations, today unveiled its newest connectivity solution, the EDGE™ Distribution System. Designed to meet the ever-growing demand for information processing in the cloud, this pre-engineered data center solution shortens installation time for server cabling by up to 70%, helps address shortages in skilled labor, and provides up to a 55% reduction in carbon footprint by minimizing materials and packaging.

Today’s data centers – the massive storage hubs that support today’s data-rich applications – must expand to process increasing flows of information, especially as machine learning and artificial intelligence become integral to more and more industries. The EDGE Distribution System builds on Corning’s decades of experience developing pre-engineered solutions for the optical communications industry. The system simplifies the deployment of cabling within data centers, all the way to the server racks.

“This is a critical moment for cloud data centers. They need to quickly ramp up capacity in a time of labor constraints. Corning designed the EDGE Distribution System to meet those needs, providing a new path to capacity, speed, and sustainability,” said Michael O’Day, vice president and chief technology officer, Corning Optical Communications.

Initial deployments at hyperscale data centers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia have shown that the EDGE Distribution System can lower total installed cost by up to 20%.

The EDGE Distribution System is:

• Faster: Existing data center solutions can be too costly or take too long to deploy. The EDGE Distribution System allows operators to add capacity more quickly, consolidating dozens of patch cords into a single assembly. This accelerates the installation process by 70%, makes it safer, and reduces reliance on skilled labor. By adding capacity more quickly, operators can also lower total installed cost and shorten the path to revenue recognition.
  
  
• More sustainable: Operators can redesign their physical networks, from the leaf switches to the top-of-rack switches, minimizing the use of metal and plastic and reducing the carbon footprint of the optical links. In addition, consolidating all the patch cords into one assembly minimizes the use of cable trays and product packaging. Together, the consolidation of cable and the minimizing of materials and packaging can provide up to a 55% reduction in carbon footprint compared to legacy solutions.
  
  
• Customizable: Operators can use Corning’s virtual configuration tools and expert, regionally based technical support to customize the system to their desired fiber counts, number of access points, and connector type.  

“The EDGE Distribution System represents why Corning is vital to progress. Customers bring us their toughest technology challenges, and we combine our core technologies with our manufacturing and engineering platforms to create solutions that move entire industries forward,” said O’Day.   

Corning experts will highlight the EDGE Distribution System, along with other fiber, cable, and hardware innovations, in Booth 3629 at the 2023 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition (OFC), March 7-9 in San Diego, California. For more, see our EDGE solutions portal and our media resource center.

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Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions regarding, among other things, current estimates and forecasts, general economic conditions, its knowledge of its business, and key performance indicators that impact the Company, actual results could differ materially.  The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements.  Some of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact across our businesses on demand, operations and our global supply chains; the effects of acquisitions, dispositions and other similar transactions; global business, financial, economic and political conditions; tariffs and import duties; currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and other currencies, primarily the Japanese yen, new Taiwan dollar, euro, Chinese yuan and South Korean won; product demand and industry capacity; competitive products and pricing; availability and costs of critical components and materials; new product development and commercialization; order activity and demand from major customers; the amount and timing of our cash flows and earnings and other conditions, which may affect our ability to pay our quarterly dividend at the planned level or to repurchase shares at planned levels; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, cyber-attack, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, or major health concerns; loss of intellectual property due to theft, cyber-attack, or disruption to our information technology infrastructure; unanticipated disruption to our supply chain, equipment, facilities, IT systems or operations; effect of regulatory and legal developments; ability to pace capital spending to anticipated levels of customer demand; rate of technology change; ability to enforce patents and protect intellectual property and trade secrets; adverse litigation; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; customer ability, to maintain profitable operations and obtain financing to fund ongoing operations and manufacturing expansions and pay receivables when due; loss of significant customers; changes in tax laws and regulations; the impacts of audits by taxing authorities; the potential impact of legislation, government regulations, and other government action and investigations; and other risks detailed in Corning’s SEC filings.
For a complete listing of risks and other factors, please reference the risk factors and forward-looking statements described in our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

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About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning's capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning's markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences.

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