Corning opens optical fiber manufacturing plant in Poland

09 Sep 2022

Mszczonów factory developed to meet “growing demand for high-speed connectivity in Europe”.

Corning has this week formally opened a new optical fiber manufacturing facility in Mszczonów, Poland, to meet growing demand for high-speed connectivity in the European Union and surrounding regions. The plan for this plant was announced 18 months ago.

The brand new Poland facility, located just outside the capital Warsaw – and one of the largest optical fiber plants in the European Union, is Corning’s latest in a series of global investments in fiber and cable manufacturing totaling more than $500 million since 2020, supported by growing demand and strong customer commitments, the company this week stated.

This announcement comes just a few days after the company’s news that it will also build a new optical cable facility in Arizona, due to open in 2024, which Corning expects will create 250 jobs at the site near Phoenix.

Broadband expansion

Network operators in Europe are investing in broadband expansion to bring high-speed connections to more people in more communities. These initiatives, along with investments in 5G and cloud data centres, signal the early stages of a large, multi-year wave of growth for networks built on fiber.

Corning, as the inventor of low-loss optical fiber and as a world leader in passive optical communications, believes it is uniquely positioned to support these network build-outs.

The new facility adds approximately 250 employees to the company’s workforce of more than 3,000 in Poland and builds on Corning’s 20-year history of manufacturing in the region. It provides the company with access to talent through the skilled workforce and technical training available in the greater Warsaw area. Corning also manufactures optical cable and connectivity components at its campus in Strykow.

“We congratulate Corning on the opening of this advanced manufacturing facility for the fiber that forms the backbone of the Internet,” commented Józef Kurek, mayor of Mszczonów. “High-speed connections will come to more people and more communities in Europe thanks to the fiber from Mszczonow.”

Besides the Poland and Arizona developments, another Corning cable manufacturing expansion announced in 2021 in North Carolina is currently ramping up. By adding fiber manufacturing capacity in Poland, the company says it will “be able to increase local supply and manufacturing to serve global markets and meet growing demand.”

Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell P. Weeks, said, “Corning is expanding its fiber manufacturing operations in Europe, as our customers accelerate investments in future-ready networks.

“From broadband to 5G to cloud computing, tomorrow’s networks all depend on optical fiber. This facility will ensure we can continue to efficiently serve our customers in Europe and beyond, during a time of record demand. We appreciate the support of state and local officials, and the dedication of our skilled workforce.”