Starting out focused on photoelectric and vacuum tube controls nearly a century ago, Ripley is no stranger to change. As our customers’ challenges and expectations have evolved, so have the product lines from Ripley and our brands: Cablematic®, Miller®, MultiWave Sensors, ODM®, and UtilityTool®. We know that our customers love these brands – a pair of Millers has been a staple in any fiber technicians’ toolkit for decades and even the biggest tool companies can’t compete with UtilityTool’s range of wire stripping bushings. We’ve noticed a trend in recent years though – linemen carrying Miller fiber strippers, fiber technicians carrying 4×4s or coring tools, and tower installers who need to connect the power, terminate fiber with clean connections and align antennas to exacting standards. Everyone needs the job done faster, safer, and preferably with a custom tool kit to take them from start to finish.

Since joining the Hubbell family in 2022 this need for application-based solutions regardless of brand has only grown. That’s why today we are thrilled to share some exciting news for Ripley – a significant evolution of our brand that promises not only a streamlined experience for our valued customers but also a continuation of both our much-loved products and the high-quality service from our teams that you’ve come to expect.

Ripley Tools has decided to bring together its diverse product offerings previously housed under the separate product brand names of Miller, ODM, Cablematic, UtilityTool and MultiWave Sensors. Going forward, these names will become product lines, unified under the Ripley brand.

Miller, Cablematic, and UtilityTool will transition from brand names to product series under Ripley, while MultiWave Sensors, ODM and any legacy Abeco products will now simply be Ripley products.

This move is driven by the desire to simplify and enhance the customer experience. Instead of navigating through various sub-brands, all our products will now proudly bear the unified Ripley name, making it easier than ever for you to find the tools that solve your challenges.

What will the changes mean for the tools I’ve been buying?

Essentially, nothing. While the names may be changing, everything else about your favorite tools remains unchanged. The products you know and trust are still crafted with the same precision, care and expertise. Our manufacturing process, dedicated team and commitment to excellence all remain steadfast. In fact, this unification offers you a greater opportunity to explore our extensive range of tools – potentially discovering hidden gems that you may not have encountered before from previously different product brands.

In tandem with our brand unification, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new website. This redesign is specifically tailored to make it significantly easier for you to find the tools you need, organized by the job to be done rather than our product sub-brands, as well as introducing our latest tools from all our segments. The simplified interface ensures a seamless browsing experience, helping you locate the right tools effortlessly.

The story so far… and an exciting new chapter

Ripley’s long history reveals a company that’s been able to reinvent itself as times changed and opportunities arose to make a difference for customers. From our founding in 1936, through the acquisitions of UtilityTool Corporation in 1972 and K. Miller Tool Co in 1994, Ripley has always put innovation and a unique understanding of the customer first. Ripley added ODM in 2017 and MultiWave Sensors in 2022 to expand our tool expertise beyond cable preparation and into fiber inspection and antenna alignment, and now as part of Hubbell Ripley is able to support an ever-greater range of installations.

Now, in 2024, as we embark on this transformative journey we are filled with anticipation for the future and the exciting new chapter of each of those brands. 

Craig Tooker, Sr. Business Unit Manager, Ripley Tools, said: “We are really excited to bring all of our tools together under the Ripley name to create the right solutions for our customers. This move is a testament to our commitment to evolving with the needs of fiber techs, linemen and all of our customers, providing them with a more tailored product set so they can tackle the entire job. Ripley’s industry-leading quality and performance will remain the same – and in fact customers will have even more opportunities to find tools that will make their work lives easier, safer and more efficient than ever before.”

How can I contact Ripley if I have any questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about the changes, please reach out to our support team through our Contact us page. 

The post Ripley Tools unveils updated branding to reflect Ripley’s solutions leadership first appeared on Ripley Tools.

That’s why it’s paramount to use the best available tools to minimize risk and increase safety in the workplace. This is particularly important for jobs that require the use of blades, such as cable stripping.

Multi-function cable preparation tools are a good step towards enhanced safety. By minimizing the amount of tools – and hence the weight – line workers need to carry, they facilitate and speed up the job, without compromising on precision or efficiency. Crucially, less weight also means increased safety, as a lighter and less cumbersome kit will allow line workers to operate in a more agile way, especially in bad weather or unsteady footing conditions. 

An extra benefit is the cost factor of multi-purpose tools: by purchasing less equipment, it’s possible to save on upfront costs while still being able to tackle a wide variety of jobs. 

At Ripley, we understand one of the biggest challenges to all our customers is time management: after all, time is money. When repairs or new installations are urgently needed, it’s important to be able to quickly move from one job to the next – without making mistakes that could force a rework. In this sense, multi-purpose tools can help save valuable time that would otherwise be spent rummaging for the correct tool or part.

A revolution in cable end stripping
It’s no coincidence that multi-purpose tools for cable preparation are on the rise. However, the wide variety of cable materials and diameters means it’s often hard to rely on a multi-purpose tool to get the job done. It can also be difficult to gauge whether the selected tool will be compatible with the rest of a kit.

That’s why at Ripley, we have decided to go the extra mile and provide tools that truly allow our customers to drastically reduce the amount of equipment they need to carry. The latest addition to our versatile product portfolio has been developed by Ripley Labs, our Connecticut-based R&D department, which designs and manufactures the most innovative equipment to meet the growing challenges of the cabling industry.  

To provide cabling professionals with a safe and versatile tool to precisely end strip cables’ insulation, Ripley Labs has launched the VariStrip Series, an all-in-one kit that replaces 20 or more traditional bushings with just five variable bushings. 

Thanks to the patent-pending spring-loaded design, the five bushings in this kit can accommodate various cable diameters – from #1 to 400 MCM, with 500, 600 and 750 MCM variable bushings available individually or as part of a tailored kit. This ensures extremely precise end stripping while providing a kit that is five times lighter – and significantly smaller – than competitors’ counterparts.

Crucially, the VariStrip Series can be used on both aluminum and copper cables, and the tool body can be attached to any standard drill, ensuring full adaptability. With all our tools, safety is paramount which is why we have designed the tool to feature a quick-change collar for an easy and efficient substitution of bushings without having to remove safety gloves. Another great safety feature is the lack of exposed blades, which reduces the risk of cuts and lacerations. To help further, the bushings are color coded for easy size identification, allowing customers to save valuable time. 

The rise of multi-function cable preparation tools testifies to the importance of keeping a worker’s kit as lightweight and flexible as possible. By relying on high-quality, precise and adaptable tools, cable preparation professionals can significantly improve the safety of their teams, while allowing them to work faster and more efficiently. 

You can view all of Ripley Tools multi-purpose tooling portfolio here, or you can get in touch with our expert team for questions, requests and advice.  

Products mentioned in the article

VariStrip Series End Strip Kits

Revolutionary bushings designed to end strip a range of wires with common conductor sizes

The post How multi-function cable preparation tools improve safety for line workers first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Optical power meters, which measure the intensity of light in optic systems, are a case in point. They’re a stalwart technician’s aid but in a market crowded with feature-packed devices, are you in danger of over-specifying – but underusing – an expensive piece of equipment?

Any engineer will think carefully about what they require to get the job done quickly and easily. No bulky user manuals to study, no unnecessary built-in gadgetry – think about what you need, not what manufacturers want to sell you. There are options for every job and budget if you carefully consider the alternatives.

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

In choosing an optical power meter, there are often benefits in keeping it simple:

Quick and easy to use
With busy sites, demanding timescales and multiple users, tech that’s too clever for its own good can be frustrating. Wasted time hitting the reset button, referring to manuals, or asking others for advice can be mitigated by keeping kit firmly fit for purpose.

No unnecessary frills
Similarly, assess what you need in terms of saving, reporting, and pairing ability. If actually you just need a quick indication of optical strength, an audible alert may well be sufficient. Adding memory and software to a meter also adds cost and bulk. It’s not worth the additional outlay if you’re not going to use those features.

Small but mighty
An onsite engineer wants gear that’s compact, easy to carry and slots in their tool bag. Convenience shouldn’t be underestimated when assessing the size and weight of power meters. But sleek doesn’t have to mean flimsy. Meters must also be able to weather the storm of onsite life, and potential drops. Robust and hardwearing are important watchwords.

Budget friendly
Less complex power meters offer excellent value, at a fraction of the cost of more involved varieties or combined OTDRs.

It can be easy to fall for style over substance, but for common troubleshooting issues on optical networks, less can be more!

Miller offers an array of handheld optical power meters – for a simple, and effective entry level option, please take a look at the RP 450.

Products mentioned in the article

RP 450

Handheld Optical Power Meter

The post What do you really need in an optical power meter? first appeared on Ripley Tools.

To accommodate the need for more electricity, more power lines will need to be installed and connected to transmit and distribute electricity. Ensuring a stable and uninterrupted power flow is also particularly important in safety-critical environments such as hospitals and public security buildings, where electricity is needed to perform life-saving tasks. 

However, there are significant challenges to meeting this demand. One of these is the necessity to prep cables correctly, using the right tools and implementing best practices to ensure that work is carried on safely and accurately, and that the result is long-lasting. 

Precise cable prepping

When building new power lines, one of the most fundamental parts of the job is the necessity to join cables together and to terminate them to equipment, or to overhead or underground lines. For power networks to operate reliably in the long run, it is critical that this work is carried on with the utmost accuracy, by experienced personnel using the right tools. 

When prepping single-core medium voltage (MV) cables, contractors and linemen need to be able to handle a wide variety of components and materials, from removing the outer jacket, to carefully scoring the semiconductor layer to expose the insulation material. 

This type of work should never be done with unguarded knives, and it is essential that linemen and contractors use dedicated tools where the blade depth can be precisely regulated. This will ensure that jackets are cleanly removed and that the innermost layers of the cable will not be damaged in the process. 

Spotlight on safety

Another reason to invest in high-quality tools and avoid the use of generic unguarded knives is the safety of operators. According to Lineman Central, power line workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the US, after loggers and manual laborers in agriculture.

The combination of high voltage power and working at height makes this profession  especially risky, leading to a high number of accidents. Storm recovery, in particular, can be one of the most dangerous aspects of the job, as the weather conditions make for an unpredictable working environment and unsteady footing.

Having the right tools and training to work with power cables is of the utmost importance to ensure safety and reach a zero fatalities working environment. 

Removing outer sheathing

Prepping cable ends correctly is a prerequisite for a long-lived and well performing power network. Using dedicated tools will make this job easier, faster and safer, and will prevent errors that would compromise the efficiency of the overall power system. 

For this kind of work, it is often necessary to remove the outer PVC or polyethylene jacket of a cable to expose the neutrals underneath. In this case, one of the most versatile tools to use is an adjustable cable stripper, such as Ripley’s Infinity US01  or WS64 Series. These strippers can remove jackets and various types of insulation materials on primary and secondary utility cables, eliminating the need for a traditional – and dangerous – stripping knife.

Another handy tool is our US16 Utility Tool, which can remove outer jackets on MV cables with the assistance of a powered speed drill. Thanks to its ergonomic, self-feeding design and micro-indexing blade control, the US16 provides safe, clean jacket removal while protecting the underlying layer.

To assist in the removal of outer sheathing from larger cables, you can also use a slitting tool such as our US15 Large Format Cable Slitter, which has been especially designed to perform slit, ring and spiral cuts on cables with a diameter between 10 and 60 mm. 

Removing the semi-conductive screen

To remove the semiconductor layer, or semicon, it is crucial to use a tool that will not cut into the insulation layer, an error that would almost certainly lead to failure due to damage to the underlying insulation. The technique is to make spiral or longitudinal cuts that are (slightly) less deep than the semicon’s thickness, which allows for it to be removed in one or more strips. Once peelable semicon has been scored, our RFNP pliers are perfect for lifting the end to then peel the semicon from the insulation. 

An essential step before starting this process is to set the cutting depth of the blade to the appropriate length, which is why it’s important to use precision scoring tools. Scorers from our SCS Series are perfect for the job, as they can precisely score the semicon layer without damaging the insulation. These scorers can accommodate cables with a diameter between 8 and 51 mm, while larger cables, between 45 and 75 mm, can be handled with our SCS MAX Series. For cables that require shaving for bonded semicon, US02 is the perfect solution.

Insulation can be cut back to expose the conductor using a tool such as the WS5 Series WS6 Series or the versatile US01. Finally, most applications  require the cable edge to be chamfered, or tapered, to remove sharp edges and avoid the risk of air pockets. In this case, our US10 Cable Insulation Chamfering Tool is perfect for the job, thanks to its sharp blade, delivering a smooth chamfer. Its adjustable clamping system can be quickly and easily locked onto the insulation, providing a stable and precise clamping platform in any space. 

By using the right tools, lineman can prep cables safely and accurately, while playing a central role in helping our society move towards electrification and away from fossil fuels.

¹ https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/

² https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/electric-power-and-natural-gas/our-insights/facing-the-future-net-zero-and-the-uk-electricity-sector

³ https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/electric-power-and-natural-gas/our-insights/five-trends-reshaping-european-power-markets

⁴ https://www.linemancentral.com/lineman-positions/how-dangerous-are-power-lineman-jobs

The post Powering on – with the right tools first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Today’s world is a digital one. Whether it’s talking to friends on social media, watching a  favorite show on a streaming platform, paying bills, ordering goods, or making video calls as part of a job, we all depend on reliable and fast internet connections.

As such, the demand for broadband – enabling greater connection speeds, performance and consistency – continues to grow, with broadband helping deliver economic growth, stimulating innovation, and creating new jobs.

In the US, the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative will invest $45 billion to provide affordable, reliable, high-speed internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade¹. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Government’s Levelling Up white paper has set an ambitious target for gigabit-broadband, with an aim of nationwide coverage for at least 99% of premises by 2030². In Western Europe, broadband penetration has steadily increased during the last decade, and is expected to reach almost 90% by 2030³.

Fiber optic cabling has a key role to play in delivering on these ambitions. The advantages of fiber optic cable are numerous. When compared with traditional broadband, optical fiber cables enjoy less interference and maintain stronger signal strength over greater distances, while operating at a higher frequency, achieving greater bandwidth and faster connection speeds as a result.

But there are significant challenges to meeting this demand. From the scale involved – many rural or urban areas in the US have limited or no access to broadband, with 12% of Americans currently without a home broadband connection⁴ – to the fact that modern cables can now contain thousands of fiber strands, delivering on these goals is a balancing act between speed and precision.

In order to meet this requirement, a fiber optic engineer needs to be equipped with the right tools and training to undertake this critical task. Cable preparation work needs to be completed at pace, while ensuring accuracy, cleanliness and testing is never compromised.

The anatomy of a fiber optic cable

When prepping fiber optic cabling, a fiber optic engineer needs to feel confident and assured they have the right tools to hand, every time. With customer expectations and demands to meet, installers require tried and trusted equipment that enables them to perform their jobs safely and to the highest possible standards. Whether it’s cutting, stripping, scoring, splicing or connecting, technicians want the peace of mind of tools that will allow them to complete a job in a simple and fast manner.

Engineers have to handle a range of components when prepping optical fiber cables. From carefully removing the polyethylene outer jacket and inner sheath and PSP armor, protecting against moisture and abrasion, to ensuring a fiber strand is clean in preparation for splicing, you can see all the components contained within a cable in the illustration below.

Pushing broadband boundaries

There are a range of easy-to-use, efficient and safe tools that are recommended for cable preparation projects. Our Miller® FTS buffer tube scorers are designed to be incredibly easy to use, allowing quick access to loose buffer tubes up to 6mm in diameter. Simply press the tool’s halves together to open it, and then place it at the desired strip point. Then, rotate the tool a couple of times to create a score. If done correctly, this will provide clean access to the fibers below with no damage.

Meanwhile, the market-leading MB02 series makes cable access faster, easier and safer for engineers. The multi-purpose precision slitter features a modular tray design for work on various dielectric cables. With a range of inserts available, trays are color coded and magnetic, making them easily swapped out to accommodate accurate blade depths and cable diameters, providing unrivaled flexibility. Performing accurate ring and longitudinal cuts on dielectric cables of up to 0.79” (20mm) in diameter, the MB02 series should be a mainstay in any engineer’s toolbox when working on optical fiber cables.

Another recommendation is the MSAT-X from Miller®, a versatile shaving tool for gaining mid-span access to bare or buffered fiber cables. Equipped with a unique spring-loaded plate and dual stripping channels, the solution lets a fiber optic engineer load 1.9 to 5mm diameter cables into the same cutting blade, without a sizing gauge.

There’s also the CFS-3 series fiber optic stripper. Featuring a three-hole design, this efficiently removes fiber jackets and buffers, sized between 1.6mm and 3mm, down to the 125 micron bare fiber in one compact tool.

It’s also critical to ensure fiber strands are clean, as oil, dust and dirt particles can result in attenuation. Fiber inspection microscopes from Miller® are recommended, so an engineer can check an endface for faults. And with fiber optic networks reliant on the correct light connections in order to function correctly, a visual fault locator like the FO-VFL series can help a fiber optic engineer quickly find fiber breaks, leaks, stress points and faulty connections. With so many fiber strands contained within a cable, identifying faults fast is absolutely essential.

By following these steps, fiber optic cable engineers can perform their jobs to the highest quality and safety standards, while playing a critical role in helping the world move towards its ambitions for faster, stronger broadband.

¹ National Telecommunications and Information Administration, ‘Biden-Harris Administration launches $45 billion “Internet for All” initiative to bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to everyone in America’, https://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2022/biden-harris-administration-launches-45-billion-internet-all-initiative-bring

² UK Parliament, House of Commons Library, ‘Gigabit-broadband in the UK: Government targets and policy’, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8392/#:~:text=The%20Levelling%20Up%20White%20Paper,85%25%20of%20premises%20by%202025. 

³ S&P Global Market Intelligence, ‘Breaking into Europe’s Digital Infrastructure Markets: Drivers and Trends’, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/blog/breaking-into-europes-digital-infrastructure-markets-drivers-trends-3

⁴ Broadcom, ‘Connecting America: Broadband as critical infrastructure’, https://www.broadcom.com/blog/connecting-america-broadband-as-critical-infrastructure 

The post Taking a closer look at the anatomy of a fiber optic cable first appeared on Ripley Tools.

The market-leading MB02 has been designed to speed up full-fiber broadband rollout by making cable access faster, easier and safer for engineers. The multi-purpose precision slitter features a modular tray design for work on various dielectric cables. Trays are color coded and magnetic, making them easily swapped out to accommodate accurate blade depths and cable diameters. 

A range of 19 new tray inserts are now available, providing unrivalled flexibility and compatibility with a wide variety of cable sizes. 

Purchased in sets, the tray inserts cover the following dimensions:

• Blue series: 5–12mm; 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7mm blade depth
• Green series: 8–11mm; 1.0mm through 3.0mm blade depth, 0.25mm increment
• Red series: 11–14mm; 1.0mm through 3.0mm blade depth, 0.25mm increment

Our extended range offers full flexibility, with the chassis and trays available to purchase as a set or individually. This unique approach means cable engineers only need to purchase and carry with them the insert trays they need for the depth of cable they’re working on. Doing this will not only make their work more efficient and precise but, by eliminating the need to keep buying more tools, also help keep costs down.

The market-leading MB02’s unique ability to make precise incisions on two sides of a cable without touching the encased fibers speeds up the cable stripping process and improves quality levels. 

The tool is spring loaded and has steel-armored blades capable of cutting cable jackets up to 20mm in diameter. It is approved for use with two major cable types – AFL Fujikura and Corning MiniXtend fiber cables.

With the Miller® MB02 now even more convenient, quick and precise thanks to the new extended range of trays, it’s easy to see why every fiber optic cable engineer would benefit from having it in their kit. 

The post Ripley extends MB02 cable slitter range with flexible tray options first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Multiwave Sensors is a rapidly growing business with advanced solutions for GPS directional and position measurement used in wireless antenna installation and other markets. It is one of the largest suppliers of antenna alignment solutions based on precise GPS measurement of azimuth, height, and tilt to align radio transmitters for cellular service. The company’s ‘Smart Aligner’ technology has become a standard solution for tower climbers worldwide. 

In parallel with the acquisition by Ripley Tools, Multiwave Sensors has just released an enhanced version of the Smart Aligner. The technology is now the only solution offering access to four Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellations with rapid measurement results and the most versatile mounting design to accommodate all cellular and microwave antenna, while allowing for the highest precision and correction for multipath interference. Multiwave Sensors will also offer expanded support and service for worldwide customers, leveraging the Ripley Tools global footprint and its partners. 

The acquisition will enable Ripley Tools to offer a broader suite of advanced and integrated solutions to simplify installation of antennas from alignment through optical fiber connection, including installation tools for power and grounding cables. The company plans to expand the Multiwave brand with additional solutions targeting wireless test and measurement to leverage a growing presence in the cellular tower market. Multiwave Sensors also brings additional imaging and optical engineering design capabilities to Ripley Labs, the worldwide innovation arm of Ripley Tools.

“Mobile phone infrastructure continues to undergo a technology transition to ‘5G’, requiring installation and upgrades of antennas along with more robust network and power interconnections and the deployment of hundreds of thousands of new ‘small cells’ for densification,” said Dr. John Jutila, CEO of Ripley Tools. “We are proud to add Multiwave Sensors to our family of brands to help service this growing market.”

Bruce Clifford, Co-Founder and President of Multiwave Sensors, added: “As a Canadian manufacturer, we are eager to team with Ripley Tools to expand their existing manufacturing footprint while leveraging their global sales and distribution network to grow our business further.” 

Mark Frischman, Co-Founder and CTO of Multiwave Sensors, noted: “Multiwave Sensors’ track record for innovation fits very well with Ripley Tools. We are excited to partner with their award-winning innovation arm, Ripley Labs, to continue to develop new ways to make jobs easier for field technicians and engineers which leverage our proven expertise in precise geolocation measurement based on advanced GPS and laser technologies.” 

Ripley Tools and  Multiwave Sensors will be exhibiting at The Wireless Infrastructure Association Connect (X) conference May 23 – 26. To speak to an expert from the Ripley Tools family, visit booth 503.

For more information on Ripley Tools visit www.ripley-tools.com 

Ends.

About Ripley Tools

Ripley Tools (www.ripley-tools.com), founded in 1936, is a leading global manufacturer of tools and test equipment for mission critical utility professionals installing and maintaining power, broadband and wireless infrastructure. The company is based on Cromwell, Connecticut (USA) with facilities in New Hampshire (USA), Canada, and the United Kingdom. Ripley Labs, the worldwide innovation center for Ripley Tools, provides advanced design, prototyping and production of new solutions for the company and partners with inventors, cable manufacturers, OEMs and other technology partners to being new innovations to market.

About Multiwave Sensors 

Multiwave Sensors (www.multiwavesensors.com), founded in 1997, develops geolocation and positioning solutions based on precise GPS and laser technologies for the wireless, telecom, and energy markets. The company offers the Smart Aligner solution for precise directional measurement of cellular and microwave antenna, as well as a variety of azimuth pointing systems and laser range finders for oil & gas, mining, defense and other applications.

For further information:

Ripley Tools

Keith Badger, Global Director of Marketing

badgerk@ripley-tools.com

+44 1 384 400070

The post Ripley Tools has acquired Multiwave Sensors first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Expertly designed for use in the energy sector, the UtilityTool® US16 enables engineers to remove outer jackets on medium voltage power cables more easily, safely and efficiently. The innovative tool incorporates a drill and self-feeding design, which makes jacket removal efficient and reduces the physical strain of the task for engineers. The cable is guided through the tool using a bushing and there are a range of bushing sizes available for use on different cable types up to 1.5” in diameter.

To ensure accuracy, the US16 features a micro indexing blade depth control and a simple mechanism for adjusting the blade depth when required, which protects the cable shielding. The tool cleanly removes the jacket to expose the cable shielding, allowing engineers to carry on with the job in hand.

In development of the US16, Ripley Tools worked closely with lineman, Andy Sedlacek, which has given a unique and expert insight into the specific challenges faced in the field and how they can be solved. The original version of the US16 was invented by Andy and Ripley Labs worked with him to further refine the tool and make sure it meets all the needs of energy engineers worldwide. One of the challenges was that existing tools put excessive strain on the wrist and elbow joints, so the US16 prioritises safety and comfort on the job.

Brian Bourgoin, Director of Engineering at Ripley Tools, commented: “The importance of having the right tool for the job should never be underestimated. Tools should not only perform the task in hand but they must offer users the highest levels of safety and comfort. The wrong tool can expose workers to health and safety risks and the potential for long-term impact on the body. The US16 is a great example of how, through close collaboration with industry, a tool can be developed that makes a real difference to an engineer’s working life, improving safety, comfort and helping to get the job done more efficiently. I’m proud of our team for this example of innovation and ingenuity.”

As is to be expected from Ripley Tools, the US16 has been designed with durability in mind, to ensure a long lifetime for the tool and offer reliability for users. And, importantly, it can be customised to suit the requirements of a specific job. For example, the US16 can come with a customised bushing to ensure a precise fit.

The US16 was designed and built at Ripley Labs in the USA. It is available now from Ripley’s partners across the globe.

For more information visit https://ripley-tools.com/product/us16

For more information about Ripley Tools, please contact us at 1-860-635-2200 (toll-free in the USA 800-528-8665), or by email: info@ripley-tools.com. Ripley products and authorized distributors are located at www.ripley-tools.com.

The post Ripley breaks the mold with launch of innovative UtilityTool cable jacket stripper US16 first appeared on Ripley Tools.

Your tools should never slow you down

When speed is of the essence, having the right tools for the job can make all the difference to your working day. But when you’re out in the field you also need to consider how much you want to carry with you; you don’t want your tools to slow you down. This is where tools that are both lightweight and flexible become invaluable  – especially if making the right choice means you only have to carry one tool instead of several.

An essential piece of kit for anyone working with fiber optic cables is a mid-span access tool. An effective mid-span access tool will allow you to quickly and easily access the fibers within buffer tubes in a mid-span location, without damaging the fiber. Engineers might typically carry multiple tools of this type, to cater for different cable diameters. However, it’s now possible for engineers that are looking for the ultimate mid-span access tool to find one that’s not only lightweight but also flexible enough to use across a range of cable types up to 5mm in diameter. It’s called the Miller® MSAT-X.

The benefits of choosing the Miller® MSAT-X

At Ripley Tools, we believe in continuously innovating to create tools that not only last longer and offer excellent performance throughout their lifetime, but also help to future proof the toolkits of the skilled people who use them. The new MSAT-X has been built to cope with the demands of a rapidly evolving fiber optics marketplace – and workplace.

The MSAT-X Dual Channel Fiber Access Tool was created and trialled by Ripley Labs and is a new addition to the Miller® tool range. It is able to provide unrivalled flexibility thanks to a uniquely designed loading ramp, which enables cable jackets to be loaded precisely into the same cutting blade without the use of a sizing gauge. 

In fact, everything about the MSAT-X has been designed to make it easier to use and more adaptable to changing requirements. Its versatile deep and shallow cutting channels are color coded for easy identification and its ergonomic shape and lightweight design means it’s simple to work with; hand fatigue simply isn’t an issue. The MSAT-X is a high-quality, durable choice – and because it’s versatile enough to do the job of several mid-span access tools, it’s also a cost-effective one.

The only mid-span access tool you need 

When time is short and budgets are tight, tools like the Miller® MSAT-X are real game-changers for fiber optic cable engineers and the businesses they work for. This is a tool that really does have the X-factor. It’s been extensively tested, from prototype through to a developed product, by experienced engineers; so you can be sure it will offer the performance and durability you need. Its versatility makes it the first mid-span access buffer tube cable shaver of its kind  – and with the ability to safely and accurately shave cabling of any diameter up to 5mm, it’s possibly the only specialised mid-span access tool that you’ll need to carry. 

Discover the MSAT-X 

Interested in these products? You might also like…

The post Does your fiber access tool have the x-factor? first appeared on Ripley Tools.