The company has recently introduced high-capacity reels that have been developed in close co-operation with Nextrom, the world�s premier supplier of manufacturing solutions and services to the fibre optic industry. High-capacity reels are specially designed for use in fibre draw, proof testing, fibre ribbon lines and cable stranding equipment and holding significantly more product than current Sonoco Crellin reels. Reels are now capable of holding approximately 375km and 725km length of fibre. Flange diameters are respectively 450mm and 540mm. To accommodate different equipment, shaft diameters come in three diameters: 1�, 2� and 3�; flanges are tapered in both executions. For automatic fibre transfer from one reel to another in a dual take-up, tapered flanges can be executed with different slots to pass the fibre through. Both these new reels can be adapted to existing Nextrom machinery. Nextrom has upgrade packages available to modify the machines accordingly.

Due to offering variable traverse sizes customers can design their own customized reel. Furthermore, Sonoco Crellin is currently working on the development of high-capacity reel carriers. These carriers will protect the valuable fibre or ribbon packed on the high-capacity reels from contamination and avoid it from being damaged while being transported or stored.