Hitachi Cable has commenced sales of a new twisted-pair cable for LAN use. The new, environmentally friendly "Eco. Green(R)" wire and cable series uses no halogen substances and is just as flame-retardant as conventional vinyl chloride sheathed cables. Another original development is the unique packaging of the LAN cables called the "LAN-RAN Box," which contains no plastic material parts based on environmental mind enables freer withdrawal of the cable from the interior coil without knitting or twisting-also an industry first. Both are designed with the environment in mind.

Hitachi Cable has quickly solved the twin problems of flammability and gas emissions that can occur in the LAN-use twisted-pair cables frequently used in the wiring of office buildings and other structures. Two years ago, the company was first in the industry to conform to JIS C3521 flammability standards for vertical or interfloor cabling. It also developed the NH-HUTP5 LAN cable that contains no halogen substances; this is presently being produced and marketed as one of the "Eco. Green(R)" series.

More recently, however, customers' conscious of environmental concerns has been increasingly demanding non-halogen, flame-retardant cables for horizontal wiring on the same floor. Hitachi Cable has responded by developing LAN cables meeting these desiderata and adding them to its "Eco. Green(R)" series lineup. These cables use polyethylene for insulation and heat-resistant polyolefins as sheath materials; when burned, they emit no halogen gases, dioxins or other toxic substances. The products satisfy the standards of JIS C 3005, which apply to general-use vinyl chloride sheath cabling. In addition, their color schemes are variegated in the same way as existing vinyl chloride sheathed cables.

Hitachi Cable innovation is seen in the packaging as well. Reusable molded paper materials developed by the company have been substituted for the plastic parts at the cable egress port. This eliminates the necessity to separate the two when discarding the box, and because the dimensions are larger the cable is easier to withdraw without tangling.

In light of their special insulation materials, prices of the "Eco. Green(R)" series have had to be higher than ordinary wires and cables that incorporate halogen substances. The newly marketed LAN cables, however, are not required to be as flame-retardant as interfloor cabling, and their price increases can be limited. The improvements in packaging have not resulted in higher prices.

Hitachi Cable plans aggressive campaigns to encourage changeovers to the "Eco. Green(R)" series and its packaging.

Heretofore the highest transmission level for LAN cable has been "Category 5." Because of its deficiencies in transmission capacity, early 1999 will likely see the standardization of "Enhanced Category 5" as a successor. Hitachi Cable plans to make its HUTP5 cable compatible with the new standard at no increase in price.

*	"Eco. Green(R)" is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable.

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