Alcoa: News: News Releases: Corning and Alcoa Sign Long-Term Supply Agreement for Optical Fiber

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May 2, 2002

Corning and Alcoa Sign Long-Term Supply Agreement for Optical Fiber

CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2002--

Corning to Supply LEAF(R), MetroCor(TM) and InfiniCor(R) fibers to Alcoa through multi-year agreement valued at $100 million

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) and Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) announced today a strategic agreement for the supply of Corning optical fiber to Alcoa's AFL Telecommunications business through 2005.

The multi-million kilometer agreement, worth more than $100 million, ensures an increasing volume of Corning LEAF(R), MetroCor(TM), SMF-28(TM), SMF-28e(TM) and InfiniCor(R) fibers to AFL Telecommunications each year to cover their worldwide fiber requirements.

AFL Telecommunications will use Corning's optical fiber to manufacture optical ground wire (OPT-GW), all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) cable and other fiber-optic cables, primarily for use in networks for the power utility market. The agreement also includes purchase of any new Corning optical fibers as they become commercially available. The two companies have had a long-term supply relationship for more than 15 years.

"This relationship with Corning ensures AFL a strategic long-term position in the fiber-optic cable market," said Frank Larence, president of AFL Telecommunications. "It allows us to support our current solid customer base and ensures our ability to handle future customer needs as demand for fiber-optic cable increases."

Robert B. Brown, vice president and general manager of Corning Optical Fiber, added, "Corning is proud of its long-standing relationship with AFL Telecommunications, a leader in the fiber-optic industry. AFL was the first manufacturer of optical ground wire cable in the United States and continues to lead both the U.S. and the world in this market. We look forward to continuing to serve AFL and its customers with high-quality Corning fiber and our technological expertise."

Corning invented the world's first low-loss optical fiber in 1970 and provides customers worldwide with high-value fiber solutions for every network application. For more information on Corning's optical fibers, visit www.corning.com/opticalfiber.

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa's aluminum products and components are used worldwide in aircraft, automobiles, beverage cans, buildings, chemicals, sports and recreation, and a wide variety of industrial and consumer applications, including such Alcoa consumer brands as Alcoa(R) wheels, Reynolds Wrap(R) aluminum foil, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its related businesses are precision castings, vinyl siding, closures, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 129,000 employees in 38 countries.

AFL Telecommunications is an industry leader in providing fiber-optic products, engineering expertise and integrated services to the electric utility, broadband, telco, OEM and private network markets. It has operations in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K. For more information, visit www.afltele.com.

About Corning Incorporated

Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest-growing markets of the world's economy. Corning manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic products for the telecommunications industry; and high-performance displays and components for television, information technology and other communications-related industries. The company also uses advanced materials to manufacture products for scientific, semiconductor and environmental markets. Corning revenues for 2001 were $6.3 billion.