BOC (booth 3149), a Murray Hill, N.J., supplier of gases, chemicals, equipment, services and technologies to the optical fiber industry, said it has contracted with a fiber manufacturer to place a helium conservation system in the fiber draw operations of its largest plant. The system is expected to help the manufacturer reduce helium consumption by over 80 percent, BOC said. The new helium conservation system helps single-mode fiber producers improve efficiency by reducing the amount of helium used in the fiber draw process, without affecting fiber quality or throughput, according to the company, and is an alternative for fiber manufacturers who do not use enough helium to warrant a full helium recovery and recycle system.