Cicoil Corp
Electrical wires and optical fibers
Company Overview and History
Cicoil, founded in 1956, pioneered the flat ribbon cable, initially providing innovative solutions for early mainframe computers. The company boasts a distinguished history, including its cables being worn by Neil Armstrong during the 1969 moon landing and their integral use in every U.S. astronaut's biomedical harness. Today, Cicoil maintains its position as a global leader in manufacturing high-performance flat cables and custom cable assemblies, operating from its automated facility in Valencia, California. The company's enduring commitment to innovation is evident in its continuous development of advanced cabling solutions for critical applications.
Products and Services
Cicoil specializes in a comprehensive range of flat cables and custom cable assemblies, distinguished by their proprietary Flexx-Sil™ jacket and patented extrusion process. Their product line encompasses standard offerings such as EZ-Flexx™ Motion Series Plus, Hi-Flex Shielded Signal and Motor Power Cables, Controlled Impedance Cables, IDC Ribbon Cables (including micro versions), Festoon Cables, and Hi-Flex Unshielded Single Conductor Power Cables. Specialized cables like Camera Link, Cat 5e/6A Ethernet, FireWire, Coaxial, HDMI, USB, and Thermocouple cables are also available. A key capability is the integration of diverse elements—power, signal, data, video, air, and liquid lines—into a single, compact flat cable. Cicoil empowers customers with an online configurator to design custom cables from millions of variations, with custom orders typically shipping within 1-2 weeks.
Key Advantages and Applications
Cicoil's flat cables offer notable advantages over conventional round cables. They are inherently more flexible, demonstrating a flex life of 10-20 million cycles, often exceeding 100 million, and accommodate small bend radii for space-constrained designs. The flat profile occupies approximately 50% less space, streamlining routing and potentially eliminating bulky cable tracks. The exclusive Flexx-Sil™ jacket provides exceptional durability, functioning reliably from -104°C to +260°C and offering resistance to water, sunlight, radiation, and most chemicals, including salt spray, fungus, deicing fluid, and ozone. These cables are Class 1 Clean-Room rated, emit zero halogens, are flame tested (meeting UL/CSA VW-1, FT 1 & FT 2, UL 94V-0, FAA burn standards), and fulfill low outgassing requirements, making them suitable for vacuum and space applications. Cicoil's products serve demanding industries such as Motion Control and Automation, Medical Diagnostic equipment, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Military/Aerospace applications, including fighter jets, missiles, spacecraft, and eVTOL aircraft.
Quality and Innovation
Cicoil adheres to stringent quality standards, maintaining an ISO 9001 (AS9100) certified quality system, which includes 100% electrical testing for every cable assembly. The company fosters innovation through a dedicated Design/Development Center that facilitates rapid prototyping and close customer collaboration. Their modern manufacturing processes prioritize clean production, expanded capacity, and streamlined workflows, reflecting a steadfast commitment to high-performance standards and customer satisfaction.
