Clearfield Expands Craftsmart® Portfolio with 8- and 10-inch FiberFirst™ Pedestals

Key Terms

build america, buy america (baba) regulatory

A U.S. federal procurement requirement that directs projects funded by the government to use iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials produced in the United States; it acts like a rule that favors local suppliers on public infrastructure work. Investors care because it can reshape which suppliers and contractors win government-backed contracts, affect supply chains, change costs and margins, and influence demand for domestic manufacturers versus foreign competitors.

fiber-to-the-home (ftth) technical

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the installation of optical fiber cables all the way to individual residences, replacing slower copper or coax lines so homes get much faster, more reliable internet and phone service. For investors, FTTH matters because it drives demand for higher-margin services, requires large upfront network investments, and can influence a provider’s growth prospects and long-term costs much like upgrading a city’s roads enables heavier, faster traffic.

direct-bury technical

Direct-bury describes cables, pipelines or other infrastructure installed directly into the ground without additional protective conduit or above‑ground support. For investors, direct-bury choices affect project cost, installation speed, repair complexity and exposure to weather, digging or corrosion risks—similar to the difference between laying a garden hose directly in soil versus running it through a protective sleeve, which influences long‑term maintenance and replacement costs.

splice trays technical

A splice tray is a small, protective holder used to organize and secure joined ends of fiber optic cables where two fibers are fused or connected. Like a tidy jewelry box for delicate threads, it keeps those connections safe, accessible for repairs, and aligned to prevent signal loss; investors care because splice trays are a basic but essential part of telecommunications and data-center infrastructure, affecting network reliability, maintenance costs, and the capital and operating expenses of companies building or running high‑speed networks.

thermoplastic technical

A thermoplastic is a type of plastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled, so it can be melted, reshaped and reused multiple times—think of chocolate that melts and then re-solidifies. For investors, thermoplastics matter because their ease of molding, recyclability, and cost profile influence manufacturing flexibility, supply-chain resilience, regulatory risk and long-term demand across industries, which can affect margins and growth prospects.

restricted stock financial

Shares granted to an individual that carry limits on transfer or sale until certain conditions are met, such as staying with the company for a set time or hitting performance targets. Think of them as a locked gift that gradually opens; for investors they matter because they affect how many shares may enter the market later, signal management incentives and potential dilution, and reveal confidence in future company performance.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

These BABA-compliant and competitively priced solutions deliver flexibility and universal compatibility for today’s broadband builds

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLFD), a leader in fiber connectivity solutions for broadband, data center, and wireless network infrastructure environments, today announced the launch of the CraftSmart^® FiberFirst™ 8- and 10-inch pedestals, designed to give network operators a more flexible, field-ready solution for modern Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) deployments.

The new 8- and 10-inch options round out Clearfield’s pedestal platform offering. Ranging from the smallest 6-inch pedestal to the largest 12-inch pedestal, the size range supports the most common access network deployments. In a category long defined by commodity products with limited differentiation, they introduce an all-in-one platform—supporting both Clearfield and third-party components to eliminate vendor lock-in and enable operators to adapt configurations in real time without costly rework or delays.

With an intuitive rail mounting system and integrated universal mounting backplane with 360-degree user access, providers can quickly deploy and reconfigure components in the field. The result is faster installation, fewer truck rolls, and lower total deployment costs, further supported by volume-based pricing designed to scale with broadband buildouts.

“In today’s build environment, small inefficiencies at the access layer can create outsized cost and delay,” said Anis Khemakhem, COO of Clearfield. “With our full line of FiberFirst pedestals, we’re giving customers a practical, universal solution that simplifies installation, supports a wide range of components and keeps projects moving forward.”

Manufactured in the United States, the pedestals fully comply with Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements, making them a strong fit for federally funded broadband programs, including BEAD. As providers continue to face long lead times and supply chain challenges, Clearfield’s offering also serves as a reliable, cost-effective alternative to legacy pedestal solutions.

Engineered for real-world deployment scenarios, the pedestals support direct-bury and stake mount applications through a split-base design. The lightweight, high-impact, thermoplastic construction and domed cover design is engineered to withstand harsh environmental conditions while simplifying handling in the field.

Clearfield’s FiberFirst 8-inch pedestal is optimized to accommodate a range of components, including splice trays, mounting brackets, and compact terminal options. The 10-inch version provides additional capacity for larger terminal configurations and expanded fiber management needs. The 30-inch dome enclosures (43 inches total height) include an integrated removable drop channel and built-in stake mounting location, helping crews complete installs faster and more efficiently.

The CraftSmart FiberFirst 8- and 10-inch pedestals are available now, with products on display at upcoming industry events, including Fiber Connect 2026.

To learn more about the FiberFirst pedestal portfolio, watch the introductory video and visit the product page. For more information about Clearfield’s complete fiber connectivity portfolio, visit www.SeeClearfield.com.

About Clearfield, Inc.

Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD) designs, manufactures, and distributes fiber optic management, protection, and delivery solutions that enable high-performance connectivity across a wide range of markets, helping to close the digital divide. Clearfield’s labor lite, craft-friendly platform is leveraged by community broadband providers, MSOs, incumbent service providers, ISPs, data centers, wireless providers, IoT networks, the military, municipalities, and cooperatives to connect homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure faster and more efficiently. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Clearfield deploys more than a million fiber ports each year. For more information, visit www.SeeClearfield.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260504814044/en/

Media Contact:
Christy Barbaran
Connect2 Communications for Clearfield, Inc.
Clearfield@connect2comm.com

Source: Clearfield, Inc.