The Evolution and Excellence of Polywater: A History of Leadership (part 1)

Many professionals working in the Commercial & Industrial infrastructure market and utilities industries have heard of Polywater®. If they haven’t personally encountered the brand, they most certainly have experienced the cascading benefits of Polywater ingenuity. As a global leader of specialty chemical products and solutions, Polywater has played a pivotal role in shaping the infrastructure of electrical and telecommunications industries worldwide — from transforming long-haul underground cable installation with the world’s first water-based cable lubricant in 1973 to developing a range of products designed to harden critical infrastructure. Polywater has been recognized for helping network owners, engineers, cable manufacturers, and contractors solve specific field challenges while helping them realize operational efficiencies and cost savings.

This past year Polywater celebrated their 50th year in business — a major milestone for any organization. As part of the celebration, Polywater took an opportunity to reflect on the history and evolution of their company by interviewing and documenting key leaders within the organization. They recounted the major milestones along their growth trajectory from a single product startup to a global leader in specialty chemicals. This resulted in a short video documentary series called, A History of Leadership: The Evolution and Excellence of Polywater.

The series presents the Polywater story in chronological succession. Above is the first chapter in the series 1973–1981: Transforming the Way Cable is Installed. It covers the origins and early years of the company. The future chapters in the series will be released throughout the winter of 2024/2025.

Links of interest:
Learn how Polywater got it’s name.
Read about the legacy of Polywater’s long-time president, John Fee.