MR. IMTEYAZ SIDDIQUI

Q. What were the strategic motivations for establishing a dedicated APAC & GCC subsidiary, and how has this regional structure enhanced customer engagement and improved supply chain responsiveness in key markets such as India, Australia, and the Middle East?

For over three decades, Polywater has steadily expanded its presence across key international markets. Before the global pandemic, the company had developed strategic plans to establish a stronger local presence in the APAC and GCC regions, aiming to enhance supply chain responsiveness and strengthen customer relationships. While these expansion plans were temporarily delayed due to pandemic-related disruptions, Polywater remained committed to its core mission of anticipating and fulfilling customer needs.

We are happy & proud to share that the launch of our new GCC subsidiary reflects this unwavering commitment. This strategic expansion will enable us to deliver greater accessibility and responsiveness to our customers throughout the region, marking an important milestone in our continued growth across these vital markets.

Q. What user insights and feedback guided the decision to rebuild Pull-Planner as a cloud-native, collaborative tool? Additionally, how do you envision its future evolution, particularly with advanced features such as AI-driven friction estimation and real-time project data integration?

We have rebuilt our Pull-Planner Cable Installation Software to address two critical challenges -speed and accessibility. The previous desktop application created significant maintenance burdens, requiring users to download, install, and regularly update software across diverse hardware platforms and devices. Each system had unique requirements, making it increasingly difficult to deliver timely updates, bug fixes, and database improvements to our global user base.

The migration to a cloud-based platform solved these challenges while delivering immediate benefits. Users can now access Pull-Planner through any web browser on any internetconnected device, eliminating the need for installation and ensuring automatic access to the latest version. Database updates and bug fixes deploy instantly to all users, while the secure, seamless experience transitions smoothly between devices.

The cloud platform also enabled us to address a critical limitation of previous versions: project collaboration. Cable installation projects require coordination between multiple stakeholders, including grid owners, engineers, contractors, and consultants, to ensure feasibility and success. The new Pull-Planner organises work by project rather than individual pulls, enabling multiple registered users from the same organisation to share and collaborate on projects seamlessly. Project managers can now divide cable pulls among team members and control access permissions, significantly improving project visibility and coordination.

Our development team is currently enhancing the platform’s sharing functionality and refining communication tools that support multi-user collaboration. Looking ahead, Pull-Planner will continue to advance data security while incorporating visual modelling based on real measurements and field experience. We’re expanding our comprehensive friction coefficient database through additional testing of customer cables and conduits, supported by large-scale test projects and field installations. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integral to software experiences, we’re evaluating the optimal timing for integrating AI into Pull-Planner to enhance user capabilities further.

Q. What specific field challenges or customer needs prompted the development of the Cable Jacket Repair (CJR) solution? How does it compare to 61 ELECTRICAL MIR OR R || July 2025 || www.electricalmirror.net 14 th Anniversary Issue traditional repair methods in terms of performance and ease of use, and what feedback have you received from early adopters?

At Polywater, we maintain strong collaborative relationships with our customers, who frequently consult us on complex field challenges. During a recent conversation with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), the customer described persistent issues with fibre optic cable jacket damage caused by tree branches and squirrels, seeking a reliable solution. Our R&D team recognised similarities to a challenge we had addressed in a different market several years earlier, prompting us to develop a customised solution.

Following our established product development process, we created initial samples for customer testing and review. To maximise field feedback, we expanded trials to include additional ISPs, gathering comprehensive performance data. The insights gained from these trials led to product refinements, ultimately resulting in the launch of Polywater CJR.

Though recently released, CJR has generated exceptional field feedback due to its speed, ease of application, and long-term durability. Traditional repair methods, such as vinyl electrical tape and split shrink wrap, typically fail under environmental conditions, providing only temporary coverage for damaged jacket areas. CJR delivers a permanent, reliable seal that withstands environmental challenges while offering significantly faster and simpler installation. This combination of performance and convenience eliminates the need to compromise with conventional repair approaches that provide only short-term solutions.

Q.What key challenges and considerations are involved in developing specialised instruments like ZipSeal? What technical obstacles did engineers encounter during its use in 2025, and are there ongoing efforts to adapt the solution for larger conduits or alternative environmental applications?

Polywater ZipSeal expands our comprehensive line of closed-cell expanding foam duct sealants, each designed for specific applications and installation requirements. Our FST sealant system utilises cartridge packaging with dispensing tools, such as high-ratio caulking guns, and requires foam damming strips for installation. AFT features spray foam delivery, making it ideal for quickly sealing multiple ducts. Both FST and AFT target conduits 2 inches or larger, delivering durable, long-lasting seals.

ZipSeal addresses smaller duct applications through its compact syringe packaging that requires no additional tools while providing robust sealing performance. Like FST and AFT, ZipSeal creates permanent seals that remain easily re-enterable—a critical requirement in telecommunications for retrofits and upgrades.

All three products reflect our core design philosophy of balancing high performance with installer ease of use, particularly crucial for sealant applications. ZipSeal needed to meet stringent customer expectations for robust, semipermanent sealing while maintaining affordability relative to its delivered value. The product’s unique formulation presented distinct design challenges that shaped our development approach.

ZipSeal reacts and gels significantly faster than FST, allowing us to replace foam dams with simple mesh strips. However, its rapid foaming characteristics required the development of a multi-injection installation technique to build effective seals. Early formulations experienced syringe leakage from the back side, which we resolved by adjusting product viscosity and refining our filling process.

While ZipSeal targets smaller ducts, field testing has successfully sealed 4-inch conduits using complete kits. Although performance remains excellent at this size, FST and AFT provide more practical and efficient solutions for conduits exceeding 2 inches in diameter.

Q. How does Polywater ensure both speed and quality when launching multiple innovations across diverse global markets? Could you walk us through your product rollout and customer support strategies that help maintain consistency and reliability worldwide?

Our competitive advantage is primarily due to our unwavering focus on field realities and deep industry relationships. We maintain strong connections with end-users, field workers, design engineers, and grid owners, actively listening to identify their challenges that we can solve. This customer-centric approach drives all product development as we always develop solutions by identifying genuine market problems through direct engagement with the industry.

Our organisational structure maximises problemsolving effectiveness across diverse global markets. Regional sales divisions operate independently, addressing the unique geographical, climatic, governmental, economic, and cultural factors within their territories. These divisions surround our centralised R&D laboratory, production, and administrative functions, creating a hub-andspoke model that harmonises common conditions across regions while enabling rapid development and iteration without quality compromise.

This structure proves highly effective during the product development process. Regional sales divisions serve as customer liaisons, ensuring global voices reach our development teams. Throughout the prototyping process, customers actively participate in evaluations and provide feedback, directly informing the final formulations. Product launches utilise a collaborative committee approach, where messaging, sampling logistics, and customer support responsibilities are distributed across sales divisions, ensuring nimble communication and technical support while maintaining established customer relationships.

Our tagline, “Solutions at Work,” embodies this philosophy. We remain continually engaged in developing collaborative solutions, working directly with industries worldwide to address fieldspecific challenges as they emerge. We develop products that perform reliably across a wide range of climates and field conditions. Equally important is our commitment to creating uncomplicated, efficient solutions for workers. This dual focus on performance and usability reflects our dedication to addressing real-world challenges rather than theoretical problems.

Q. Beyond the launch of CJR and the APAC/GCC expansion, what other initiatives are planned on Polywater’s 2025 roadmap? Are there any upcoming products, tools, or software features expected to be released later this year? 

At Polywater, we take pride in supporting global efforts to expand electricity and data access while enhancing network reliability worldwide. Our 2025 initiatives centre on advancing product application methodologies through specialised solutions, including our innovative lubricator collar that streamlines cable installation processes. We’re developing advanced lubricants specifically designed for the growing HVDC (High-Voltage Direct Current) cable and subsea installation markets, while simultaneously expanding collaboration capabilities within our Pull-Planner software platform.

Our commitment focuses on empowering customers to meet the escalating demands of an always-connected world, ensuring they maximise their investments while maintaining the critical infrastructure that keeps our global systems operating seamlessly