When Fred Guthleben began working at the LyondellBasell (LYB) Fairport Harbor Plant in 1991, little did he know his work and passion for fixing cars would intersect. It’s a passion that started early for Guthleben. He began working alongside his dad on a vintage fire truck at 11 years old and never stopped. At 14, he rode a moped to his job at the local golf course and was known as “Manic Mechanic” in reference to the 1979 ZZ Top song of the same name.
Today, Guthleben is a maintenance specialist and one of 45 employees at the LYB Fairport Harbor Plant, producing wire and cable insulating resin for the automobile and appliance industries. The Fairport Harbor Plant is the exclusive producer of this resin within LYB.
Back in 1955, cars contained a few hundred feet of wire. As automobile technology advanced, the complexity of the electrical system of wire and components also increased. Modern cars may contain up to two miles of wire. Historically, PVC was the primary insulation material, however, PVC is a thermoplastic and may melt if it contacts a hot surface.
To address this limitation, LYB developed and patented its first cross-linkable compounds in 1974. This innovation began a long line of new products for automotive and appliance cable applications, adapting to the evolving industries’ market needs. LYB researchers continue to identify and innovate new products to provide solutions for changing and emerging environments.
The LYB Fairport Harbor flame-retardant, cross-linkable compounds encase the conductor, typically copper, effectively insulating it from the surrounding environment. Once crosslinked, these compounds do not melt upon heating above the operating temperature. This improves safety, as well as the performance of automobiles and appliances.
Over the years, Guthleben has owned many cars and witnessed how engine compartments have evolved. Now, when he looks under the hood, he feels a sense of pride knowing the materials may have been produced by him and his colleagues in the LYB Fairport Harbor Plant.
