Fluidra S.A., global manufacturer of pool and wellness equipment and connected solutions, announced the acquisition of S.R. Smith, a U.S.-based manufacturer of commercial and residential pool deck equipment and accessories, from Champlain Capital, a private equity fund based in San Francisco and Boston. Founded in 1932, S.R. Smith is a leading global manufacturer specializing in…
National Pool Partners (NPP) acquired two regional presidents and four partner companies since June. Bryan Banta, from B&B Pools in Pompano Beach, Florida, joined the company as a partner and regional president over Florida. Banta will oversee NPP’s ambitious Florida expansion plans, including the integration of recent acquisitions Aloha Pool Service in Ft. Lauderdale and…
Experts say the commercial pool industry is slowly starting to get back to a somewhat pre-pandemic normal. Unlike residential pools — which spiked in usage and demand across the United States when COVID hit — commercial pools shuttered nearly overnight. With approximately 255,000 commercial pools in the United States, the sudden halt was a jolt…
While some pool companies dip into both commercial and residential pools on their routes, others have pivoted to focus solely on the former, citing less competition, healthier contracts and deep coffers for HOA, hotel and gym pools, to name a few. And while large bather loads sometimes cause headaches, they say it’s worth it to…
Poolsure is a Houston-based, family-owned company modernizing pool maintenance for commercial pools through chemical automation. Poolsure is part of The Aquasol Companies, which started with Aquasol Controllers in 1975. It designed one of the first pool chemical controllers, which it still manufactures today and is ever-evolving with the latest advances. In 2015, the company acquired…
Commercial accounts can be a lot of work for little to no reward. Look for solid management. The neighborhood doesn’t always matter — rich or poor, they are all on budgets. Are they easy to deal with? Polite? Understanding? The budget impacts repairs getting done in a timely manner to keep the pool safe and…
Remember when we were supposed to have a commercial issue last year, but instead there was a pandemic and everything we planned went out the window? Yeah….me too. So instead of 2020 being our inaugural commercial edition, we are launching it in 2021. For a few years, I’ve been tossing around the idea of becoming…
Edgar De Jesus remembers being at a pump for 45 minutes, stressed out, calling people because he couldn’t get the pump to work. He felt he had nobody to turn to. That experience, and others like it, made him passionate about helping other new pool pros. That passion became Pool Nation, which encompasses a podcast,…
As commercial aquatic facilities begin to slowly reopen post-shutdown and try to re-attract and welcome patrons, many managers are looking for solutions that will help improve both the water and air quality of their facilities. One of the most effective ways to quickly to do this is to add an ultraviolet (UV) system to the…
Many aquatic facilities are turning to waterplay upgrades to bolster guest attendance. As the commercial pool industry emerges from the pandemic, commercial pool builders have the opportunity to guide facility owners toward the best upgrades for their spaces. From waterslides to sanitation systems, builders can advise what’s trending and what accessories will foster a better…
Maintaining water slides and in-water spray features at commercial pools and waterparks keeps the attractions safe for visitors and prolongs the life of the equipment. Because of ownership turnover and communication gaps, however, operators of these facilities don’t always have the necessary information on how to service these features, which can result in inadequate maintenance…
Unlike residential pools, commercial facilities are more likely to have been closed during the pandemic. Finally reopening, the pools now may have peeling, cracks or leaks. One solution pool professionals can offer commercial clients is to line those pools with PVC membrane. Outsourcing or In-House Steve White at Underwater Pools in West Boylston, Massachusetts, outsources…