Pool tech potential

PERTH'S largest manufacturer of fibreglass swimming pools has developed what it says is a world first - a pool protection system that guarantees the colour won't fade.

Pool ColourGuard is the result of 13 years of testing and development by Hydrawall, which has licensed the technology exclusively to Aquatic Leisure Technology.

Trading as Aqua Technics, Buccaneer Pools and Spas, and Sapphire Pools, Aquatic Leisure Technology supplies 35 per cent of the Western Australian swimming pool market.

Aquatic Leisure Technology general manager Ben Beale said the technology gave the company a significant point of difference over its competitors.

"Things are a little bit tighter out there and obviously all companies are pushing hard for the market share and the dollar that's available, but Pool ColourGuard has enabled us to go to the market with something that's totally unique and different," Mr Beale said.

The company's focus is now on using Pool ColourGuard to enhance its national market share and increase its exports and gain a foothold in Europe and the US, according to managing director Lew Beale.

"We are really hoping to establish a distributor network within Australia, which will have the effect of increasing our local production, both through our Western Australian clients and interstate, and of course we want to grow our existing export distribution network," Mr Beale said.

"We could license a particular manufacturer for the entire US, they have something like 400,000 swimming pools installed every year, so there's a huge market there for us to license the technology to a supplier in the US or in Europe.

"The market in Europe's probably half that, but still enormous by our standards."

Aquatic Leisure Technology currently exports up to 600 pools each year.

Pool ColourGuard was released at a pool and spa tradeshow in Claremont in March, and has also been marketed throughout WA through Aquatic Leisure Technology's network of country dealers.