WORLD NEWS

Stonetech Builds A Longterm Relationship With Award-winning Resort The rock waterfall pictured here was created using a concrete squeeze pump, which was the ideal solution for Pool Crafters to create the detailed rock look

Over the last 25 years, Stonetech – a partner to Cranbourne Stone – has worked with Stella Island and helped them create a unique and award-winning resort in Crete. Stella Island is family-owned and offers an idyllic playground for adults looking to escape their hectic schedules and reconnect with their special someone. Based around an exquisite lagoon-style, palm-fringed swimming pool, Stella Island’s luxurious atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Most of the resorts’ 89 beautiful rooms and villas provide direct access to this stunning wrap-around pool, one of the first of its kind in Greece and certainly the largest. And it is a pool that Stonetech helped build. Stella Island approached Stonetech with the vision of creating a brand new resort that

complemented and expanded upon the brand’s existing three hotels. They wanted to create a luxurious hotel and knew that quality finishes such as natural stones, would play a large part in making this dream a reality. Stella Island’s owners wanted to create an intimate atmosphere, where guests would feel like they were on a Greek island, rather than the mainland. A stunning, overflow pool, containing over 1,200 litres of water, would serve as the hotel’s central point and allow them to create an idyllic island setting. Over six months, Stonetech worked closely with Stella Island and architects to make decisions about natural materials and stone colours. They listened to the architect’s ideas and then produced custom proposals recommending the best colour options. Stella Island’s unique design led to the resort proudly winning several awards and because they loved the final result so much, they asked Stonetech to work on a further expansion project in May 2019, known as Stella Island 2.

South Florida Pool Company Finds Unique Concrete Crafting Solution Pool Crafters provides finely detailed, high-quality pools to residents in the West Palm Beach area of Florida. Just like an artist with a paintbrush, the work company owner Rock Miller, does with concrete, sand and seashells to shape rocks and waterfalls takes passion and skill and is nothing short of a masterpiece. But creating them hasn’t always been easy. To apply material in those detailed areas the company was using concrete piston pumps, but over time Miller realised it was no longer the best solution. The issue came when Miller had to apply the concrete. He had to run the piston pumps at full throttle to pump a 2- or 3-inch slump and would end up with too much material. It was also too fast, pumping as much as 20 cubic yards per hour. The pools’ detailed work took time and Miller, now in his 60s, wanted to slow down the process so he could achieve high-quality results as close to nature as possible. While searching YouTube for an answer to his issues, Miller stumbled upon Blastcrete Equipment LLC, an Alabama-based concrete pumping equipment manufacturer. Miller and the manufacturer had many conversations about possible solutions, including a squeeze pump that offered a 0- to 12-yard-per-hour output. After Blastcrete dispelled the myth that a squeeze pump couldn’t handle the crushed limestone found in concrete in the South, Pool Crafters purchased the D6528. The machine is a mixer and pump in one unit that Miller powers with his T550 Bobcat® compact track loader. This setup drastically minimises operation costs and is significantly less costly than purchasing a stand-alone pumping unit. With the demand for swimming pool repairs and new pools in West Palm Beach growing, Pool Crafters now has the right tool to optimise its process and profits on any project. Blastcrete Equipment LLC +1 800 235 4867 www.blastcrete.com

The Rulantica Indoor Waterpark Launches Rulantica – the new water world at Europa-Park – launched at the end of last year and after just 26 months of construction and anticipation, the groundbreaking major project was finally ready to shine in all its glory. The impressive architecture of the new Rulantica water world catches visitors’ attention even from a distance, whisking them away to the far north. After arriving at the shell-shaped 32,600-square-metre hall,

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visitors continue on their journey and are wowed by a unique mix of Scandinavian landscapes, mystical sceneries and imaginative designs. Mermaids and water sprites alike can go on an exploration tour and discover 25 attractions in nine themed settings all year round and since the end of 2019, numerous water attractions including 17 slides in the breathtaking, 20-metre-high hall have provided guests with splashing water delight.

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 17/01/2020 11:26