COMPANY FOCUS
Waterco Celebrates 40 Years In The Pool And Spa Industry From humble beginnings in Australia to becoming one of the market leaders with a worldwide presence, Waterco has come a long way since its founding and is now an established brand, with its products found in plant rooms of wet leisure facilities, both big and small
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ater treatment manufacturer and distributor Waterco Limited is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The company’s founder and CEO, Soon Sinn Goh, said they are marking the milestone by reflecting on the tenacity that saw the company survive everything from shoestring budgets and factory fires, to the global economic crisis and the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in 1981 selling PVC pipes in Sydney, Australia with three staff and one truck driver, Waterco now employs 715 people globally including 476 staff in its 211,125 square metre Malaysian manufacturing facility. It is also the founding franchisor of Swimart, one of Australasia’s biggest and oldest pool and spa networks. Mr Goh said that, despite facing a number of industrial, economic and environmental challenges, Waterco continues to innovate, expand and diversify. “We celebrate our 40 years in business in a position of strength, having survived recessions, economic downturns, two factory fires and one pandemic,” he said. He attributes Waterco’s position as a dominant player in the international swimming pool and water treatment sectors to the company’s innovative engineering and efficient manufacturing processes. “This enables us to deliver high quality, durable products to over 40 countries around the world,” he continued. “Thanks to our loyal staff, customers, investors and Swimart franchise partners, we are now able to proudly position ourselves as a successful Australian company competing effectively on a global scale.” Waterco has maintained a strong presence in Europe since the acquisition of Lacron,
the UK’s largest manufacturer of pressure sand filters, back in 2003. Since that time Waterco Europe has gone from strength to strength and continued its growth both within the UK and across Europe. Waterco’s water and energy saving innovations, including its proprietary injection moulding techniques, continue to set benchmarks in the industrial water treatment and aquaculture industries. The company’s Micron fibreglass commercial filters are the largest found in the market today while its Climate Care Certified range of products provide consumers with energy and water saving solutions. Key company milestones include: 1974 – Soon Sinn Goh graduates from the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Commerce 1981 – Soon Sinn Goh migrates to Australia from Malaysia 1981 – Commences trading as Dronaco and distributing PVC pipes and fittings to the pool and spa industry 1983 – Opens first retail store called Swimart 1986 – Commences business as a franchisor of Swimart pool and spa franchise network
Waterco has maintained a strong presence in Europe since the acquisition of Lacron, the UK’s largest manufacturer of pressure sand filters, back in 2003”
Manufacturing filters at the company’s Malaysian facility
1986 – Acquires Zane Solar and enters the solar heating market 1987 – Changes Dronaco to Waterco Pty Ltd 1989 – Floats on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: WAT) 1990 – Commences manufacturing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia operating as Waterco Far East 2000 – Acquires Watercare Division of Asia Pacific Chemicals Limited 2003 – Acquires Lacron, Britain’s largest manufacturer of pressure sand filters and forms Waterco Europe 2005 – Acquires Focus Temp and increases Waterco’s market share in Canada and the United States 2006 – Opens manufacturing plants in China and East Asia to meet escalating demand from Europe 2007 – MultiCyclone awarded the Piscina Barcelona Sustainability Award 2012 – Acquires Pool and Spa Poppits Pty Ltd 2019 – Acquires SolarMate Sdn Bhd in Malaysia 2020 – Acquires Automated Pool Products Pty Ltd distributor of Kreepy Krauly pool cleaners 2021 – Celebrates 40 years in business Despite the many milestones to reflect upon, the company’s story is only getting started. “We will continue to invest heavily in research and development, machinery and technology to create products of the future, enabling Waterco to be more competitive and enter new markets in the essential water treatment sector,” advised Mr Goh. Waterco Europe 01795 521733 www.waterco.eu Waterco’s Head Office in Sydney, Australia
Waterco’s Swimart fleet back in the day
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SPN June 2021 35 27/06/2021 12:41