Matt Gohlke

The International Pool & Spa Expo is the pool and spa industry’s largest and most comprehensive event. Tradeshow Week calls the expo one of the 50 fastest-growing tradeshows in North America. It’s the one event that has the most comprehensive selection of pool, spa and backyard living resources in the world. All of the latest trends and newest products are found at the expo.

The expo celebrated its 50th anniversary recently in Las Vegas with more than 15,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibitors.

Manu­facturers, pool build­ers, service companies and retailers from all over the world attended. Most come to see new ideas in pool design and construction, and also to see the new products.

New products are continually making their debut in the pool industry at the Inter­national Pool and Spa Expo. Most of them will never make it and pool owners will never hear about these products. But every year, some new products end up making it big. Here are some of the more intriguing new products that might end up having an impact:

Pool equipment

Pentair IntelliFlo variable speed pump: This appears to be the pump of the future. The dramatic utility savings (30 percent to 90 percent) that this pump claims, coupled with the quietness and controllability of the pump makes it easy to see why its manufacturer is excited.

Visit www.pentairpool.com  for more information.

Pool and spa water testing

Aquachek Trutest Digital Strip Reader: This device is used to analyze chemicals in pool and spa water. It just might replace test strips and test kits. It combines the ease and accuracy of test strips with advanced digital technology to give you numerical test results in 15 seconds.

Visit www.aquachek.com  for more information.

Pool sanitizing

SilkGuard technology: Bio­guard has introduced a product that comes in both tablet and stick form, unlike traditional chlorine. SilkGuard actually softens the water, making the water feel silky smooth, protects pool equipment for longer life, prevents metal staining and corrosion, and reduces scale formation in pools.

Visit www.bioguard.com  for more information.

Pool safety

Aquaguard pool alarm system: The pool industry has, in my opinion, really struggled in the area of pool alarms, but this might be the alarm system that the industry can embrace. It has many features that other pool alarm systems do not have and does not require removal during swim time. It can be installed on existing pools and also has remote control capability.

Visit www.aquaguardpoolalarm.com  for more information.

Pet safety

Skamper ramp pet saver: It’s amazing how many pets drown in the family swimming pool, and this product is designed to prevent that from occurring. The problem is usually not the pet’s inability to swim, but their inability to get out of the pool. This product is basically a ramp that helps pets to get out of the pool.

Visit www.skamper-ramp.Com   for more information.

Pool exercise

Home swimmer stationary swimming system: This product is similar to a bungee cord that is attached to the swimmer and anchored to the edge of the pool or just outside of the pool. Fitness swimming is one of the most complete forms of exercise there is, and this product helps make it possible in a residential pool.

Visit www.homeswimmer.com  for more information.

Pool-assisted firefighting

Fire safety pool pump: This is one of the most intriguing products at the expo. This product is basically a portable firefighting unit that uses swimming pool water to fight a fire. It comes as a complete unit including the pump and hose.

Visit www.firesafetypoolpump.com   for more information.

Matt Gohlke, certified building professional, is the owner of Gohlke Pools and a member of the National Spa & Pool Institute, Aquatech (a society of pool building professionals), Better Business Bureau and an authorized dealer of Bioguard and Baquacil. His firm has received many national awards, certifications and recognitions in the swimming pool industry. Mr. Gohlke may be reached 940-387-7521.