Manufacturers
Latham is Going Public
Latham announced its intentions to go public. Will begin trading under “SWIM” stock symbol…
A new pool corporation will be listed on the stock exchange very soon and it’s a name we all know well. Latham – The Pool Company™, filed a notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing its intention to sell its common stock in an initial public offering.
Under the ticker symbol SWIM, the Latham Group has applied to list its stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Complete details about the offering and it’s terms are not yet known at this time.
The news of Latham’s intention to go public comes a month after Hayward, one of the “Big 3” manufacturers, made a similar announcement.
Latham, The Pool Company™, as it is now known was formerly known as Latham Pool Products.
Latham’s private equity partners, Pamplona Capital Management and Wynnchurch Capital, will hold more than 50% of the voting power of the company’s outstanding common stock, rendering the Latham Group a controlled company excluded from some corporate governance provisions.
Latham outlined a strategy to increase the overall market share of fiberglass among inground pools, change how customers access the company’s products, improve distribution capabilities across the United States, and expand internationally while discussing the company’s strengths and benefits.
Latham Moves Into Lead Generation
With a new emphasis on direct digital and social-media marketing, backed by a demand-aggregation platform, Latham has made serious inroads to market directly to consumers. Consequently, this has enabled them to feed more pool leads to their dealer base. According to Latham, the company delivered over 45,000 customer leads to its dealer base in 2020, the first year the plan was fully implemented. According to the group, this represents a 210% increase from 2019.
The company also referenced it’s size, claiming that its network of nine fiberglass pool factories and distribution centers allows it to supply fiberglass pools to 95 percent of the US population within just 48 hours.
Latham has increased its market share in the fiberglass pool industry over time by purchasing a number of existing manufacturers. Three recent transactions were mentioned in their IPO application. Latham believes this will help it position itself well in the future.
Recent Latham Acquisitions
The acquisition of Narellan, an Australian fiberglass pool manufacturer with operations in Canada and New Zealand, in 2019 bolstered the company’s foreign presence. According to Latham, foreign markets account for 19% of its revenue, with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand having the most representation. According to Latham, the company is still on the lookout for emerging markets.
At the very least, the Narellan acquisition is expected to help Latham extend its footprint in North America by increasing fiberglass penetration. Narellan, as Australia’s largest manufacturer of fiberglass pools, played a key role in the increased acceptance of fiberglass over the last two decades in Australia, where the segment now accounts for 70% of the pool industry, according to Latham.
“Leveraging insights gained from Narellan, we are investing to build the tools required to drive higher fiberglass penetration in the North American market,” Latham said.
It also mentioned that the acquisition of vinyl-liner and safety-cover manufacturer GLI in October 2020 has expanded its offerings in those categories.
In October, the company entered into a long-term strategic relationship with Premier Pools & Spas, acquiring a 28 percent equity stake in the pool-construction franchise. The company said, “The purpose of this investment in Premier Pools & Spas is to help expand our sales and distribution channels,”
In the future, it intends to form more strategic alliances with dealerships. “We believe these exclusive relationships will continue to enable us to increase market share at the expense of the fragmented and regional universe of competitors,” Latham said.
In North America, Australia, and New Zealand, Latham claims to be the largest builder, manufacturer, and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools. It claims to have 32 locations, hiring over 2,000 people, and selling more than 8,700 fiberglass pools in the United States in 2020.
Although “net income does not adhere to this trend.” said Latham, 2020 represented the 11th consecutive year of net sales growth and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. According to the group, net revenues were $403.4 million in 2020 and net income was $16.0 million.
Last year, vinyl liners accounted for 20% of Latham’s sales, covers for 21%, and fiberglass and vinyl-lined pools for the remaining 80%. The remaining 59%, according to the company, came from fiberglass units.
Featured Photo Credit: Albany Business Review
Confer Plastics, one of the most established manufacturers serving the pool and spa industry, is moving forward with a 30,000-square-foot warehouse expansion at its Wheatfield, N.Y., facility. The project, now under town review, is designed to support the company’s rising production volume across pool, spa, and outdoor living categories — as well as the continued growth of its emerging direct-to-consumer business.
Company president Bob Confer confirmed that the new warehouse space at 2107 Liberty Drive will help accommodate increased demand for core products such as pool ladders, steps, hot tub cabinets, and other blow-molded components widely used across the aquatics market.
“We’re also expanding to accommodate our direct-to-consumer business, which is a relatively new endeavor for us,” he wrote in an email. “In 2023, we developed online channels for snow sleds and patio furniture. Our initial success has been pretty decent, so we expect the future for those products, and more to come, to be bright.”
The project contractor, Tedesco Construction Services, has previously overseen multiple expansion efforts for Confer at its primary manufacturing plant on Witmer Road in North Tonawanda. That facility houses some of the largest blow molding machines in the world, including a 15-foot-tall unit capable of handling 145 pounds of material at a time. The company’s capabilities extend far beyond aquatics: Confer also manufactures items for stadium seating, medical devices, kayaks, mannequins, trash receptacles, and more.
While the Wheatfield expansion will not directly add new jobs at that location, Confer noted that the increased warehouse capacity “could lead to a handful of jobs” at the main North Tonawanda plant. Additional storage effectively boosts manufacturing throughput, allowing the company to run molding machines more efficiently and increase overall production cycles.
Founded in 1973, Confer Plastics has grown to a 195-employee operation and remains one of Western New York’s most enduring manufacturers within the pool and spa sector. The warehouse expansion underscores the company’s commitment to supporting its dealer network, OEM partners, and consumers as demand for outdoor living products remains strong.
Featured Photo Credit: Confer Plastics
JED Pool Tools, manufacturer of swimming pool maintenance equipment and accessories, was pleased to recently receive a ‘Customer Excellence Award’ from Estes Freight company, the largest privately held freight transportation company in North America. This award recognizes customers that demonstrate strong shipment values, revenue growth, and foster a collaborative relationship. This award celebrates a few select customers for outstanding engagement, enabling a strategic partnership, and committing to mutual success.
“We’re pleased to earn such high recognition from a leader like Estes,” said Glenn Jonelunas Manager of Warehouse Operations at JED Pool Tools. “We’re honored to be recognized for this award, which is a reflection of the well-established and trusted partnership we’ve built together.”
The Estes Customer Excellence Award was created to recognize and celebrate customers who exemplify outstanding collaboration, commitment and service. Estes presented JED Pool Tools with a celebratory cake and plaque.
About JED Pool Tools
JED Pool Tools has been making high-quality pool tools and pool accessories in the USA for 30 years. JED Pool Tools sells over 400 different products including residential and commercial skimmers, leaf rakes, poles, wall brushes and vacuum heads as well as hoses and through-wall skimmer parts. JED is a family-run company with 3-generations of Heyen family working for the company and is committed to creating and providing jobs for residents of Scranton, PA. JED isproud of and committed to manufacturing in the USA, many it its own facility in Scranton, PA. To learn more about the company and its products visit www.JEDPoolTools.com.
About Estes
Estes is North America’s largest privately owned freight carrier. As an asset-based transportation provider with a global footprint, Estes combines nearly a century of regional freight shipping expertise with the resources, reach, and reliability of a national carrier. Backed by its more than 300 North American terminals and nearly 7,000 next-day lanes, as well as its fleet of more than 10,500 tractors, Estes is committed to getting America’s freight where it needs to go, when it needs to get there. And with its continued investment in leading-edge technology, as well as the support of its more than 24,000 employees. To learn more about Estes visit www.estes-express.com.
Hastings, UK – UK-based manufacturer Plastipack Ltd announces the U.S. launch of its latest swimming-pool cover material: Sol+Guard™ Gen2, utilising the globally trusted GeoBubble™ technology.
GeoBubble™ pool covers have been available in the U.S. since early 2024, with high-performance products like CoolGuard™ Ultra proving especially popular in warmer regions. The launch of Gen2 brings an important step change in performance, durability and sustainability that builds on that early success.
By integrating graphene, an exceptionally strong and thermally conductive material, Plastipack has developed a film that is 20 % thinner without sacrificing performance or durability.
Unlike many thinner, short-life covers currently available in the market, GeoBubble™ materials are engineered for durability. Each cover features the patented GeoBubble™ shape, which eliminates weak points found in traditional bubble designs, preventing premature degradation caused by UV and chemical attack.
“Pool owners deserve a cover that lasts more than one season,” says Peter Adlington, Managing Director at Plastipack Ltd. “With GeoBubble™ Gen2, we’re combining advanced material science with real-world performance testing to deliver a product that’s lighter, stronger, and far more durable — helping to lower running costs while reducing environmental impact.”
Sol+Guard™ Gen2 is now available to U.S. pool owners through Solar Pool Supply.
About GeoBubble™
GeoBubble™ is an innovative bubble design developed by Plastipack Ltd, a UK-based manufacturer specializing in energy- and resource-saving cover materials for swimming pools. With unique patented technology and extensive in-house testing, GeoBubble™ materials are engineered to deliver superior durability, energy efficiency, and environmental performance.
For full details, visit geobubblepoolcovers.com or contact: [email protected] | +44 (0)1424 851659
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