#6: Stainless steel pool - a class of its own

SWIMMINGPOOL INTERNATIONAL – WE CLARIFY! THE PODCAST FROM POOL EXPERTS FOR EVERYONE. Theme of the episode 6: Stainless steel pool - a class of its own. High-quality stainless steel pools are becoming increasingly popular. This is not only due to the modern, timeless look of the material and its simple elegance, but also to the unique features of stainless steel, such as frost, heat and UV resistance. However, its greatest advantage is its durability, and a new trend are Mini- stainless steel pools- pure luxury in a small space. We find out more about this from Martin Bednar, Managing Director Sales at Diamant Unipool, s. r. o. in Czech Republic

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Swimming pool international, the swimming pool podcast.

SPEAKER_03 0:17

A warm welcome to our international swimming pool podcast. In front of me sits Angela. Angela Hermann, International Sales Manager at Banker, Manufacturing in Germany.

SPEAKER_04 0:29

And in front of me sits Michael, Michael Fissor, Export Manager at Fulvo Schmalenberger from Tubing in Germany.

SPEAKER_03 0:37

How are you today? Yes, and uh today we are talking to uh Martin, uh Martin uh Bednar from uh Diamant Pool in the Czech uh Republic. And we would like to talk about stainless steel pools and uh all aspects of it. And uh welcome Martin.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Welcome, nice to be here with you. Thank you for the invitation.

SPEAKER_03 1:09

Yes, and uh welcome, welcome. Well, I myself have uh visited uh Diamant before, so now I know a bit about the company, but uh could you explain our listeners a little bit about the history of Diamant, how it started, etc.?

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Thank you for the question. Yeah, uh so Diamant Unipool is uh a Czech producer of uh polypropylene uh pools, stainless steel pools, and pool enclosures. The company was founded in 1994, so we have pretty long history and uh experience in production of pools. It was uh founded by uh Mr. Lucas uh actually almost 30 years ago. Uh and the company is still uh guided by the Lucas family nowadays uh by his uh son Martin Lucas.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

So the the father uh completely uh stopped in the in the in the fact company or is he still involved?

SPEAKER_02 2:04

He will never stop, and we appreciate it. Uh so we are we are uh very happy about it. So he's still with us uh helping us uh to solve some uh mostly technical technical issues and uh uh yeah, I was going to ask, he is the technical guy. Exactly, he is a technical head uh when I can say it like this, uh uh regarding our products and uh okay.

SPEAKER_04 2:29

And uh yeah, I have visited your company also some years well, many times actually, and I have to say the most impressive I was seriously impressed when you just opened the new factory for stainless steel.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Yeah, it was 2020.

SPEAKER_04 2:46

Yeah, and I was just there, and I remember I was like, I was even calling our company and said, like, it's massive, it's massive.

SPEAKER_02 2:54

Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_04 2:55

It is and I couldn't imagine that you do you do stainless steel pools as well, and yeah, and that you can do it in such a large dimension at a time.

SPEAKER_02 3:05

I know you switched, no, you learned a lot, and and actually, yes, but uh you know we have uh huge products uh for our customers, so we need a lot of space, and it's still not enough.

SPEAKER_04 3:16

And and what is yeah, since I have seen this company uh at the time, no, and and I uh uh what is special? What do you do?

SPEAKER_02 3:24

What we do, what we do, what we really do. Uh yeah, as I mentioned, uh we are producers of polypropylant pools, so we are producing uh polypropylene pools, uh we are also producing pool enclosures uh let's say since uh 1998-1999. But uh what is new and what is uh amazing uh about the new products is uh our production of the stainless steel pools. So we produce one-piece pools uh in stainless steel, customized to the wishes of our customers. Uh and this is the answer to your question. This is what we do, and we love it.

SPEAKER_04 3:58

And so it means so. I'm like, I have this vision of my super nice garden, and I want to have my pool in this dimension and this kind of shape, maybe also. I want to have stairs there and whatsoever. You can do it?

SPEAKER_02 4:12

Yes, we can do it. We can do it. Of course, uh, we are producing one-piece pools, so partly we are limited a little bit with uh the transport possibilities and also with the production possibilities because our customers mainly are private customers. So even the people that have a house and they are uh looking for a nice pool for their garden. Yeah, so for this uh dimensions we have uh prepared all the production ways and uh uh also uh the machines and uh the way of the production.

SPEAKER_03 4:41

Yes, so you are uh making customized pools. Uh in order to do that, you need some, I would assume, some special kind of production. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

SPEAKER_02 4:52

Exactly, yes, and uh we uh wanted to have a special kind of production to make the products uh very uh very exclusive for our customers because stainless steel pools are exclusive in the design in the luxury design in the look uh and also in uh other features. Yeah, but uh still uh the exclusive way of our production means we wanted to avoid any uh not necessary weldings in the pool to make the walls perfectly straight, what makes a great uh optics, uh, and uh so it means we don't have any weldings on the on the walls, we don't have any weldings uh or visible weldings on the button, uh even because of uh the machines uh and the production processes uh we have planned for this production.

SPEAKER_03 5:35

Ah, okay.

SPEAKER_04 5:36

And what makes the material or what is the advantages if you have a stainless steel pool?

SPEAKER_02 5:43

Of course, uh the main uh the main advantage is the uh long lifespan and the durability, uh the maintenance, uh the look. These are I think uh, my opinion, the the most important uh advantages of the material because a stainless steel pool will stay forever uh as nice as it was uh after the delivery.

SPEAKER_04 6:04

Wow, and how long really can a stainless steel pool last?

SPEAKER_02 6:08

Uh I think forever. Almost. Almost. You know, this material, this special material is used in a lot of uh lot of uh let's say uh industries. Yeah. So it means uh it's very hygienical, it's very easy to maintenance. Uh the maintenance is very easy actually, yeah, to maintain it uh because as I mentioned, uh the material will stay the same for a long, long time.

SPEAKER_04 6:34

So, what is the maintenance?

SPEAKER_03 6:35

Yes, what what do you have to do to keep it uh nice and shiny?

SPEAKER_02 6:39

Of course, you have to treat your water in the direct way, so you need to have the uh correct uh levels of your water, the quality of the water. Yes. Yeah, uh, but uh then it's really because uh the material is uh very smooth, it's without any uh any uh it's not porous, yes. So it's really easy to to to clean it uh uh after the or before the season, before the next season.

SPEAKER_03 7:00

Ah, okay. So during the season you don't have to do a lot.

SPEAKER_02 7:03

You don't have to do a lot, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 7:05

Exactly.

SPEAKER_04 7:06

Okay, and uh I mean it's the same with our inbuilt parts, no?

SPEAKER_02 7:10

We uh exactly, yeah, exactly. And this is uh stainless steel. Also uh nice actually that we we can use this uh built-in parts because uh we what is very important for us uh uh that we have built-in parts that we can weld in into the pool uh to avoid any problems with leakages, yes, uh to uh avoid the need of any rubber ceilings, uh what are not so uh uh for a long time actually. Yeah, so we have uh avoided any screws, uh let's say, or any rubber ceilings because uh we are using uh the weld the the building parts that we can weld in.

SPEAKER_03 7:44

Yes, which is different than with polypropylene pools where you have clamid rings, etc. Okay. And um very interesting. Uh, we heard that you are introducing an a new smaller pool, yes, a mini pool. Uh uh what is the reason behind this?

SPEAKER_02 8:04

Uh it's actually uh it's actually uh these are the wishes of our customers or the demand of the market because uh we see high demand in different countries uh in Europe. Uh that uh the people don't uh really want to waste uh the ground, or the grounds are getting smaller, yeah. Uh in the surroundings of big cities, uh they are all getting more expensive everywhere actually. So uh the customers are looking for some smaller solution of a pool, but because they still want to have some water in the garden, what is of course very nice and then uh uh very good to have it, yeah. So this is I think the main reason uh uh why they are looking for mini pools, but not uh only this. Uh there is uh of course uh the question of water consumption in these days, what is a very important uh topic. Uh you have uh, of course, uh also any other issues with uh heating of a smaller volume of water and also with uh uh chemical uh with chemicals or need of chemicals for the smaller amount of water. Uh and to be honest, a lot of uh people uh are looking for their families uh uh for some fun with their child with their children. Yes, it's mainly for the kids, yes. Uh, and uh we have also solutions with these mini pools where uh the whole family can have fun in water, uh can sit in the water, but uh there are some shallow areas where the child children can play.

SPEAKER_03 9:26

Uh so we were thinking about uh so a a mini pool is not so much uh for uh really swimming. Exactly. Uh it's it's it's more like a very big uh Yakuzi.

SPEAKER_04 9:38

Yeah, I just want to say like water features, like bubble air bubble plates or something like that.

SPEAKER_02 9:42

Exactly, exactly. This is something what uh what makes fun in water, you know. Uh it's not really, as Michael says, and you are completely correct, uh, it's not uh a real swimming pool. Here the word mini is more important than pool, yeah. What I would say, and uh I would say it's a little bit a hybrid uh between uh jacuzzi, let's say, and a swimming pool, because you can really uh use or you can have fun in the water with your family, uh with all the air massage bubbles and all these uh water attractions.

SPEAKER_04 10:11

And still then your the your grandmothers can still use it because it's said it's forever. It's forever.

SPEAKER_02 10:17

So even if your children will use it with their children, I hope.

SPEAKER_04 10:24

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Okay, that fun. But you are absolutely correct. Nowadays, uh sustainability, CO2 footprint, energy consumption, everything.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

It's a it's a it's a big topic, it's an important topic, and uh I think uh also the material and uh even this kind of products uh follows this uh this topic.

SPEAKER_03 10:45

Yes, yes. And uh is this uh have you in is this uh product being introduced for the first time now, or you are also it's brand new?

SPEAKER_02 10:53

It's brand new, it's brand new. It was uh longer time in our heads, in our minds, yeah. And but the first time we have presented this uh was actually in Cologne uh on the Aquanale. Yes. So that was the first time uh we have presented our brand new uh product line because it's just not only one mini pool, there are uh more dimensions. Uh so you can also find uh almost a real swimming pool uh using a good counter current, for example, yeah, where you can have fun with your family and your children, but you can also uh use as a swimming pool.

SPEAKER_03 11:23

And a mini pool you can uh also is that more like uh a standard product, or you also make it custom?

SPEAKER_02 11:30

This is let's say a little bit more standardized. Yes, uh, what is uh also for us uh new way of thinking, yes, uh but uh still you can adjust a lot of things, and we have some options uh for this product, uh even uh with different uh building parts, with uh some water attractions, counter-current, lightnings, uh hydro massage, for example. Exactly, air massage, hydro massage, and so on.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Ah, that is uh I think this is can be a very, very interesting product for the coming years. I do think so, yeah. And and you know, a country like Holland where the space is very limited and the ground is very, very expensive. Uh everybody has small gardens.

SPEAKER_02 12:09

You're completely right because uh Holland was uh the one of the first countries uh we started uh think about it uh actually because of Holland, yeah. Because uh we have already produced uh smaller pools, uh customized. We are thinking, okay, it's actually uh getting more and more uh more and more popular, so maybe we could uh prep prepare for our customers uh some uh complete product line uh of this uh of this uh standardized product.

SPEAKER_03 12:37

Yeah, no, I think that is uh well we talked about main maintenance and uh uh yeah for me uh I've got a lot of information regarding stainless steel pools that uh the material, maybe yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:52

What do you think it's it's a it's a special stainless steel actually uh with uh uh IC316L. So it means it's a higher quality, what is also uh uh suitable for maybe uh salt water uh with some uh special comments from from our side. With proper care, exactly exactly. But it's uh it's a the quality is uh 316L. Uh we have also uh the same thicknesses of the walls and buttons as we have for the standard pools. Uh so and we are also using the same uh processes as for the standard pools.

SPEAKER_03 13:25

Oh wow, okay.

SPEAKER_04 13:28

Yeah, very interesting. At the end, I always think if you take care, I mean you have to take care about the water quality and all kinds of pools, but because at the end you go you put your body, your children in this.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Exactly, exactly. Yeah, so uh it's not only to have a nice pool, nice view in the garden with clear water, but uh you are using it, so you should take care of it. Yeah, but it's uh yeah, the same for everyone.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

And compared to uh to other materials, uh the hygiene thing with stainless steel. Uh they use this not in the world. They use it in restaurants, they use it in healthcare, you know. Hospitals, yeah. There is so in that sense, stainless steel is the dream pool.

SPEAKER_04 14:05

It is the dream pool. I I actually have on my front screen a stainless steel pool, it's true, because it's it's amazing. I mean, if you have a really nice this is a mirror kind of thing, what I have, this is super beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 14:18

Yeah, you are completely right, and it's a good choice to have a have it on your screen. Yeah, but uh maybe Michael, you mentioned uh maintenance. Uh what is very uh what happens very often or our customers are asking uh for a stainless steel bowl because of uh some weekend houses, even for the time where you are not everyday in your garden, yeah, but uh you can use it uh as a weekend house or maybe also for some rental houses, uh, because it's used then by other people. Yeah, they it's not their own pool, but you can still uh treat it without any any big problems, and the maintenance is really easy.

SPEAKER_03 14:52

Okay, because it's not a day a daily uh uh or a weekly uh with some other materials, you know, you always see uh a possibility of uh where the waterline stops, exactly. And you don't have this with stainless steel?

SPEAKER_02 15:05

You you of course uh will have it all the bit, yeah. I can say, but you can clean it without any big very easily because the material is completely smooth.

SPEAKER_03 15:14

Ah, so I think uh my wife would love a maintenance-free budget. Everybody does. So well, uh yeah, very interesting.

SPEAKER_04 15:26

Really, we learned a lot again, and I like the shiny approach anyway, because it's always my topic.

SPEAKER_02 15:31

So I'm very happy about it, yeah. I'm very happy about it, and thank you once again for the invitation.

SPEAKER_03 15:35

Yes, and uh, thank you for your time. I know it's very, very, very busy at the moment. And may I ask you what did you learn today about stainless steel?

SPEAKER_04 15:44

I learned first of all, I learned that you customize, I learned that mini pool is a big trend. Yes, stainless steel is forever. You are completely right. That's the sentence for me of the day. And yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Ah, okay, yes.

SPEAKER_02 16:00

You learn the most important uh information about it.

SPEAKER_03 16:03

Yes, yes, yeah. What I like very, very much is the maintenance and uh the long-lasting life. Um, yes.

SPEAKER_04 16:11

Exactly, yeah. And and at the end, this is uh what we all talk about. No, we want to have more sustainable products and uh it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 16:22

And and the so um okay. Well, I uh we wish you, of course, lots of success with this new product. And uh yeah, we'll meet again. Uh at uh hope and I believe it. And uh and thank you very much for your time. Um you can write us with any comments or questions at mail at swimmingpool minus podcast.com. Goodbye. Thank you. Gracias. Merci. Thank you.