This post was originally published on this siteThe Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code is hosting a live webinar...
Evacuation orders for around 17,000 residents have been lifted following a fire at the BioLab industrial plant in Conyers, Georgia. The fire, which began early Sunday morning, caused a chemical reaction releasing potentially harmful chlorine into the air. The fire was extinguished around 4 p.m. By 8 p.m. ET Monday, officials declared the area safe, though they cautioned residents to stay indoors due to lingering chlorine in the air.The fire produced a large smoke plume visible for miles, and air quality tests conducted by state and federal agencies confirmed the presence of chlorine. Exposure to the chemical can cause respiratory issues and irritation. However, updated readings from the Environmental Protection Agency showed air quality returning to safer levels. Several schools and businesses were closed temporarily as a precaution. The EPA will continue to monitor the area for potential health risks.BioLab, a manufacturer of pool and spa products, confirmed that all employees are safe and no injuries have been reported. In a statement released Monday evening, the company said, “Our top priority remains ensuring the community’s safety. We are grateful to the partnership with first responders and local and federal authorities as we together work non-stop to remediate the ongoing situation at our Conyers, Georgia facility. We have made significant progress throughout the day, assisted by the deployment of out-of-state specialist support, and note Rockdale County’s announcement tonight ending the shelter-in-place advisory effective immediately. Air emissions are being actively monitored at the site and in the community by state, local and federal authorities and we are supporting the efforts of local authorities as part of the Unified Command response to the incident.”
As it prepares to mark 90 years of business in June, Haviland Enterprises, Inc. a manufacturer and distributor of specialty and commodity chemistry, in partnership with Erhardt Construction and Progressive A&E, announced the launch of its new $7 million laboratory in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The 11,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2025 and will provide the space required to advance product development and pilot new formulations within Haviland’s core markets. The company is pursuing growth in the water treatment market as water conservation efforts expand nationally.
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Haviland is employee-owned and operated through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
“Haviland’s success is a reflection of our ESOP culture,” says Meg Post, president and CEO. “Our employees take immense pride in their jobs and work extremely hard to create value for our customers, employee-owners and communities.”
The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, co-located with Deck Expo, celebrated its charitable contributions during the last show’s edition. Recognizing the importance of water safety, the event donated $25,000 toward Step Into Swim, a nonprofit initiative of the PHTA dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education.
“We want to ensure that every poolside memory is a happy one — one that is enjoyed with confidence and awareness,” says Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA vice president of partnerships and development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “By teaming up with Step Into Swim, PSP/Deck Expo showcases its dedication to both innovation and responsibility.”
PSP/Deck Expo 2024 will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, Nov. 9-14, 2024.
Core Covers has announced the acquisition of Prestige Spa Covers, allowing the company to provide a more comprehensive range of high-quality spa covers and related outdoor solutions.
Key highlights of the acquisition include:
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Enhanced manufacturing and distribution capabilities: ensuring efficient production and timely delivery of products across North America and Europe
Broadened product portfolio: delivering a range of spa covers and spa accessories across an array of diverse customer needs
Combined expertise: bringing together a wealth of industry expertise, allowing the company to innovate and provide unparalleled service
Product innovation: driving new ideas in spa cover design, materials and functionality
Streamlined operations: teams are working diligently to combine operations, allowing for even greater responsiveness and operational flexibility
Enhanced customer support: commitment to excellent customer support remains unwavering
For more information, visit corecovers.com.
The PHTA announced Franceen Gonzales as the winner of the first-ever Achievement Award, which was presented during the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception at the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.
The award is given to an individual who has made exceptional contributions over many years to both PHTA and the pool, spa and hot tub industry, and in doing so has demonstrated a commitment to excellence.
Gonzales has 25 years of experience in the aquatics industry and serves as chief experience officer of WhiteWater, a Canada-based manufacturer of water park equipment. She was chair of the PHTA board of directors in 2020 and played a key role in the successful reorganization of PHTA’s technical governance structure. Gonzales’ experience with health codes, air quality standards for indoor aquatics facilities and industry safety measures was instrumental in creating the PHTA technical advisory council and its reporting committees. She also helped streamline the American National Standards Institute standards development process for PHTA.
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“She is a tireless leader, contributor, team member, mentor and friend,” says Joseph Laurino, PHTA chairman of the board. “PHTA was able to make huge strides for the betterment of our entire industry thanks to her leadership and vision.”
For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s associate director of marketing and communications, at awiller@phta.org or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.
Haviland Enterprises, Inc. is commemorating its 90th anniversary as a supplier of chemicals for cleaning, water treatment, plating and recreational water solutions. Since its founding in 1934 by chemist J.B. Haviland, the company has evolved from a modest laboratory in Michigan to a globally recognized chemical manufacturer with facilities across the U.S.
Rendering of future laboratory
Meg Post, president and CEO of Haviland, attributes the company’s success to its employee stock ownership plan, which was initiated by the Haviland family in 1997.
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Also coinciding with its anniversary milestone, Haviland is constructing a new $7 million flagship laboratory, envisioned as a hub for product development and innovation.
The anniversary will be officially commemorated at Haviland’s annual shareholders’ meeting in June.
IPS Controllers, a manufacturer and marketer of chemical automation controllers, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a gift to customers.
“In recognition of our customers’ loyalty to our products and our company, IPS Controllers announces a hold on all prices for the year 2024,” says Chuck Woolstenhulme, president of IPS Controllers. “This price freeze is our way of thanking our partners who have helped us grow and the role each has played in our journey thus far.”
For more information about IPS Controllers and the product line, visit www.ipscontrollers.com.
This post was originally published on this siteEvacuation orders for around 17,000 residents have been lifted following a fire at...
Georgia Spa Company will award a Hot Tub for a Hero to a deserving teacher through its Gives Back program.
Launched in 2018, the Gives Back program selects a charity or cause to support with a portion of proceeds from a given month or quarter’s sales and awards a hot tub to a recipient each year. It’s made possible through support from partnerships with Hot Spring Spas, Gravitt Electric and Spain & Sons Construction.
Nominations of outstanding educators are being accepted through April 30 and can be submitted at georgiaspacompany.com.
Leaders from Hayward Holdings, Inc., a global designer, manufacturer and marketer of pool and spa equipment and automation, held a ribbon cutting for the Hayward Hub in Dallas-Fort Worth. The building will serve as a gathering place for the company’s employees and customers in a key market.
The Hayward Hub will host classes for customers who want to learn more about the company’s products.
More information on class schedules and sign-ups can be found here.
King Technology, makers of FROG products, partnered with TerraCycle, a global recycler known for “recycling the unrecyclable,” to create a program for their empty hot tub and swim spa cartridges.
When FROG retailers sign up for the program, King Technology ships them a FROG Recycle box.
“Customers ask us what to do with empty cartridges,” says Kim Goldsbury, owner of Pepper’s Pool & Spa in Kansas City, Missouri. “We tell them to bring them in, and then they can go ahead and buy new product — we take care of everything.”
Images of the acceptable cartridges are printed on the FROG Recycle box along with pictures of what the empty cartridges will eventually be made into so customers can see the result of their recycling efforts. When the box is full, the retailer calls UPS for prepaid pickup.
The empty cartridges are shipped to a processing plant and are made into items like outdoor furniture, decking or railroad tracks.
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“We want to be a company that helps people recycle,” Goldsbury says. “Our participation shows our customers that we care about the environment. We can do little things to help make a difference in our world and reduce waste.”
Available to all FROG retailers, the FROG Recycle Program is a step toward zero waste.
“The program gives customers a place to recycle their cartridges and gives retailers an opportunity to connect with their customers and make a positive impact in their communities,” says Jackie Reick, director of marketing for King Technology. “It’s one more way to enrich lives daily.”
For more information, contact Alex Granlund at 952-646-4339.
