Two of Western Australia’s swimming pool manufacturers, Aqua Technics and Freedom Pools and Spas, are tapping into new export opportunities in the Middle East and Europe.
Two of Western Australia’s swimming pool manufacturers, Aqua Technics and Freedom Pools and Spas, are tapping into new export opportunities in the Middle East and Europe.
One of the main areas targeted is Dubai, which is actively developing its tourism industry.
Aqua Technics export manager Neville Fenton says the market is expected to mature next year.
“It’s probably where the main future growth will come from,” he said.
Aqua Technics has had a full-time employee based in the Middle East for the past three years and has formed an alliance with a large construction company, to act as a distributor.
It also has a distributor based in France, appointed two years ago, and now has two display centres located in the country, which is the largest market for residential swimming pools in Europe.
Aqua Technics has also entered markets in Thailand and Fiji, supplying pools to new residential developments, in addition to its core export business in New Zealand and Reunion Island.
Mr Fenton says the company has been holding its own, in terms of export sales, but the business is limited by labour supply.
“If we could get the sales, and we would have to chase the sales harder, I’m guessing we could almost double, or increase by another 60 per cent,” he said.
Freedom Pools and Spas WA state manager Ernie Bevilaqua said that while the company began developing its export markets more than a decade ago, activity had only started to increase recently.
Freedom is currently working in conjunction with a Dubai company with a view to capitalising on the condominium market, among others.
Mr Bevilaqua said the Dubai market had started to pick up about nine months ago, and estimated that Freedom’s share would grow by 5 to 7 per cent over the next 15 months.
Freedom already exports to New Zealand and Reunion Island, and has set up a manufacturer in Spain.
“We’ve found throughout Spain, and that area [of Europe], that it was better to get up and running with our own factory to supply the area wholesale,” Mr Bevilaqua told WA Business News.
The company exports pools from Spain to England and other parts of Europe, as well as Reunion Island.
Mr Bevilaqua says pools manufactured in WA are gaining greater recognition internationally, due to the ground work being conducted in new technologies.
“WA is generally one of best pools manufacturers in the world,” he said.
He says Freedom regularly receives inquiries from overseas, with a recent one-off request from a client in Singapore valued at more than $40,000.
The company is also looking to reposition itself in England, particularly within the small or mini-pool market, and is developing connections in the US with a view to being active within the market in two to three years.